Sofosbuvir / velpatasvir and Headaches: What Users Say (Page 4)

• Lea...
• November 30, 2017

For Hepatitis C "I have 10 days left of treatment. It has been a struggle for me, joint pain mostly in my fingers and toes like it hurts to bend them, headaches, fatigue, tiredness, bad bland metallic taste in my mouth. I have gained almost twenty pounds but feel nausea at times and lack of energy. I am grateful to have received the funding all paid for from the Support Path Program. I am hoping and praying this works."

• Bat...
• October 7, 2017

For Hepatitis C "GT 1b, viral load 53 million, enlarged liver, gotten from blood transfusion 37 yrs ago. I'm in week 2. I don't think any of the side effects are unbearable. But so far, nausea and vomiting daily, headaches similar to tension headache, tiredness, and lack of appetite. The lack of appetite has been bad because I just can't eat. A spoonful of food every hour, and I have to force myself. Smells/taste buds are off, and I'm very sensitive to smells. I've started noticing patches of peeling skin. It's on my fingertips and temples. I don't even know if that's a side effect. I vomited one night for two hours after my dose and was concerned if I needed another dose. I called Gilead, and the nurse told me full absorption is in 2 hours, so I was okay."

• Sma...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 7, 2018

For Hepatitis C "Today was my 4th day of taking the pill. Side effects I’ve experienced are as follows: day one, I was sluggish within two hours of taking it, slept good; day two, experienced more fatigue to the point I had to take an hour-long nap about 6 hours after taking it, had a mild headache but slept soundly; day three and four, I’ve eaten everything in sight, and I’m craving stuff like a pregnant woman does, so not good. Been tired but still trucking on. I pray we all get cured from this horrible thing. Trying to stay positive and upbeat, but it’s a struggle!"

• Mal...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 3, 2021

For Hepatitis C "I just finished taking Epclusa on December 29, 2020, and I didn't have a lot of side effects during my treatment. I was a little more tired and had headaches now and then, but besides that, I was fine. Now that I finished the treatment, I'm having muscle aches, ringing in my ears, and I'm more tired than usual. I go for my blood work on March 31, 2021, and I'm hoping and praying that I am cured!"

• Amy...
• September 23, 2017

For Hepatitis C "I'm 37 in a few months, had Hep C for most of my using, so 15 years around that, I guess. I'm on 90 mg biodone and have been on it for 9 years (dose level up and down most of this time spent on a very low dose). Unfortunately, I began drinking very heavily about 2 to 5 years ago. I'm 4 months sober now, but that is what progressed my Hep C, and I have chronic cirrhosis. I've been on Epclusa for 2.5 weeks, and I'm also taking ribavirin twice daily. I've had a few light headaches, but the fatigue got me these last 3 days. But it doesn't help the fact that I'm on a high level of biodone and put a lot of weight on from my drinking. I'm eating right and taking a lot of natural things that help the healing processes for the liver (apple, C/V, green tea). Hope this helps."

• Joh...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 27, 2021

For Hepatitis C "I have just started Epclusa just over a week now. It wasn't till a few days ago it hit me like a ton of bricks. On Saturday, I was feeling so good, worked around the house, no pain from my diabetic neuropathy, no nausea or headaches. Then the next day, I had to call into work! The worst thing is this tiredness. I am so very weak I can barely move, and the headache goes from my forehead down the back of my neck, some dizziness and brain fog. I feel like I need a trip to the emergency room, but I will just keep going and do another update later. Good luck, people!"

• And...
• October 15, 2017

For Hepatitis C "I had Hep C G4 2 for 40 years. I am into my 8th week of the 12-week Epclusa treatment. I'm having terrible gas pains. My viral load started at 90,000+ and was down to 20 as of my last blood test. My next blood work is this week. I still have no energy. I was disappointed since my viral load is so low. I thought I would have more energy by now, but the medication is causing fatigue. I’ve been through chemo, so these side effects don’t seem so bad. I've had no nausea. I had headaches and gas pain since day 1. I've been chewing Gas-X and also using Digest Zen essential oil, but nothing is working 100%. I have had skin issues inside my right arm along the vein. It was swollen and itchy. I had to get a grant to cover the co-pays."

• Sma...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 1, 2018

For Hepatitis C "Just finished my first month, and here is a breakdown. Week one felt tired. Week 2-3 felt great, had a few bouts of insomnia, have gained weight, and notice I want to eat all day. If I take the medicine on an empty stomach, I get a nauseous feeling, so I now take it with food. I've also noticed if I don’t drink my daily intake of water, I feel tired. Week 4, I’ve suffered from a slight headache in the mornings but not sure if it’s due to the medicine or a sinus/allergy problem."

