Harvoni Side Effects (Page 20)

I have been taking Harvoni for 3 months now and am having nerve pain in my legs and lower back pain. Is anyone else taking Harvoni having any of these same side effects as me? Please help if you are able. Thank you

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DennisHarvoni: High blood pressure can occur in those with lactic acidosis. Some people develop lactic acidosis as a side effect of Harvoni, most likely from the sofosbuvir. Also, people with poor liver health can develop lactic acidosis. You might want to get tested for this as well as for creatine kinase levels before taking anything new. Find out how well your kidneys are functioning. I am not a health professional and am only sharing what I have found in my own research. Not a lot is known about Harvoni's impact on the body, so your issues might be different than what I have talked about on here. If your doctor won't order lab tests, there are many labs that will take walkins. Many tests are not too expensive. For example, a CBC, complete blood count, runs about $35. Obviously you are good at researching, as the supplement regimen I ended up with after my research is similar to what you did. Don't stop now, you can figure this out.

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thanks for the heads up, got a weeks out of town when I get back ill be hitting the doc

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There is a franchise laboratory called Any Lab Test Now that does lab tests for tons of different things. Pretty cool.

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Is there anyone out there that is on Suboxone and harvoni

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HAPPY GO LUCKY: No but soon I will probably be on Methadone and Harvoni.

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Checking in at week 5 of my Harvoni treatment. My 4 week labs found the virus undetected. I will treat for a total of 8 weeks. Treatment side effects for me have been minimal. I don't know if I'm just lucky or if it's my supplements, exercise, and sauna detoxes.

Here is my regimen: (I have shared this in an earlier reply.) Daily supplements (taken in the morning, 10 hours before taking my Harvoni pill) Multivitamin, Mineral Complex, Omega 3 Fish Oil, Vitamin B Complex (methylated, which is more bioavailable), Alpha Lipoic Acid, Probiotic capsule.

I make a daily morning smoothie with: Apples, frozen blueberries, frozen cranberries, fresh ginger, almonds, pumpkin seeds, ground flax seeds, avocado, banana, kiwi fruit, 10 gm. grass fed whey protein, 1500 gm Vitamin C powder, almond milk.

I drink a lot of purified water all day and try to drink fresh juice with beets and celery as often as possible. Beets are good for the liver and celery helps to stimulate and cleanse the kidneys. I feared a buildup of the medication in my system and/or toxic buildup in my kidneys, hence keeping them cleansed. To take some of the strain off of the kidney's, I sweat in a sauna 3X weekly. I also exercise. Getting sleep is huge. I use cannabis each night as a sleep aid (I'm in California and have a prescription.) I try to remember to drink a glass of water mixed with apple cider vinegar each day, but needs to be at least 4 hours before or after taking the Harvoni pill.

I know that many people have experienced terrible sides and I have tried to pinpoint a common factor of those cases. It's not that obvious. But, one commonality of some is that they are taking at least one other prescription med. It's possible that people with cirrhosis might have more sides. I have noticed that many people have other health problems in addition to (or because of) the hep c. My advice on this would be to take the supplements I listed above for one month prior to beginning treatment. Do not buy low quality ones. If you can find them, buy pharmaceutical grade supplements, often available at compounding pharmacies, or homeopathic pharmacies. Try to improve your overall health prior to starting. Keep moving, no matter how fatigued you feel, it's very important. Drink lots of purified water, not tap water. Eat small meals not overly high in protein. One night I had beef, which is rare for me. I felt sick for two days. I had to reduce the amount of protein powder in my smoothies because too much at one time made me feel badly. I eat very little bread and pasta made from wheat, and very little sugar.

This has taken a lot of effort, but it has been worth it to see that UNDETECTED word on my lab results, with very mild side effects along the way.

Last but not least, join a private support group. The one I joined has helped me sooo much. It's not a place for b**** sessions. They offer emotional support along with very helpful information. Take care and good luck.

