Mavyret and Fatigue: What Users Say

• LAM...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 21, 2018

For Hepatitis C "First, I have to thank this forum. Talk about doing a service to the public. I ended my treatment 4 days ago of 8 weeks of treatment. And my results were negative for the Hep C virus. Found out today, it means nothing till you take another blood test 3 months after you end treatment of Mavyret. If it worked. I am going to post one more time after this post. It's just super sad, and there are mass media commercials that do not explain the Hep C symptoms. Remember when you do not look sick, no one believes you. With my experience with Hep C, depression started first. Seeking help from DBSA (Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance) in group meetings. Then the fatigue set in, I was in bed over 20 hours a day, over 4 days a week, wishing I was dead. Wanting to kill people I love, which would only be acting on the temporary virus, Hep C symptoms. No one properly explains the symptoms of Hep C and how bad it is. Hopefully someone understands my message."

• Mrz...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 2, 2020

For Hepatitis C "I am on my second week of Mavyret treatment for hep C, Genotype 4a, and have had Hep C for over 30 years. I have good days and some weird days! I take my meds at 11:30 AM with food. Definitely eat! Side effects for me have been anxiety in the midst of the COVID virus (I live in FL), waking up at 3-4 AM with anxious thoughts, some fatigue during the day, and a very slight headache on and off. Hoping for a cure at the end of my 8 weeks! God bless everyone on this journey."

• Joh...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 7, 2020

"I contracted Hepatitis-C in 1998 from unsanitary tattoo equipment, and it has since gone untreated. I am a 56-year-old male, genotype-1, and I began the treatment process four months ago. I started taking Mavyret two months ago and experienced very few side effects. No nausea, no headaches, slight fatigue, and I was able to maintain full-time employment throughout. I was tested at the four-week mark and there was no Hepatitis-C detected in my system. I took my medication at the same time every night before bed, with food, not missing a single dose. I have three days of treatment remaining, and my life has changed considerably. There is finally hope for the future and the stigma is gone. Don't give up hope. Take action!!! Even if you are low income like me, there are doctors and resources who will help you obtain treatment at no cost. This medication saved my life. Now I just have to quit smoking."

• Jea...
• March 13, 2020

For Hepatitis C "I'm from Germany, got HepC in the mid-80s. Happy there finally is an alternative to Interferon/Ribavirin! Started my 9th week (of 12) today. Only had very mild nausea and very mild diarrhea after the first doses, for 3-5 days, but did not feel sick or otherwise unable to work. Also had sudden fatigue that quickly disappeared after I had some rest. After the first week, I hardly even noticed I was on medication. Virus load was tested after W4 - and all HCV had gone, a miracle! Mid-July, I will have my SVR12 test. So let's keep spirits up, folks! Whatever the side effect - HepC has such a bad prognosis, high risks and may also have various co-diseases. There's rashes and joint/muscle pain (which I have had coming and going for some years now), and there may be many more. Hope for alleviation of my joint pain after the medication. I'd like to encourage everyone to go for the therapy. Let's get rid of the virus, and be free to live a healthy life!"

• gr8...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 7, 2019

For Hepatitis C "I have had Hep C since 2000 but did not have insurance that would cover Mavyret until recently. The side effects were not a concern to my doctor. I was seriously ill with bone pain, nausea, fatigue, and headaches. Worst of all, about halfway into treatment, I started getting severe panic attacks - I had never had a panic attack in my entire life. My doctor said it had nothing to do with the medication. Uh, yes, it did. I also developed red lesions on my hands, feet, and legs that have not stopped forming even after three weeks of being off the medication! My doctor says that it is psoriasis, which I have never had as well. I am still suffering with the anxiety and skin lesions today. I hope it worked so it is worth all these side effects. I find out in January if I am free of Hep C, but my mid-treatment blood work showed good signs, so pray for me, pray these lesions go away too, please! Thanks for all the posts and support. I do not feel so alone."

• Rol...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 14, 2019

For Hepatitis C "I finished week 8 of Mavyret on July 17th. Blood tests show no Hep C!!! I must have had it since spring 1981 from a dirty syringe my 'friend' left under my sofa. I was stuck by it the same day he used it and 'hid' it there. Side effects are still happening; severe fatigue, slowly getting better. My doctor told me to hang in there, as 2 - 3 months of side effects after finishing the meds is not uncommon. I felt better just having him tell me that! He also said, '2020 will be one of the best years of my life so far.' So grateful for this medicine, prayers for all of us... PEACE."