• Gun...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 2, 2024

For Hepatitis C "On my 9th week of a 12-week course and have had headaches, and I was getting tired at first, but that is passing, and I'm getting more energy than I had before I started the course. Still have the gnawing headaches, but it comes and goes. Overall, it’s been uneventful and a far cry from the old cure they had that a friend of mine still gets hallucinations years after his treatment."

• Cha...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 5, 2024

For Hepatitis C "I have been taking Epclusa for one month now. I have had very few side effects, only tiredness. The tired feeling doesn't last all day. Usually, a nap will get me feeling better. I have only had a headache a few times. I am really glad I have been able to continue to work."

• Ski...
• September 30, 2017

For Hepatitis C "I have had Hep C for nearly 40 years and was always very tired. It got to the point I could only work 4 hours a day. I started Epclusa in May and at first had headaches and some nausea. I am now viral free as of my last blood test in August. I do have more energy, but I now have gastritis and haven't felt well for two months with this problem. Now taking Nexium, liquid silver, but it still persists."

• NHa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 10, 2018

For Hepatitis C "Week 3 for me, I take mine at lunchtime. I'm tired a lot. Some mornings I wake up with headaches, not all the time. A couple of days I had body aches. I want to eat all the time too, I gained weight on it-7 pounds in 3 weeks. I am also breaking out like crazy with pimples, and I always had clear skin. I'm most upset about that part! I got blood work yesterday, so hoping for good news even though I know I still have to take the meds for 12 weeks, but I hear a lot of stories. People are negative after 12 days to 4 weeks."

• COL...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 16, 2021

For Hepatitis C "In 2008, I had a viral load of just over 21 million! When I started the Interferon/Ribavirin, I only had to take it for 6 months because of my genotype (type 2). Thank goodness it was only 6 months. It was just awful; I looked and felt like rubbish. I did clear the virus-but only for 1 year. I started the Epclusa in May 2021 and cleared the virus after the first 4 weeks. The Epclusa was as easy as taking a vitamin with breakfast. The only noticeable side effects were headache and fatigue the first 4-6 weeks. (My husband said that I was pretty grouchy that first month!) My doctor says that I am completely cured. It has now been 4 months since I completed the Epclusa. I am having headaches almost daily, I cannot get my blood pressure in check, and I am experiencing floaters and flashes of light in my vision. The doctor has found no explanation for these issues, and neither one of us ever even considered that perhaps these problems were long-term side effects of Epclusa."

• COL...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 16, 2021

For Hepatitis C "In 2008, I had a viral load of just over 21 million! When I started the Interferon/Ribavirin, I only had to take it for 6 months because of my genotype (type 2). Thank goodness it was only 6 months. It was just awful; I looked and felt like rubbish. I did clear the virus-but only for 1 year. I started the Epclusa in May 2021 and cleared the virus after the first 4 weeks. The Epclusa was as easy as taking a vitamin with breakfast. The only noticeable side effects were headache and fatigue the first 4-6 weeks. (My husband said that I was pretty grouchy that first month!) My doctor says that I am completely cured. It has now been 4 months since I completed the Epclusa. I am having headaches almost daily, I cannot get my blood pressure in check, and I am experiencing floaters and flashes of light in my vision. The doctor has found no explanation for these issues, and neither one of us ever even considered that perhaps these problems were long-term side effects of Epclusa."

• Txg...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 28, 2017

For Hepatitis C "Only been on Epclusa for a week. Super fatigued an hour after taking the med, then much better, full of energy but lost most of my morning. Changed to nighttime but got headaches. Back to taking in the am, but about 9 pm I hit a wall of tired—like someone slipped me something to make me pass out. I know I need to nap more, but my job won’t allow it, so I’ll take it at 7 am, work my butt off, then pass out at 9—not a bad idea anyway for daily living. Diagnosed 2 years ago but know I’ve had Hep C since the '80s.....more to come."

• Jus...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 14, 2021

For Hepatitis C "I was an IV drug user for about a decade or so, assuming I contracted Hep C sometime between 2007 and 2011 (been clean 5 years now). I had recently tested positive for Hep C, which I assumed I've already had. After going through all of the motions, I have been prescribed generic Epclusa, and I'm about a week in. So far, yes, there have been some side effects, but nothing major, the first couple of days I can only describe it as feeling like I had a hangover with some random headaches and body aches. That's it. And after a few more days, all of that has gone away, and I've been feeling great, actually. I will post another update in about a month's time or so."

• Ejr...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 6, 2021

For Hepatitis C "I am 9 months post-treatment. The treatment itself was pretty easy. I discovered early on you have to drink a lot of water to prevent headaches. My main complaint is no one warned me about weight gain. I'm up over 20 lbs. Please be advised substantial weight post-cure is not only possible, it's very common. When the virus gets cleared from your body, your appetite comes back, and you are able to eat full meals again. I wish someone would have warned me about that so I could have been more prepared. Still would have obviously done the treatment, but it would have been nice to have been warned by my doctor."

