Harvoni and Headaches: What Users Say (Page 2)

• jus...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 2, 2016

For Hepatitis C "Thanks so much for sharing your stories. Glad to hear I am not the only one with sides and appear to be all over the place with most people and alleviate here and there. So there is hope yet. Into my second day and feel ghastly. Threw up today 4 hours after taking the pill. The nausea got me. If this occurs within 5 hours of taking a pill, you are supposed to take another one. Not this chick! Sides kicked in first day. Muscle/joint pain, yuk taste in mouth, no appetite, insomnia, nausea, mild headache, exhaustion, weakness. I've been languishing in bed for 1 and 1/2 days. Am female Australian, 65 years old, 55 kg and 5 feet tall. I believe the smaller you are the harder treatment is or else I am just super sensitive...jilly"

• Bye...
• April 29, 2016

For Hepatitis C "I received 3 pints of blood in 1982 when my son was born 10 weeks early. I found out I had 1aC in 1995 with mild cirrhosis, 600,000 VL. Today marked the end of my 4th week of Harv. I had blood work done and find out Tuesday if the virus is gone. I'm on the 12-week treatment and I'm terrified of medicine, but I stay focused on the end result of being rid of this. Take at noon with food on my stomach. Drink lots of water. ALT was 100, now 21. No diarrhea or insomnia. The first 10 days were flu-like, dizziness, stuffy and hoarse, mild headache. I already feel like a new person though. Side effects almost gone. More energy and enthusiasm. Take rest time when needed. Just hold my breath and counting the days. Try to not dwell on it. Thankful for the cure!"

• Beb...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 28, 2016

For Hepatitis C "I'm 4 weeks into an 8-week course of Harvoni. The only side effect was one night of insomnia, followed by the occasional light headache. Amazingly, my scalp condition, which was very itchy and quite painful at times, began to clear within days. I was told a long time ago it was a side effect of the virus, which is genotype 1A. I'm a 52-year-old male, I go to the gym every other day, and life has resumed as normal. Looking forward to blood results next week. I will be back with information ASAP. Can't express my thanks enough for the help and the people who made it possible."

• Jac...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 19, 2016

For Hepatitis C "Type 1a, probably contracted 25 years ago. My liver panel was normal, 0-1 fibrosis with doc saying it was extremely mild at worst, viral count at 500,000 at the beginning of Harvoni. Viral count after two weeks was"

• Tre...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 1, 2016

For Hepatitis C "I contracted the hep C virus between Nov 2004 and Nov 2006, possibly using IV drugs. Cleaned myself up Dec 2006, which is when I found out I had the virus. Nine years later, I was blessed enough to get on Harvoni. So far, I haven't had many side effects from the meds, ranging from light headaches and a little weight loss, which is most likely due to not being able to eat. My acid reflux meds make it hard to eat a variety of foods. All very minor. :) I started treatment Dec 10th, 2015, and I finish Feb 3rd, 2016 (three more pills). Then I go in for blood work to check for detection. I'm really hoping to get this monkey off my back so I can live stigma-free. Thank you to my doctor and Gilead for this opportunity. God bless you all."

• WCT...
• June 1, 2016

For Hepatitis C "Was diagnosed with hep C in 2002. Doctor says probably have had it for more than 40 years. Like many, have no idea how the disease was contracted. Have tried two previous treatments of interferon with no success. Started Harvoni 12 weeks ago, was undetectable after 4 weeks. Have suffered some aggravating side effects since my first week: headaches, fatigue, brain fog, and heartburn. Side effects subsided after three weeks but now have returned after 12 weeks. Got 12 more to go, I'll make it through. Not nearly as bad as interferon. Thanks, Gilead, for the good work."

• myn...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 23, 2015

For Hepatitis C "I have had fatigue, headache, insomnia, and nausea. It is still much better than the interferon and ribavirin meds. My doctor had hoped it would work, and I am now hep C free. His words, the only thing I am trying to do is to keep your liver from having cancer. He prescribed 6 months of Harvoni. My liver is eaten up with cirrhosis and will always have trouble with that. That will never go away, but now I at least have a fighting chance of it not getting any worse."