• Pau...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 21, 2020

For Hepatitis C "OK, so now I'm a month in. My insides have been a bit soft, but I've found that if you take your Mavyret while eating, then it's not so bad. I've had a bit of fogginess in the brain and bouts of fatigue, waves of depression and anxiety. My advice is don't dwell on the side effects, it'll just make them worse. Let's face it, most of us got Hep C one way, and we know that when you were hanging, if you just got on with things, it wasn't nearly as bad as when you sat around feeling sorry for yourself. Compared with Interferon, this is nothing."

• NW ...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 1, 2019

For Hepatitis C "I have used the Mavyret for 2 weeks now. I get this 'psyched out' feeling like I am worrying and self-absorbed, scared I can't keep taking the med if it worsens. I go to the gym and exercise to help the muscle pain, fatigue, and headache symptoms. I am drinking a ton of water. I am so sensitive to medicine, but I am convinced I will get through this treatment. I have had hep C for over 45 years and I want to cure. May the Lord grant me a miracle."

• Lol...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 11, 2019

For Hepatitis C "11 days post-Mavyret treatment and I feel like garbage every day. Extreme fatigue, muscle weakness, and joint pain! I hope this subsides soon, but from what I’ve read, side effects like this could last up to a year! I’m sorry I ever took the treatment. I never felt this bad in 40 years of being infected! I thought this was going to be good, but so far it's unbelievable how bad I feel. The Mavyret company says, “no side effects like that ever came up in clinical trials.”"

• Lol...
• January 8, 2020

For Hepatitis C "Eight-week course of Mavyret. Side effects weren’t too bad during treatment, but immediately after the course of meds was finished, I was suddenly slammed with severe joint and muscle pain, along with extreme fatigue. Five months out, I am barely able to function. I went from swimming a mile 3-4 days a week to barely being able to swim 1/4 mile once a week. I also did yoga 3-5 days a week for 90 minutes, now, 30 minutes every day IF I’m lucky and have low enough pain, and fatigue doesn’t have me glued in place. This is a BAD drug. I don’t care if it cures every single thing that ails you, it will leave you so debilitated you’ll barely be able to function. I’m keeping my eye out for a class action suit."

• Cat...
• August 17, 2019

For Hepatitis C "So my PCP and then GI doc both assured me side effects with Mavyret are negligible. Nothing could be further from the truth; and they seem to be cumulative. Not much for the first week, then nausea to the point where I couldn’t eat. Next came the headaches, which were bad enough, but then came the fatigue/bone tired/flu-like feeling, including brain fog. I am almost six weeks into treatment, and the pattern seems to be I can “function” one day, followed by a day when I can only get out of bed to get to the bathroom. I didn’t research side effects of this drug because even though I am a pretty stalwart person who doesn’t give in to illness without a fight, I also didn’t want to be suggestible. Multiple calls to my docs have been futile. I have been told multiple times to “suck it up” and finish treatment."

• LAM...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 9, 2018

For Hepatitis C "I’m 6 1/2 weeks into treatment. Found out I’m Geno 1. Week 5 was a rough one. 3-4 of the days were like I was not getting better. Super fatigue in bed 11 to 14 hours. Sore knee and ankle joints. Hep C symptoms. But the symptoms have pretty much subsided in week 6. My energy level is still about 50% in my opinion. Also, I need to mention my job is outside and physical. I’m drenched in sweat daily. So I am pretty good on diet for more energy. Still a little concerned about my energy level, with only 10 days left. Will post again after treatment."

• Rol...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 20, 2019

For Hepatitis C "I'm a 62-year-old male. Was diagnosed with HEP C in April. Luckily, my insurance and the $5 co-pay has got me no out-of-pocket expense. I will take my dose today at 5:30 with food. This will make 5 full weeks, 3 more weeks to go. I must have had this for years and years. I knew something was wrong, thank goodness I found the right doctor! Like others, I have had some fatigue and nausea, but I'm SO GRATEFUL for the makers of this drug. Hang in there, everyone, I'm feeling so good and super optimistic about the future!!!"