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Try a different Dr. I saw a Dr a year before I was okayed for Harvoni. This Dr told me I wasn't bad enough, (diagnosed 22 years ago) probably won't qualify for treatment. When I spoke with the office staff I asked a couple questions, like what do I do now? And explain the situation to me? NEVER did I get a return call from that Dr. In May 2016 I go into another Drs office for Colonoscopy and he offers to look into funding for the Harvoni, I have Medicare /Medicaid... I was covered!! As with these other people I too am having alot of joint pain, had just gone through Knee Replacement 2 months earlier (Hip replacement2014) and I am having a set back, having to walk with a cane, the fatigue/weakness is awful ..... But if it will cure my HepC I'm trying my best to finish the 12 weeks. I'm just beginning week 5... Please seek a second opinion, its your life ... And you deserve to live it HepC free.

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If you have been stable I would wait we have all had this disease for at lest 30 years. Why this RUSH now? They smell the money! If you have Medicaid or Medicare they will do the paper work? How many of us would they treat if the drug were not gauged at $1,000 per PILL? Are you kidding me?
This is a big pharma rip off to the 100th degree! Docs get favors to you know. Are you really ill? For those of us who's lives have been changed in a very NEGATIVE way we are only trying to do DUE diligence and tell you UP FRONT the possible effects. To many people RUSH and let FEAR determine treatment decisions.
If I too HALF the garbage docs have prescribed I would be either dead or a zombie. We are trying to tell you once you take this there is no GREY. Is curing cancer worth cutting off your head? Why open a hornets nest? Your. Decision we have nothing to PROFIT by typing and typing only OUR truth.

Best wishes for a treatment with no regrets. Don't allow yourself to be exploited by this greedy big pharma I never had so many people try and get their hands on my medicine like my doctors office in a big teaching hospital like this one. A once good relationship with my favorite doctor has led to seeing what was really important. Patients care (me) or prophets for the hospital. Guess who came first? The hospital. Regret, regret, regret!

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I would rather have my Hep C back than be suffering with all that I am 16 months post treatment. There can be horrible side effects and they can be permanent.

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tina make sure your Dr gives u something for the pain. it will help your mental sense when u dont have pain

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I am curious about what others thought too....day #1 and I'm as sick as a dog.... Could it be suboxone?

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After reading all the comments on here of joint pain during the treatment and some continuing long after, I called my GI and my Primary Dr (can't get in to PD till 8/16) but I was extremely concerned about my current knee replacement, I had been walking fine till starting Harvoni, then I couldn't get out of a chair,or do steps without the knee buckling, x-rays show nothing wrong. I was even to the point of looking into a Fibromyalgia diagnosis I hurt so bad, was taking Harvoni before bed and could hardly stand or walk to get to the bathroom at night. Anyway after talking to my GI Dr. I have decided to stop taking the medicine. They agreed that the side effects were bad enough. The day after stopping my energy level was up 50% from what it had been, even had my hyper 4yr old Granddaughter here and was able to do more things with her! My labs at 4 weks showed no detection of the HepC , I'm praying it stays that way and that the weakness continues to improve. I have lived with the hepC for 22 yrs. It has always been a mild case, no cirrhosis, so I think I will wait until a cure comes along with more information on it. I should have researched it before agreeing to take it. But as others have stated , it happened very quickly, okayed on a Monday, meds delivered on Tuesday , started Wednesday morning. Good luck to all who continue. Thank you for this forum allowing us to share our concerns.

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@Tina1624...congrats on finding a doc who is actually honest about this drug. Hope u continue to heal and that the virus stays dead.

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Hi, I wasn't even able to take antibiotic's while on Harvoni, i got really sick fast. I have no idea how subox would mix. So I didn't take anything else, except small dose of klonopin at bedtime. No probs with that.

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Good for you Tina. That was a tough decision but it sounds like it was the right one due to your health issues. I wish I would have stopped at 6 weeks.

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I have 8 days to go of 12 weeks.
Been having joint pain stiffness in hands and feet to lesser degree. Also muscle weakness.
There's a post on the previous page.

I have found that this helps:
Wake up And hands stiff or joints hurt?
Are you sleeping in front of the cooler?
I was, and the cold air while sleeping makes it worse.

Run your hands under warm water this relives some pain.