• Tri...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 6, 2017

For Hepatitis C "I'm 52, female, HIV+, cancer survivor, liver transplant recipient. I was one of the people who studied this medication through clinical trials. I tried all the other treatments, but none of them cleared the Hep C. During the trials, a slightly different combo of this medicine worked within 4 weeks. As my liver was already severely damaged, I developed cirrhosis, then cancer, then I had a transplant. After 3 months, Hep C was detected in the new liver. I was immediately placed on Harvoni. I've cleared within 4 weeks again! I do have side effects. The main one is headache. Then nausea, slight fatigue, and the occasional throw-up session (which lasts only a few minutes, then I'm fine). I do get a dizzy feeling, but it is not a problem at all."

• Par...
• February 27, 2017

For Hepatitis C "The first week I took this med, it kicked my butt. My symptoms were fatigue, nausea, headache, and insomnia. I then started to drink a lot of water, and I was feeling so much better (fatigue here and there), but nothing you can't handle. Totally worth it!! Drink lots of water to stay hydrated!!!"

• Cat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 23, 2018

For Hepatitis C "Took Harvoni for 12 weeks. Now have permanent tinnitus, 24/7 headache, neuropathy, joint pain, muscle pain and weakness, fatigue, floaters, hair loss, decreased lung function, and change in heartbeat... all from within 12 weeks. Had none of this before."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 20, 2017

For Hepatitis C "I think I have had every side effect listed and some not. The swelling of my hands and joint pain, headache, itching, rash, small sores on my scalp, but some of these side effects were short-term, lasted about a week except the swelling of joints and feeling like my legs weigh 100 pounds a piece, and the fatigue is unreal, but I have a hard time sleeping when I wake up is when the hands and joint pain is at its worst. I've been on Harvoni almost 8 weeks. I go to the doctor today fingers crossed, hope to God my blood work is clear and they take me off the Harvoni. I just took it one day at a time, praying the results will have made it worth it."

• fee...
• May 20, 2016

For Hepatitis C "Day 6 on Harvoni. Headache problems, but a Motrin 800 and it really helps! Sleeping is not good as well, soft stools, and more anxiety than normal, thinking it is more in my head because I have never taken this. My emotions are higher than I would like them to be and also feel weak at times. I’m sure it is due to my lack of appetite. On the heels of that, I will start eating better. I feel blessed to know that this will be over soon, and I have heard many worse side effects. Whoever is going through this, I encourage you to stay with it! You can always lay down if you do not feel well. God bless you all, stay positive!"

• san...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 9, 2015

For Hepatitis C "I just started Harvoni 5 days ago. Just started with headache and nausea, some shortness of breath. I'm drinking a lot of water, which helps with nausea. Headaches are mild. Overall, I feel pretty good, no aches or fatigue or insomnia."

• Cle...
• April 1, 2017

For Hepatitis C "First off, thank you to all of the users who posted on this. I was really nervous starting Harvoni and read all of the entries on this post. So helpful! 25 years of Hep C wiped out in 8 weeks! Just unbelievable. I've had a couple of other things going on (broken foot that kept me from work, which was distressing) and gastritis. Maybe my insomnia was stress-related? I had a few headaches initially and some mild fatigue (or was I just tired from fretting over my inability to work and dragging myself up and down stairs?) Whatever has gone on, it's nothing at all because I am clear! I don't have to stare 'it' in the face anymore! Grateful? Thankful? Somewhere way beyond the limits of those words."

• maz...
• July 8, 2016

For Hepatitis C "I'm 63 years old. I believe I got hep C in either the US Army because they used the air gun to give you medication, or from my tattoos that I also got at that time. I was told by my doctor 25 years ago from a blood test that I was positive for non-A, non-B hep. I take pretty good care of myself. I work in trades, so you have to keep in shape. From the point I found out, I've been taking blood tests twice a year and never had a problem. About 5 months ago, my doctor told me my numbers were really high. I started taking it 2 months ago. The first 2 weeks, I got the runs every other day. Also, because I work outside, I was getting queasy from the sun. The runs started going away after 4 weeks, but then I started getting headaches and feeling tired. It felt like somebody pulled the plug."