• Bik...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 7, 2019

For Hepatitis C "Just started week 6 yesterday of an 8-week treatment plan. The first two weeks were pretty smooth. Mild nausea and a little fatigue and dizziness. After my second week, my urine turned real dark, almost the color of root beer, but after I flush myself out with water, everything went back to normal with that. I have lost a lot of energy and feel a little lightheaded, so I don't drive as much as I used to. The good news is I've done blood work at 4 weeks and the virus was undetected. Looking forward to getting these next two weeks behind me. The only tips that I have for anyone under this treatment are to stay extra hydrated and eat a healthy diet. Good luck to all."

• Jim...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 13, 2020

For Hepatitis C "Started Mavyret exactly a month ago, and I didn’t see any side effects for the first three weeks, but now I feel like I have the flu. Initially, I assumed it was the flu, but after reading a lot of these posts, I’m convinced it’s the meds. Side effects include chronic headache, lightheadedness, loss of appetite, fatigue, sweating, and my mental health is worse than usual, also chest pains. I’m grateful for the opportunity to have this disease cured. I also believe I will be able to make it to the end result no problem, but it’s nice to know these side effects aren’t super rare, thanks to everyone who posted their experiences."

• Bro...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 4, 2019

For Hepatitis C "So I was diagnosed with hep C in 2013 and started treatment (Mavyret) at the beginning of May 2019, my last dose was Tuesday. The overall experience was great. I had very mild side effects (headaches, fatigue, and occasional bellyache) the first couple of weeks. I felt amazing! I had so much energy and felt normal again. It was great. I had a few bad days throughout the 8 weeks of treatment, but overall it helped me so much! I now feel good again, I don’t want to stay in bed all day, and I'm actually getting my appetite back! Since ending my treatment, I’m still having headaches and have felt a little weird the last day or two. Does anyone know how long the side effects will last after you finish treatment? Are there any withdrawal symptoms? I didn’t think to ask my doctor and am kind of curious. I’m so glad I found this site! It’s awesome to see other people on the same journey as me! Good luck to everyone!"

• Zeu...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 7, 2019

For Hepatitis C "I am from Australia. I only found out 2 months ago that I have Hep C, the Egypt strain, which doesn't affect the liver until you reach your mid-60s. Then you get very sick. I had symptoms of an STD and went in for a blood test. The test showed I also had Hep C for decades. Wow, was I shocked. To cut a long story short, this is my third day of taking Mavyret. The first two hours of taking the three tabs, I felt nothing. Two hours later, I was so cold, and it was a hot day. I had to put on the heater plus a jumper. This lasted 6 hours. After that, no other side effect except for feeling like I have taken a sleeping tablet-a sluggish feeling, but tolerable-and some nice dreams. I sleep really well, so no other effects so far. I would like to thank the scientists who came up with this little miracle that is saving lives. Take my hat off to you guys, cheers so much."

• Jay...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 22, 2019

For Hepatitis C "I'm 36 years old and I have had Hep C since high school due to a dirty tattoo needle. I started taking the medication 5 weeks ago, and today my labs came back Hep C undetectable. I'm a professional bodybuilder and can honestly say I have not missed a day at the gym due to side effects. The first week is the hardest because of the fatigue, but as the weeks went on, the side effects got less and less. Week five, and I have no side effects at all, I feel great, and I'm Hep C free. If you are worried about taking the medication because of side effects, DON'T BE. I am forever grateful, and thank you to the makers for providing a nurse to answer all my questions and counsel me through the process. It's like having another shot at life."

• Mon...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 6, 2017

For Hepatitis C "I'm on my last six days of my eight-week treatment. First round of labs is looking promising. Second set is next week. *Fingers crossed.* And the side effects are very real, and no, I'm not just stating a headache, nausea, and fatigue. About four weeks in, I noticed a mental decline. Bouts of depression, anxiety, and at times immense irritation, plus facial blemishes, thinning hair, weight gain, and excessive sweating. Worth it, I hope, considering if one stops treatment, the likelihood of insurance authorizing another is very unlikely. I have always had adverse reactions to medicines (my luck), ultimately, the potential benefits are worth it. Treatments' alleged side effects suck vs. Hep C and its damage... treatment was an easy win."

