Harvoni Side Effects (Page 5) (Top voted first)

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

REPLY

REPORT

Re: Tina1624 (# 687)

I think that big pharmaceutical and Drs are covering for this garbage. I also went off at 3 wks and have never been the same, it was like I took a pill named demonic possession. Depressed, achy, high b/p, thyroid issues... I still have hep C but they are $100,000 richer. When are they going to hear the people?

REPLY

Was this helpful? 3

Does anyone know if the back and leg pain or any of the other negative side effects go away? I've been off meds for about 10 days but still have them.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 2

No it doesn't. I think it depends on person. I've been thru with meds since February. Unfortunately, I now walk with a walker, when I can walk. I can barely stand longer than a half hour and no I did not have trouble before.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 2

Stef........are you saying that Harvoni has caused you to not be able to walk?

REPLY

Was this helpful? 2

Me too. Prayers for us all!!I'm hoping this pain will go away soon. Having ct scan.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 2

I have finished the regimen an d didn't really have too much of a problem with the meds.Since then, I have lost right at 45 lbs. Food doesn't taste good. I am a very good cook and can't eat my own cooking. I have gotten weak and short of breath. Any real exertion and I feel like my chest is going to burst, I can't continue because I have NO strength in my legs. I have eaten out and wasted my money because of the taste. There are a very few things that I tolerate the taste of to see if I can keep what weight I have left. I also have what feels like nerve explosions in my legs and feet.I have been off of the Harvoni for about 3 months and see no change in myself. I'm retired and had a part time job that I cannot do any more.My friends are always asking me why I'm losing so much weight and all I can say is that the side effects, which seem to be here to stay. I had planned to move to Missouri to be with my kids and grandkids, BUT, now those plans are on hold until this crap goes away. Yes, this has definitely been a life changing event, and I DON'T LIKE IT ONE BIT !!!

REPLY

Was this helpful? 2

Same back pain that radiates toy groin are and it is excruciating. Goes down my thigh and leg. Treatment is over. Took last pill a few days ago. I sure want to get back to normal.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 2

I think the people who are upset and in pain after taking Harvoni are merely expressing their frustration. If and when you take Harvoni, I hope the doctors and others will know more about the drug and it's side effects. We were told we would have "headaches, tiredness" and now we have serious problems that aren't even being addressed by the medical field because they don't know enough about this new drug. By the way, I couldn't afford Harvoni but I worked very hard to obtain an authorization from my insurance company to pay for it. If you are sick enough and proactive, you may get some help in paying for it yourself. Beware of what you wish for and try to understand why these people are frightened and a bit resentful as they feel they were lied to.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 2

New Day-yes, the more I think about it the more I am convinced it is a cash cow for all parties. The Pharmecutical company, the Fed Ex only pharmacy and the Drs. The whole thing is draining Medicare dry financially. Like I said, I had no liver damage but was pushed into it because insurance would cover it now

REPLY

Was this helpful? 2

I was on 400mg Harvoni and 1,000MG Ribavirin for 16 days. From the day I started taking these meds I honestly thought I was going to die. The Veterans Administration kept telling me to continue with my meds that I would soon feel better. They said there were no side effects and lead me to believe I was going crazy. Eventually I ended up in the hospital so tests could be run on my heart. The point of this statement is that yes the federal and state governments are pushing this drug. The poor on Medicaid and Medicare they get it for free. Inmates in prisons and jails are also being subscribed said meds. We can't forget those who served our country and use us/them as guinea pigs.

The government has to be experimenting with this drug. At $1,400 a pill it's not cheap for a three month cure. I'm very suspicious and question the VA when they give me any medical diagnosis now. I have geno type 1, stage 1 with no cirrosis and a slightly elevated viral count. There was no reason medically for me to have taken these drugs. I also had two liver biopsies and a fibroscan. After 9 years of arguing about it with them I finally gave in because they told me "You can develop liver cancer if you don't take these pills". I have a granddaughter and her face flashed in my mind when the told me this. Never, never again do I trust doctors. I put them on the same list as Lawyers and Dentists.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 2

I also have been having kidney problems and nerve problems in my neck after being off of Harvoni for 5 months now. I have nausea most days when I wake up and I do not start to feel better until several hours. I also have pain in my hands. The worst part for me beside the nerve pain in my neck is the struggle of every single night of now having permanent insomnia. I am grateful that the virus is gone but I wish I would have never taken it because I feel so much worse now than I ever have in my life. I wonder if anyone else is dealing with these side effects after being off of Harvoni for a while.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 2

Please report these to Harvoni, this drug is poison. I am off of this now one wk today and I am just getting my mind back. Funny you mention neck pain my neck was killing me so bad I couldn't turn it. Doc just asked if the nerve pain went down to my fingers. Suggestion see a neurologist and do not let them say its in your mind. Upon more research I found out there were only 500 in the blind study that's not a lot of people, half were probably very, very ill half in placebo. I was furious when my doc offered me more pain meds to stay on. Not knowing what was causing the sides, I was also on hormone that should have been discontinued.