• Lbl...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 18, 2016

For Hepatitis C "This is day 3 for me, I just found out I had Hep C about a year or so ago. I have had it for about 30 years. I never had any problems due to this virus, never even thought to be tested for it. I found many of my old friends on Facebook and was informed I better get checked. Well, I did, and I have it. It took me about 6 months to be approved by my insurance. I have only had slight headaches, and today had diarrhea. I already have problems sleeping, so I do use a sleep aid. I would like to thank everyone who has shared their story! I am on an eight-week program, and reading such positive outcomes really helps. I am hoping I do not get any more side effects, however, even if I do, it is so worth it! I am only 52, and I love life!"

• Ric...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 30, 2015

For Hepatitis C "I am 63 years old. Shared needles in 1975. Never had any symptoms I am aware of. Could be that I'm just getting older. On Harvoni for 2 weeks now. Have had 3 very mild headaches lasting only a few minutes. Increased appetite (I'm 5 feet 11 and weigh 130 lbs), which is a positive for me. Basically, my side effects are nonexistent."

• lea...
• August 21, 2015

For Hepatitis C "I took the peginterferon/ribavirin therapy in 2008 unsuccessfully. After 4 weeks of Harvoni, I am virus-free with little side effects. A few mild headaches and some fatigue. I'll finish the 12 weeks of therapy with gusto!"

• zen...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 8, 2015

For Hepatitis C "First, I'd like to say that I appreciate the opportunity to be able to take the drug Harvoni to cease the continuous growth of hep C cells in my body. I am grateful. Nonetheless, the side effects are sometimes debilitating. I have had a pain in my lower back for four days now. I don't want to take any other medicine, so I've been putting a heating pad on my back. I can't sleep, my nose runs most of the time. I don't have an appetite, and the headaches are really bad. I have constant back and joint pain, and I'm so tired all the time. Yet, there is much consolation in knowing that there's a light at the end of the tunnel."

• Mot...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 14, 2017

For Hepatitis C "I began treatment April 27 and am almost done. If I had known how severe the side effects would be, I would have opted for another treatment. I have had debilitating headaches, nausea, vomiting, and extreme fatigue and can't get my blood pressure under control. It has been dangerously high. The doctors prescribe this medication and then are not equipped to help you with the side effects or have not done their homework, and so you're on your own. Too much to say for this text. I would not recommend it."

• Gui...
• March 10, 2017

For Hepatitis C "On my 8th week with Harvoni, headaches, fatigue, and stomach pain, but light, very tolerable. Had the virus for 40 years, 13 million when I started, now not detected. Too good to be true! But it is!!! Got it in the army!!"

• Lov...
• April 26, 2016

For Hepatitis C "Started taking Harvoni Feb 3rd, 2016. I was scared to death and very apprehensive. My gastro and his assistant really helped to answer all my questions. Few more pills to go and soon I'll find out if it worked. Diagnosed 2002, G type 1a. Probably had it for years and never knew about it. Life changer, no doubt! Very minimal side effects include slight headaches, tummy aches once in a while. Fatigue minimal, but I don't seem to have the insomnia part. I've been more sleepy than I ever have prior. The bloating just started a few weeks ago. Best advice: drink lots of water, eat healthy food throughout the day. I work full-time, walk a lot, keep really busy, it takes my mind off the pills and helps me stay positive about everything."

• Dou...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 17, 2015

For Hepatitis C "I think I picked up Hep C during employment in Saudi or during dental treatment during one of my home visits to Minding. Tried Interferon treatment but lasted 3 months due to severe side effects. Now on the start of 3 weeks with Harvoni treatment. Side effects: fatigue, headache, occasional loose bowel, and now aches and pains to various parts of the body. Feels similar to the time I had the Hong Kong flu during military service. To date, so much improved from prior treatment. Support excellent from Raigmore Hospital specialist nurses and local village pharmacy here in Ardersier, Scotland. Lovely coastal village outside Inverness."

• Laz...
• April 3, 2017

For Hepatitis C "First couple of days of taking Harvoni, I had very vivid dreams and a slight headache that lasted about a week. I was on Harvoni for 12 weeks. When I was tested for Hep C, I was clean, retested, and I was still clean."

• Jef...
• April 1, 2016

For Hepatitis C "I started my first Harvoni pill on 2/15 for my HEP-C genotype 1b (AST-55), which has been with me since 1969 through a blood transfusion. I believe. The virus was undetectable after the 4th week's blood test (AST-22) on 3/14. Minor side effects including bearable headache, stomach ache, and insomnia."