Mavyret and Headaches: What Users Say (Page 3)

• CAM...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 21, 2019

For Hepatitis C "When I posted last time, it was day one of treatment. Now I am starting week 7 in two days. So far, so good. My 4-week blood results went from a starting viral load of 1,600,000 to below 15 & not truly measurable below 15. I have read that is considered a 0? Hoping in 9 days, when I do 8 wk blood, to have a true 0 viral load. Side effects: headache & fatigue, especially in the late afternoon. Sure beats interferon I did 15 years ago. Pray the treatment is truly the cure, I will continue to post. At F3 fibrosis, so pray the cure will allow the liver to rejuvenate? Lastly, to those that posted worries about having Hep B as well, I have had it & no problem with flare-ups. Prior to Mavyret approval, they test your B status, so you should be fine. Good luck to all & GOD BLESS the people from Mavyret!"

• SHE...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 1, 2018

For Hepatitis C "I'm 3 weeks into a 12-week treatment. The first couple of weeks were up, down, headache, nausea, fatigue. Third week much better. I find it's much easier if you stay hydrated. Not just a little bit, I'm talking at least a gallon of water a day. Sometimes more. I take my dose right before bed with a snack so I sleep through a lot of the beginning side effects. It works for me. Also, high-fat meals make absorption much better. Good luck, all."

• Rab...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 26, 2018

For Hepatitis C "On week 5 of the Mavyret and just got my 4-week blood results back and found it to drop from over 9 million to just 120 with a little over 4 weeks to go. Very little side effects. Some headaches and fatigue at first, but didn't stop any everyday activity."

• Tih...
• July 4, 2018

For Hepatitis C "I’m on my day 8 of Mavyret. I’ve experienced all side effects so far, but mostly on the light side. Headache is there, but not hard enough that I felt like taking something for it. A few times a day there’s light dizziness. And there’s certainly fatigue - especially at night when about 7 pm I start feeling like I’ve been up for several days. Short naps don’t help. I take the pills at 12:30 pm every day. But, as I said, none of those effects are that hard so far. I’ll leave another review when I’m done with my 8-week treatment prescribed. On a positive side, this fatigue also ensures I sleep like a baby at night. Haven’t slept this well for years. Hope the medicine is working! Will find out in a couple of weeks when I get my first bloodwork done. Had Hep C for 20+ years so far, with no symptoms but at stage 2 of fibrosis."

• Aft...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 15, 2024

For Hepatitis C "For ten days after the 8-week treatment ended, I was continuing to have headaches and digestive disruption. Once this settled, weeks flew by, and the post-treatment 4-week tests were done and returned results of 'cured'. It is taking a few days to sink in that the treatment worked and something I have lived with for 30 years is cured and out of my life. I am walking forward today for the first time in many months, looking forward to what being healthy will look and feel like in my life. While the treatment and after were 9 weeks of being really unwell, all I can say to others is persevere through the tough days, have supportive people around, and keep believing in your body's ability to heal."

• RVO...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 30, 2018

For Hepatitis C "First 8 days complete, on my second packet, had a lot of anxiety around when to take and how I would feel after reading so much about possible side effects. Thankful that after a week, I feel just about the same, very mild headache, rated 1-2 out of 10, don't really notice, no nausea, no insomnia. Feel a bit cold a couple hours after I take them, not sure if it's my head, but it's consistent. I am fully functional and energy is great!"

• Boa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 11, 2019

For Hepatitis C "Day 11 on Mavyret. Very, very mild side effects. Day 5 had a little tummy trouble. Day 10, a very slight headache. This medicine is amazing. Do not be afraid of the side effects, get the treatment. Will update as I move along."

• Sha...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 23, 2019

For Hepatitis C "I started my medication on Jan 25th, 2019. I was diagnosed with Hep C 5 years ago and finally sought treatment after having 2 kids. Right now, I'm currently on week 5 of my treatment. I barely have side effects, and I have noticed an increase in my energy. The first 2 weeks, I had no side effects. Around the start of my 3rd week, I started to experience slight headaches and occasional nausea. I noticed if I snack all day and eat 30 minutes prior to taking the medication, I have no side effects at all. I also have been staying pretty hydrated. So far, things have been good, and I have 3 weeks left on my 8-week regimen. Just praying and hoping this works. But I do have hope in this."

• rub...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 13, 2019

For Hepatitis C "I've been on Mavyret for 5 weeks. So far, several light headaches, intensely itchy feet sometimes that drive me mad! And rare bouts of intense, but brief nausea. Once or twice, I've had huge thirst outrages. No blood tests yet, will update then. Life is pretty much normal, and treatment has been a doddle overall. Oh, I have had the odd vertigo and tiredness. One day I slept 5 hours, that was once. Had hep C for 30 years, since a teen, genotype 3A. My viral load was only 95,000."

