Harvoni and Nausea: What Users Say

• Kde...
• March 5, 2015

For Hepatitis C "I have been on Harvoni for 4 weeks. It's cleared my psoriasis up. I was covered with it. I also have lost weight. Headaches, fatigue, nausea. This is helping me better than anything else I have tried. I have been waiting a long time for this."

• gra...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 17, 2016

For Hepatitis C "Today is the sixth day of taking Harvoni. I have had Hep C for over 30 years, I am sure from my wild days and sharing needles. I feel like something must be wrong with me. I am reading all of the other reviews, and everyone is reporting no or little side effects. I have been on this for six days, the first few days were a breeze, but the last few... I am experiencing diarrhea, nausea, I am so fatigued, I can barely get out of bed. I am weak and dizzy. None of these will make me quit taking the medicine, but I wonder how I will be able to do this for 12 weeks. I really don't have a choice, my numbers jumped from 4,000,000 to 10,000,000 and I have cirrhosis. I hope I get to the part where I feel better and more energetic than before soon!"

• Red...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 23, 2015

For Hepatitis C "I've had all of the side effects except headaches. I'm pushing myself because I've been really nauseated, and I'm on my 3rd week. I'll keep you all updated as time goes on, but I am so grateful to have a second chance at life."

• Ver...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 17, 2015

For Hepatitis C "On my 5th week of 12. Because of the slight nausea, I found it eased up if I eat supper a few hours before I take the medication. Taking it at night before I go to bed has been working very well for me, as it makes me tired [sure gonna miss the sleep aid when treatment is over!]. Occasionally, I've felt a slight headache; drinking water usually takes it away with no additional medication. I 'play' with my diet to eliminate bowel problems, and a daily walk also seems to help. My current lab shows it's working!!"

• Jil...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 28, 2015

For Hepatitis C "I have had Hep C for over 15 years and never treated. Genotype 4. I took Harvoni with Ribavirin for 12 weeks, and after the first 8, my viral load was negative. It feels good. After the first month, my skin tone came back to olive and not pasty white like before. I had diarrhea and insomnia, with nausea and very tired. It was well worth the symptoms to be free of this virus. I go back for my blood work in 2 1/2 months to see if I have been cured, but I am positive the results will be excellent. This is a miracle cure, and I feel very grateful to be able to receive it."

• Sha...
• August 28, 2016

For Hepatitis C "I contracted Hep C 1a thirty years ago. I am 53 years old and have stage 4 fibrosis. Started taking Harvoni one month ago and have had various side effects, including headaches, nausea, insomnia, and fatigue. Nothing I can't handle. On the upside, my red palms are fading to white, my spider nevi on my legs and chest are also fading and disappearing. I felt like a different person after 3 days on Harvoni. My brain fog started to clear, and my moods stabilized. I'm not saying that I don't have bad days, I do. The side effects are transitory, so hang in there. I have my first blood work due in two days' time. Hoping to see a significant drop in my viral load and hoping that my liver is recovering somewhat."

• 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"

• 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!!!"

• 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."

• 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."

• Tan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 28, 2016

For Hepatitis C "I started on the treatment 10 days ago! I have had Hep C for 27 years! Slight nausea first few days! Last 2 days feel absolutely amazing! Heaps of energy and no brain fog, hallelujah! Am so excited! What a wonderful drug for a hideous virus!! THANK U!!"

• 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."

• Min...
• January 2, 2017

For Hepatitis C "Six weeks into 8-week treatment. Experienced no side effects in the beginning. I do not like water and slowly stopped drinking it as much. Later (in 5 weeks), side effects increased (flu-like symptoms, nausea, fatigue, moody). Always uncomfortable, I was forced to get back into the habit of drinking water. It actually helped with the discomfort of the side effects. The same day I started back again, drinking lots of water, I noticed a big difference."

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

For Hepatitis C "I am 22 years old, and I have had the virus since 2015. I started Harvoni in February. After 2 months of taking the pill once a day, the virus was not detected, but I continued with the 3rd month of medication, and now I will do the final blood test. I am really hoping that I will be cured because I really want to put this behind me. My symptoms are fatigue, nausea, headache, muscle aches, tiredness, but I don't care because the result was amazing. Don't be discouraged, you never know how strong you are until you go through it, so good luck, everyone."

• Aan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 4, 2019

For Hepatitis C "Well, I was very nervous and scared to take this drug - Harvoni. BUT! Guess what? I’m only on day 4 and I feel and look so much better. No more nausea, no more side pain. My face is even clearer than it was. My sense of smell is back. When I had the virus, all my senses were compromised. This drug is very powerful. You have to be positive when going into treatment. Think of this as saving your life from liver cancer and that it’s going to make you feel so much better! Thank you, HARVONI, for saving my life! By the way, TAKE THIS MEDICINE AT NIGHT! Two hours before bed! Do not take this during the day, you will experience the side effects! I take it two hours before bed and feel great during the day. No headaches, nothing. So thankful and blessed. Don’t listen to other people complaining or claiming the drug causes cancer. Hep C causes cancer! Not Harvoni!"