This drug is new and they are compiling data while price gauging. I am so angry I can't begin to tell you. Leave my liver alone unless you can provide a safe, affordable treatment. I hope you get well and recover.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 2

I am truly not a fan of Harvoni and work daily to inform people what the drug can do to you. I would not tell people not to take the drug. That is truly a personal decision. But we need to be sure that we spread the word that indeed fatigue and headache are not the only side effects. With aniti-virals known to cause mitochondrial toxicity..this results in any variety of unpredictable health problems.
There can be permanent damage to other parts of the body and many of are living proof of that. And yes, I agree...report to the FDA, not Gilead. Gilead supposedly reports to the FDA but they have also been tagged in a study that they regularly fail to report properly. Blessings to all.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 2

If you tell people to stay away you take away their choice. By all means tell them your experience and those of others. I am personally on a crusade to educate whoever I can that this stuff is not what the commercials or their doctors are telling them. Then they are educated and can make their own decision. I would not want to be responsible for telling someone to not take a drug that could and likely would cure them only to have their health take a turn for the worse. I certainly do not want any more people to be harmed by this drug such as me and hundreds of others but I will not be responsible for making a decision for them. I am not on the side of Gilead or any of their Hep C drugs.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 2

You are a very brave person. I don't know how badly you need a cure for your Hep C, but I think something will come around in the next couple of years that will be better than Harvoni. The worst part of this whole thing for me was the doctors who convinced me that I needed the Harvoni and even submitted inaccurate tests to the insurance company in order to receive my authorization. I felt better before I ever touched the stuff and was doing fine.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 2

(2 Months off the 8 wk treatment, Viral load count 0)
I wasn't sick prior to taking Harvoni and felt just fine, the Dr said I was healthy and could possibly never be affected by the HepC Virus and if I did want treatment to wait a few years for better drugs. Along came Harvoni and the Dr got approval and out the door I went.

Side effects during treatment: Nausea, Fatigue, Headaches

Side effects 2 months after treatment: Nausea, fatigue, Headaches, Joint pain, Digestive problems, insomnia, depression..... I am in constant pain and always tired I feel like doing absolutely nothing. I wish I had never taken the drug, if these side effects don't ever go away I'm going to wind up having to take pain killers for the rest of my life.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 2

Join the club. There are many of us with these side effects when all there was supposed to be was headache and fatigue and no one said our problems now would be permanent. I am more than a year post and still having similar problems. In fact, all the docs are saying it cannot be the Harvoni. HA! I have FDA reports that show thousands of reports of problems, yet we are hearing nothing. I will gladly share with whoever wants them. This site does not allow email addresses or I would put it here.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 2

It's 2 wks off now from the 2 wks Harvoni. My b/p is still elevated and I had a strange dizziness today when I stood up. It was only 2 wks but each day worst then the next.
I know you are all angry because we don't know what the long term sides are. Will there be something more serious later on? I hope not. Just hang in, report these to the FDA they want to hear them. Also don't let your docs tell you it couldn't be the Harvoni, though many tolerate it well. Many do Not. It's the Harvoni. I still feel it, there is some CNS reaction. If only we were told. Health and healing and keep posting, we are all helping one another.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 2

I am post Harvoni 8 months. I had some fatigue, insomnia and stomach upset during 12 week treatment but it was tolerable. I had and still have foot pain. Also pain in my ankles and calves, severe heartburn and muscle weakness. Difficulty working out. Walking is painful. Hep C was undetected since week 2 on Harvoni and I'm still Hep-C free 8 months post treatment. Feel better every day and feel optimistic symptoms will continue to improve. Best of luck

REPLY

Was this helpful? 2

Hi. I took Harvoni for 12 weeks. At 10 weeks post treatment now. I felt pretty much ok while taking it. It did damage tho. My ears started ringing 8 weeks in to treatment and my vision was affected immediately. I'm much more fatigued now and can't shake minor colds.
In talking with others and reading medical journals, the nerve damage or other damage a person experiences from this drug is due to mitochondrial damage. It works on a cellular level, also damaging or interfering with our own RNA that we need to remain healthy and functioning. I don't know if this can be fixed or not. I've read that lipid replacement helps rebuild cell walls. They sell it online and health stores. Going to try it actually.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 2

Hi my wife has just started harvoni - about 9 days or so now - and she is getting swelling in left leg and also feels li...

59 REPLIES

I stopped the first interferon based meds for hep c1 because of severe rotational dizziness on the slightest movement; t...

5 REPLIES

As I read the side effects I find myself getting more and more annoyed at big pharma. If you google Gilead and litigatio...

109 REPLIES

I had Harvoni treatment last spring. I am not the same. My nervous system is a wreck. My anxiety problems have increased...

263 REPLIES

Curious, I've started my 5th week of treatment and am wondering if anyone has experienced similar side effects as me...

52 REPLIES

I'm 64 yrs old, geno 3 hvc, I have emphasemia, fibroscan 7.1 (not too bad), viral load high. I'm considering tx,...

1 REPLY

I need to know of any side effects that may occur while taking this medication. ## Are there any risks to taking this me...

487 REPLIES

side effects of cherrifer vitamins ## I chanced upon your site researching for side effects of Cherifer. You sent me an ...

281 REPLIES

I have been on suboxone now for just under a month. I think it is an amazing drug, i have had no cravings or interest in...

262 REPLIES

I am taking one capsule a day of this vitamin with my breakfast, but have very severe nausea after taking it. Is this co...

185 REPLIES