• Mea...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 9, 2020

For Hepatitis C "I have had hepatitis C since 2013, and it is now 2020. I started Mavyret 4 weeks ago, and my blood work from the third week mark showed my chronically high AST and ALT levels have normalized drastically. On top of that, my viral load went from 650,000 to 15, this is an amazing medication. The first two weeks, I had diarrhea, a pounding headache, stomach discomfort, and major fatigue. Fatigue is still an issue. I wish I had gotten this medication sooner, as I have mild liver fibrosis. Don’t wait to get treated for hep C, this medication is expensive, however, there are ways to get treatment without coming out of pocket. Thank you, Optimum Health."

• Ohi...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 7, 2018

For Hepatitis C "In week 4 with the Mavyret and about to do 1st blood work. Have had a little headache but not bad and some diarrhea, but it kept up after 1st week. My energy level is amazing, I haven't felt like this in years. I am grateful and blessed that I got accepted to do this 8-week program. I will update you as I do the follow-up blood works. If you get denied, please keep appealing your insurance - you will win eventually. I had to try 3 times with appeals, and finally, I got it. I know it's working because I feel amazing."

• Emi...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 15, 2018

For Hepatitis C "So I commented before. After 2 weeks, viral load was 0. 4 weeks, AST and ALT and all blood work normal! BUT, not to be ungrateful, my stomach is jacked up. I have 2 weeks left. I have no energy, nonstop diarrhea and gas, constant headaches (mild). I've found Tylenol helps better than Advil/naproxen. I start a new job in 2 days. I thought about going to the ER today to get a stomach workup. But after reading other comments, it makes me feel better that the kidney/liver gas pain isn't that abnormal. I've also reported symptoms. Say a prayer for energy and diarrhea at the new job, hahaha! Even though I'm clear, I'll definitely keep taking meds to make sure I'm cured!"

• Pen...
• February 24, 2018

For Hepatitis C "Two weeks to go, and BW came back 'undetected.' I have to agree with SM888's review posted on Feb 5th. I agree, as treatment continues week after week, certain side effects feel worse. I do get headaches often, and my digestive system is a mess. My worst side effect is the tiredness. My hobby is sleeping. It's overwhelming at times. I just want to sleep or take several naps throughout the day. Zero motivation, and my body feels too heavy to move and stuck in Lala land. It's all worth it, though. There's light at the end of the tunnel!"

• sar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 1, 2023

For Hepatitis C "I was pretty anxious to start, the bad reviews always stick in my mind, but I'm on day 3 now. I am a 52-year-old female, had hep C for 26 years. I am not on any other meds and have no other health conditions. I take it with a meal around 7 pm. The first day, I felt really tired for about an hour after taking that lasted until about noon. On the second day, I took it with a smaller meal, and after about an hour, felt tired, had a mild headache, and was a little itchy, felt great the next day. On the third day, I took it with a bigger meal, and I feel a little tired. I've had strange vivid dreams also. I always take it with 32 oz. water and drink it throughout the day. I feel okay so far. I will add to my review if I experience something more than I've included already. Otherwise, I will post at the end of treatment."

• Ms ...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 13, 2018

For Hepatitis C "I've had hep C for a very long time, early '90s. I tried to get treatment but kept getting denied by my insurance. As time went on, my knees, back, and neck felt like I was 80 years old. When I went back to see my GI doctor, she told me it was from the hep C. So I wanted to try again, and a biopsy was taken and some lab work. I got denied again, so I waited for about a year, and I switched my insurance, and lo and behold, I was approved for this medication. I'm on my third box, one box left, which lasts a week, and I have to go in the first week of October for my blood work. Now, the first day I took the medicine, I had a headache. The second day I had a headache, and I had really bad diarrhea, and my stomach was flipping. So the diarrhea is not that bad, but I still have it here and there. Right now, I'm on day 2 of feeling like I have the flu. I'm drinking ginger tea and soup. I can't wait to get this bug (hep C) out of my body. We'll keep everyone posted in 3 weeks."

• Eli...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 8, 2018

For Hepatitis C "I'm a month in on the Mavyret! And I have more energy, and feeling so much better! The best I've felt in 7 yrs playing with my kids, hanging out with my hubby!! A big thanks to whomever came up with this treatment! And I've had no bad side effects except an occasional headache!"

• Pen...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 31, 2018

For Hepatitis C "I finished my dosage (my eight weeks), and I'm just wondering if anybody else is experiencing headaches and diarrhea after finishing your treatment? I experience headaches and diarrhea during the treatment time, and ankles, knees, and feet hurt."

• Nis...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 14, 2018

For Hepatitis C "Amazing, no detectable virus after 1 MONTH!! Second blood test undetectable... I finished my treatment in 12/2017. The best hep C medicine out there. The worst problem I had was mild headaches. I am hep C free and loving life!!"