• max...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 3, 2016

For Hepatitis C "Diagnosed with Hep C probably 2006? But I'm sure I was infected back in my wild and crazy days (late '70s - '80s). Husband and son both tested negative. Briefly tried the interferon/ribavirin (a weekend - barely counts) because I couldn't handle the nausea. Been waiting for the insurance company to loosen its grip, and I finally got the call today. Harvoni will be here tomorrow. Will update on my side effects, etc. Hopefully, there will be none. Gastro doc said I should do 8 weeks, but the insurance company approved me for 12 weeks. We shall see. Psyched!"

• Zan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 21, 2019

For Hepatitis C "Is there a chat group to talk to others regarding side effects, please! [Yes, on drugs.com type 'Harvoni,' then scroll down to 'Harvoni Support Group.'] I have been taking Harvoni for 5 weeks. After the second week, I started getting the worst headaches, which might be migraines as I never had them before. The sunlight makes me sick to my stomach, and now I am becoming emotionally unstable. I’ve had Hep C for 49 years with no problem, and this medication is giving me many problems. I am awaiting my first blood test, if there is no good news, I will stop taking it as it is changing who I am, as I can’t take this pain."

• Dee...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 3, 2016

For Hepatitis C "51 yr old female. HCV since 1985 when it was called non-A, non-B hepatitis. Have done three other tx's in 12 yrs, interferon and riba, then peg interferon and riba. Anaphylaxis to pegylated. Stage 2 fibrosis pushed to cirrhosis. Ten yrs later got a place on AbbVie trial, 2015. Lasted 3 weeks until hospitalized with liver failure. Since then, the FDA has slapped drug protocol for these meds with a caveat that no one with decompensated cirrhosis, Child-Pugh score more than A should ever be treated with those meds. Harvoni has had its bad luck cases but nothing like what happened to decomp patients on the AbbVie protocol. Began Harvoni three days ago with justified trepidation. No sides at all first two days, very slight nausea and chills today."

• Chi...
• October 9, 2016

For Hepatitis C "I'm on day 11 of 84 (3-month treatment)... I take Harvoni at 6 pm religiously and find that I sleep through most of the symptoms. First 3 days were hard... nausea, restless legs, fatigue, weakness, and headaches... couldn't finish any gym sessions. But days 4-6 were 'miracle days'... I think my viral load dropped dramatically (will find out viral load in week 4 and week 12 and at 6 months). Zero viral load means the Hep C is non-active... which is as much as being cured as we can get. I have heard that a lot of patients are non-active in week 12 but are relapsing 6+ months after treatment. To prevent a relapse... I'm taking Spirulina, vitamin C & B complex, banana, and a handful of nuts and seeds every day."

• tri...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 13, 2017

For Hepatitis C "I was extremely tired, also, after finishing the dose, I began getting excruciating pain, especially when laying down, deep in my long bones in my legs and arms. Also, now I've finished my 24 weeks, I am getting pain in the liver area again, with nausea. My doctor has said my blood levels have gotten better, yet ordered an ultrasound. I also have severe feet, legs, hands, and thigh edema and cirrhosis. My other doctor said the pain began when I started the Harvoni."

• Joh...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 12, 2017

For Hepatitis C "Day 10 of taking Harvoni. Some side effects are a little nauseous, some fatigue along with some energy because it is attacking my viral load. Have a viral load of 7,000,000. Took the Robitron treatment 20 years ago. Those side effects were horrible. Harvoni is a breeze. If you never took the interferon treatment, you don't know how lucky you are that a treatment came out with minimal side effects."

• Too...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 9, 2019

For Hepatitis C "I took my first pill today. I was happy when it arrived to start treatment. Although I have been reading material, independent studies, and message boards, I became scared. Having led a healthy lifestyle, I had no idea about Hep C. I have nausea so badly I couldn’t move, dehydrated from diarrhea and vomiting. Every muscle hurts, I can’t get comfortable, I'm dizzy and feel like I’m in a fog, crazy headache. I know my body, this med is too strong and hasn’t been out long enough to determine what or if the long-term effects are. My day was awful, and I couldn’t go to my doctor's appointment today, and this is day one! I know when I call tomorrow they will ask me to switch to nighttime, but I can’t take this for another day. This drug was pushed out and jammed down people's throats too soon. I was told nothing would affect me like that because of my low count and healthy lifestyle!"

• Cha...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 11, 2017

For Hepatitis C "Been taking Harvoni for nearly 8 weeks. Stage 4 liver cirrhosis. Was really very sick, and many doctors just didn't know why. I had tested for Hep C two times in the last 10 years and was negative. Dr. says no way would do that much damage to my liver unless I had like 10 years. Hard to say if side effects from Harvoni or liver damage side effects, as similar. But tired and occasional nausea and headaches. BUT. This week had blood done myself, and AST/ALT down from high 100's to 35/45, which is the normal range. Had been as high as 487 just 20 months ago. So it feels like a miracle to me. But many people have stated they got cancer from the drug, so we have to see. My quality of life was dismal, and so the risk is equal to my feeling. See Dr. again in 2 weeks."