• Joy...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 4, 2019

For Hepatitis C "Started 8-week Mavyret treatment on June 3, 2019. First 16 days were good. Then had flu-like conditions for 10 days. Don't think it was related to treatment. Overall, treatment has been good. I noticed I’m more tired and have a little less energy. I’ve lost weight, but that is due to the flu or virus or whatever it was! I started with a viral load of about 6 million. Got my 4-week test done, and I am now down to 15. A little disappointed it is still detected, but sometimes that happens, and I’m sure by the time I am done, it will be gone. My advice is the same as everyone else's: lots of water. I take my pills at dinnertime. The AbbVie nurse who calls to check on me is wonderful. I will be glad when all of this is just a bad memory. Good luck to everyone."

• Dee...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 15, 2019

For Hepatitis C "Two weeks of Mavyret treatment to go. Occasional loss of appetite, sometimes a slight headache, but not even needing an aspirin. No aches, brain fog, fatigue, or nausea. Blood work at four weeks showed I hadn't cleared the virus completely, but my count went from over 1 million to 15. 15.....! Almost there! I take the pills around 7 pm with food, hasn't affected my sleep, energy level, or concentration. Based on my experience 18 years ago with Interferon/Ribavirin, (virus came back after 18 months of that brutal, life-sapping treatment, during which it went undetectable) I was expecting the same side effects, if of a lesser intensity. I'm calling this the miracle we've been praying for."

• Deb...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 29, 2020

For Hepatitis C "I just finished one month of treatment on Mavyret, and the side effects are definitely easing up. The effects at first were harsh: flu-like symptoms, fatigue, tummy ache, fogginess, and probably the nausea was the worst of all for me. (I suffer from migraines, so I’m more sensitive to nausea), but it’s lessening as I enter into the second month. I go for a first-month checkup on Monday, so I’m hoping things are looking good. Do the treatment, your health is the first priority. You will get through this, and once you're hep C free, this will be a distant memory. Good luck, fellow patients!!!"

• Dre...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 17, 2019

For Hepatitis C "I'm on my second day of Mavyret. Haven't had any side effects yet, so that's a good sign. Have waited 20 years for this, and I'm so happy it finally came on March 15, 2019, at 12:45 PM. I'm doing the 8-week treatment, and it comes in 4 small boxes (for a month with 7 individual smaller boxes (in slots) with the 3 pills in each one, one box for each week. You take 3 pills at once, and my doctor told me to eat at least 30 minutes before you take it and drink lots of water the whole time you're on the treatment. This way it would help with the side effects. So for 2 days, I've been drinking lots of water, and I eat a healthy meal 30 minutes before taking my pills. I decided to eat at 5 PM and take my pills at 5:45 PM. Gave myself 15 minutes to eat and 30 minutes for my food to settle a little bit. And since my doc said it could cause fatigue, I chose to take it after dinner just in case I get tired. This way my whole day isn't wasted by being even more tired than usual."

• Car...
• September 23, 2019

For Hepatitis C "Took Mavyret for 8 weeks. Finished April 22nd and the virus is undetected. Feel blessed to have gotten rid of it. So it’s been a full 5 months since I finished. The first 3 weeks taking Mavyret, I had no side effects, but for the remaining 5 weeks, I felt like death. Never been that sick in my life (extreme fatigue, brain fog, depression, chest pain, right tightness, irritable muscle weakness, itchy skin, nightmares, nauseous). Was in bed 20+ hours a day. Good thing is I’m starting to feel better, but very slowly. Most days I have nausea. Fatigue (I’m in bed 15 hours a day), bone and joint pain, irritable. But every day gets a tiny bit better. This has been challenging, but I’m cured. * Also, has anyone else had a recurring candida infection after or during Mavyret treatment?"

• Car...
• September 23, 2019

For Hepatitis C "Took Mavyret for 8 weeks. Finished April 22nd and the virus is undetected. Feel blessed to have gotten rid of it. So it’s been a full 5 months since I finished. The first 3 weeks taking Mavyret, I had no side effects, but for the remaining 5 weeks, I felt like death. Never been that sick in my life (extreme fatigue, brain fog, depression, chest pain, right tightness, irritable muscle weakness, itchy skin, nightmares, nauseous). Was in bed 20+ hours a day. Good thing is I’m starting to feel better, but very slowly. Most days I have nausea. Fatigue (I’m in bed 15 hours a day), bone and joint pain, irritable. But every day gets a tiny bit better. This has been challenging, but I’m cured. * Also, has anyone else had a recurring candida infection after or during Mavyret treatment?"