Open and close your hands move those joints around for abit bend your fingers 1 at a time after the next. Like smoothly tapping your fingers on the palm of your hands.
closing your hands from the pinky to the index rolling em open and closed.
Also do it with fingers straight working the next joints.
Next Open em all the way and close em. ( Bent and straight fingered.)
Stretch and work those joints.

Do this with any joints that are sore to loosen em up.

Look up hand feet stretches and warm up exercises on the web.

I been doing this and playing the guitar and the stiffness and pain has gotten a lot less.
Seems like there's a build up in the joints that can be loosened up with movement.

If your calfs are feeling strange hold your foot up and make circles with your foot clockwise and then the other way warm it up.
Loosen those muscles. Massage em with your hands.

It's like if you had a cast on for awhile and you get it off and have to keep moving the joints around to get em back working again.

My thought is if you can keep the build up in the joints from getting too bad with these exercises it may prevent long term damage.

Anyway it does lower the constant irritating achey pain and burning short term.
Keep doing it a few times a day and seems to work better over time.

Also make sure you are hydrated.

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Many of us have complained about increased joint pain. Each case is different most of us take issue with our doctors minimizing sides or making promises that it would be like candy ZERO sides. Zero transparency is more like it.

I am not going to blame the disease of Hep C for side effects that were not not apparent until we touched this poison I refuse to. In addition only now are docs admitting there might be some, might be some uhh really joint pain. I also asked if and when I completed treatment would I feel different once the virus was cleared and the answer was not immediately. A silence... Uhh ever? What's the point then I feel ok now. The few of you know my story I was unable to tolerate the drug and now have many symptoms that were not apparent pre Harvoni. I have yet to speak to anyone who actually feels any different even the successful ones. It's all on their mind that the virus is clear but they feel no change. Those are the few that tolerated the drug without side effects

Think about it no where is it written that you will feel better we can only say that knowing you no longer have the silent killer is one thing. Feeling better physically and the enormous amount that feel worse it's not just old age, this drug caused inclination and other nurological issues. I have constant migraine with aura 24/7 I see aura. This did something to my eyes just haven't had the patience to see an eye doctor my life has been one doc after the other and I never completed treatment. They sure got paid though! Disgusting!

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John while it's a good idea to warm up and move your joints.... I am 17 months post treatment and the pain in my hands and feet is constant. I can't sleep at night from it often. I hope it goes better for you. My life is pain....just constant pain now.

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Wow I thought I was the only one out there post Harvoni that was having pain in my hands and feet and having most nights with little to know sleep because of the pain. Now the nerve damage is going up my legs to my neck now. I have been off now for 14 months. GOD BLESS ALL !!!!! I hope who ever is taking now this does not have the side effects i am having.

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HEPCFREE... My GI Dr. never really admitted to the joint pain, after 2 days of taking it I was having symptoms of dehydration, muscle cramps, light headed, tired... The first nurse I spoke to told me dehydration is not a symptom of Harvoni.. Which it clearly is!! Says on the med form from pharmacy Drink Plenty of water.... My body's way of reacting to a lot of medications is the Dehydrating feeling. So it was nothing new to me, but since the cost of the medicine was so high, and not just the normal $3 for a monthly med. I wanted to know how to counter act the feeling..MY pharmacist suggested Pedialyte.. Not my DR office!

When the joint pain got worse on the leg where I'd just had knee replacement, I basically said I was extremely concerned about the one replacement and still needed the other knee done. Had thought about having it at about 6 months post-op, which would make it September, October, But after the Harvoni, AND the other peoples stories of pain continuing long after stopping... I was afraid I would never be able to get the other knee done and the surgery already preformed would be ruined. So I just stated I Wanted to stop.( I was stopping whether they agreed or not) One of the last things the nurse said to me was, your one month test showed no detection of the HepC, so the drug was working.... But I was losing more then HEPC. I feel better being off it, and my knee hasn't buckled but a few times but I'm having pains in different areas of that knee, that hadn't hurt since before surgery, a few hours after physical therapy today (first time in 3 weeks I was able to go) I had sharp pains in the knee, didn't buckle but hurt like the dickens to stand and walk on. Hoping things improve but fearing the worst. I'm real sorry I ever took Harvoni... As the saying goes "Be Careful What You Wish For!"

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