• Sev...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 18, 2019

For Hepatitis C "I have Hep C contracted from a tattoo needle in 1988 or '89. I found out in 1983. I did a course of interferon and ribavirin in 1997 for six months, and it was brutal. I have genotype 3, and as I have been previously treated and not cured, I have to take a 16-week course of Mavyret. I have just finished day 7, and I feel great. I was getting a tiny headache, but not enough to warrant a painkiller. I have no other side effects. I take the pills every night at 6 pm and only need to have a small amount of food. I usually suffer from fatigue, although I am quite active. I will usually go, go, go, and crash really hard for a couple of days. I've been waiting for the 'crash' to come, and it's not coming. I feel wonderful. I have never not had fatigue my entire adult life, so I am just so happy so far. I wish everyone else out there the best of luck! By the way, this drug has just been funded by a drug company in New Zealand, so I don't have to pay. Amazing."

• Hap...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 5, 2018

For Hepatitis C "I've had type 6 for 30 years, and no cirrhosis present. I was denied the Harvoni by my insurance company, appealed it, lost 3 times, changed doctors, and got approved for the Mavyret. At week 4, my viral load was zero. I start week 8 tomorrow, and then I have one more blood test for week 8 and a 3-month follow-up. I have only had the headache and gas, no other side effects, some itching here and there, but nothing to warrant stopping using the Mavyret. I am thankful it seems to be working for me, so I will update you at week 8 blood work and 3 months later. If you are having trouble getting approved, change doctors. For some reason, they got an approval 1st try, no appeals, so thankful, and I hope everyone does well with the med!"

• Jus...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 14, 2018

For Hepatitis C "I've had Hep C for about 20 years with minimal side effects, so it was easy to forget about. I'm 42 and just recently started to feel tired and sluggish, so I figured I should talk to my primary doctor about treatment. With all of the new medication out there, it was a no-brainer. My insurance approved my Mavyret treatment, and I've been taking it for about 8 days now. I have definite side effects from it: headaches and pretty terrible nausea, and an all-around crappy and tired feeling. The nausea is almost nonstop, but the tired feeling seems to come on shortly after I take the medicine and lasts for several hours. Regardless of the side effects, I still feel blessed to have been approved for this treatment."

• cau...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 15, 2024

For Hepatitis C "Thank you everyone for posting, I'm halfway through week 5 of Mavyret and have only had 3 decent nights' sleep since starting treatment. I had headaches the first 3 weeks and a complete loss of appetite the first 16 days, with recurring extreme hunger in the middle of the night (despite eating highly nutritious foods). I'm a lacto-ovo vegetarian and recommend any vegetarians taking this treatment to eat additional protein (like eggs) and extra fat in their diet when taking the tablets to aid digestion. I take the medication after dinner, no alcohol, etc. I am unsure yet if the treatment has worked (tests are not until a month after finishing treatment). I agree with many comments that the emotional toll of the treatment is quite high at times. Be easy on yourself while on this treatment, eat a very good diet, and do things that make you happy. I am also feeling colder than usual (body temperature)... here's hoping it works!"

• Eli...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 29, 2022

For Hepatitis C "True to what it is meant to do, but this medicine was a complete nightmare. I was on the couch for the majority of my 8 weeks. 2 hours after taking a dose, I would be falling asleep anywhere. Unable to keep my eyes open, and that was only the beginning. At the halfway mark of my 8 weeks, I started to get nausea and horrible headaches. On top of that, diarrhea sometimes, with the worst stomach pain. The worst part was the chest pain and chest tightness that lasted for a week. Went to the hospital and was told nothing was wrong. I dealt with it thinking it's just 4 more weeks. Now I have just finished my treatment as of 3 days ago, and the aftereffects are worse. I am running to the bathroom all day, trying to take it easy through the chest tightness, and just straight-up feel overwhelming anxiety, which is yet another side effect the doctor swore could not be from this medicine, like the chest pain. But others have it too, so maybe it's time to change that side effects list."

• Mav...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 3, 2018

For Hepatitis C "I just began my 8-week treatment, and the first 2 days I had slight headaches, nothing major. Today is day four, but I have not yet had time to take my fourth dose, and I woke up with chest pains, headache, and stomach cramps. Not sure if all of this is related. The headache is still very light, but I'm more concerned about the chest pain. Has anyone experienced side effects besides the two listed on their website? And I'm so tired all the time!"

• ADE...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 10, 2019

For Hepatitis C "Just finished my 12-week treatment, not had a blood test done yet but feel way better. Had headaches, fatigue, and some psychological issues, but nothing too bad. I still feel very tired though on occasion. Had Hep C for 27 years without knowing, only found out after rotating back from Libya in 2010, so fingers crossed."