• she...
• April 23, 2021

For Hepatitis C "I am wondering if anyone who has taken Epclusa and had side effects like headache has also been vaccinated with the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine? Did the vaccine make any of your side effects worse? Thanks for sharing your stories!"

• Gra...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 4, 2021

For Hepatitis C "I'm an ex-intravenous drug user. I've been clean for 30 years. I tried a Hepatitis C test swab, even though I was sure I didn't have it, and was shocked to discover that I was positive. Amazingly, my liver is okay. I started Epclusa 5 weeks ago, and I am really having problems staying awake and have no energy. I'm also experiencing headaches and nausea, but I can totally understand that as I've had it for all these years, so I'd expect to feel something. I'm only too grateful that this drug exists at all. I think it's a real miracle, given the success rate. I feel the side effects I'm personally experiencing are a small price to pay for being cured."

• Sta...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 2, 2021

For Hepatitis C "I am now on week 12 of Epclusa. I will be done this coming Saturday. My viral load went from 152,000 to zero in less than 4 weeks. I am happy that I'm cured, but I had bad side effects: insomnia, major anxiety and depression, paranoid thoughts, headaches, muscle cramps, feeling of being hungover (I no longer drink alcohol). I have made people annoyed with these side effects, so now I am going to have to tell them it was Epclusa, not me. Cannot wait until August 7th so I can throw away that pill bottle and be free. Glad I'm cured and my insurance covered, but it was a bear!"

• Tjj...
• December 3, 2017

For Hepatitis C "In July or August, I found out I had Hep C 3a with over 15 million in virus load. I started taking Epclusa on Oct 23, 2017, should be done by Feb 2018, I hope, because getting married in March. I don't know if it's the medicine causing me to hurt more or because I just had back surgery 5 weeks ago. I get stomach cramps like period cramps but had a total hysterectomy in 2013. I also have fatigue, some headaches, and sweats. My doctor raised my estrogen, and I also have bad gas, I can't hold it or even know it's coming. I thought it was from the colonoscopy in September because of the air they put in. I had 12 polyps, still haven't heard from the doctor on that, which is the same doctor I see for the Hep C. He's the one who officially diagnosed me, and I have also gained 12 lbs since I started taking it."

• Rec...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 12, 2021

For Hepatitis C "I completed my 12-week course of Epclusa a little over 2 years ago now, and I felt it would be good for others to know what may happen after treatment. I had a few side effects that impacted my quality of life - brain fog, insomnia (2 hours a night for a LONG time), diarrhea, headaches, and fatigue. Some of those symptoms were worse at times than others, but I managed. My symptoms were actually worse after treatment was complete, with my sleep not normalizing for about 12 months, although it did slowly improve. My brain fog persisted for about 18 months, with my other symptoms clearing up within 18 months. I was clear of the virus after 6 weeks, but continued the full 12-week course. I am 47 (44 when I started the course) and active, but my fitness took a real hit during treatment and for the next year; it was a struggle to do much. I am now at a point where I feel very sharp-minded again and back to normal. The symptoms are manageable, well worth it for your future. Good luck, everyone."

• Sar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 5, 2021

For Hepatitis C "I have one week left of Epclusa, genotype 1. I don't believe I had it long based on my liver damage, which was only 0.022. I have no idea how I got Hep C. I'm not an IV drug user, I know some, but it's not my thing. Over this past two weeks, I've had horrible knee joint pain, it's so bad I can't get comfortable in any position. I have suffered from insomnia prior to even starting the meds, but it's even worse now. My legs hurt so bad I can't get comfortable to sleep. Once I do fall asleep for a few hours, my knee pain goes away, and then it's back pain. I take my pill at 7 every night. I just am praying the pain in my legs goes away after I'm done, otherwise, I may go bonkers. I feel slightly depressed, no motivation, but no major headaches or nausea. So... it's very odd how the knee pain didn't start until this choice to be off the med."

• NST...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 24, 2021

For Hepatitis C "I am on my last week of Epclusa. At my 6-week blood work, I was down from 5 million viral load to less than 10. My symptoms were fatigue and headaches, which were manageable, however, these last few weeks have been unbearable with the headaches, and I am getting lightheaded more often."

• ads...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 16, 2023

For Hepatitis C "I was diagnosed with hepatitis C genotype 3 in early 2017. After jumping through hoops, I was approved for Epclusa at little cost to myself. I remember the first few weeks being tired and having a bit of a headache. Beyond those symptoms, I had a relatively smooth experience. I had follow-up lab work a week, 1 month, and 3 months post-medication, and the virus was no longer detectable in my blood. For reference, in 2018, I was a 105 lb female aged 27. I had little to no cirrhosis. I went on to have a healthy pregnancy and baby in 2019, with no complications to my child whatsoever in reference to the hepatitis. Overall, I would take it again if given the chance over again."