Sofosbuvir / velpatasvir and Ringing In Ears: What Users Say

• Bla...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 6, 2019

For Hepatitis C "Well, on my first review on July 28, 2019, I said I'd come back after a bit. Now I am just over halfway through my treatment. I get what you all say about tinnitus. Also, when I wake up in the morning, I'm the same with feeling rough. But once I've had a coffee, it dies down. My feet have been aching a bit, as has my back, but I've had no sickness or headaches. I think that if you have a life-threatening disease like hep C, which is never going away, then it's like carrying bad luggage around every day. If you get a chance to get rid of it and there are a few side effects that are quite manageable, then it's got to be worth it. I felt okay apart from brain fog at first, but it's got a bit worse as I've gone on with meds. But I am more than willing to suffer these for 12 weeks than stay sick forever. I hope you all have the best time on Epclusa that you all can and become hep C free. Take care, people."

• Aan...
• January 13, 2021

For Hepatitis C "On my 2nd month with about 7 pills left. 3rd month was denied, but I had to reach out to Gilead, I think it was, and they gave me a coupon. Instead of the $3,700, which I could not pay, it will be 5 bucks for me, thank goodness it worked out. 27 years old, had hep C for about roughly 6 to 7 years. Was just tested 3 days ago, viral load is undetectable. My side effects: Extremely tired, so so so tired. Terrible headaches. Random weird sores. Ringing in ears. Random neck pain. Pain in lower back. Extreme hunger in the morning mixed with extreme sickness. Some diarrhea. Mood swings. Irritability. BRAIN FOG AND CONFUSION IS THE WORST, itchiness. I'm getting it all ways but in the end, it's worth it. Also, I get up at 2 am every day and work about a 10 to 11-hour shift and come home to my baby after and do not get to bed till 8 or 9, so I understand that is a lot on my body while fighting this also. Anyways, hopefully this helps someone stay strong and keep fighting!!"

• Hep...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 2, 2021

For Hepatitis C "Finished taking Epclusa 1/3/2019. Almost two years later, I continue to have severe side effects. I had always been an extremely high-energy person, working and on the go for 16 plus hours a day. Since taking Epclusa, I continue to experience severe fatigue, memory loss (brain fog), and tinnitus. I have not been able to return to work since Epclusa. At this point, it appears that I traded a shorter but quality life with Hep C for quantity of life that's only watching it pass by. I'm continuing to search for answers for something to help restore my health. If I had known what the results would be, I would probably not have taken the Epclusa."

• jjj...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 25, 2022

For Hepatitis C "It is 1/25/2022, and I took Epclusa in October 2018 for the full 12 weeks. I wanted to come back and share an update. During the treatment, I was tired a lot but slept great. It was very shortly (within a month) after I completed treatment that I started to feel terrible. My body was breaking down, and I developed tinnitus that is still here to this day, which is a very annoying condition. I do wish that I never did the treatment, I felt better before treatment, but the doctor 'sold' me this medicine. I did see a naturopathic doctor who ran several tests that regular doctors do not do. I was severely deficient in many nutrients that were contributing to my body breaking down. I supplemented with what I was deficient in, acupuncture, cryotherapy, exercises, and red light therapy. I slowly got much better with replenishing what the Epclusa drained from my body. I don't think my tinnitus will ever go away, but at least I don't feel like my body is breaking down now. I still regret taking this."

• jjj...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 19, 2019

For Hepatitis C "I completed the 3 months of Epclusa treatment in December 2018 for my Hep C. It is now March 2019, and the side effects are worse now. I have constant buzzing in my head/ears (tinnitus), numbness and tingling, internal shakiness, insomnia, brain fog, feeling very weak, depression, and back pain. I regret taking Epclusa. I felt better before the treatment. I have gone to a naturopathic practitioner, chiropractor, and acupuncturist to try to help, but it is not any better. I don't know what to do at this point, and it is scary."

• Kat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 14, 2018

For Hepatitis C "Today, 31 days after starting this wonderful drug, my lab test came back 'Not Detectable.' I have had Hep C for 53 years, without knowing it for 52 years due to a blood transfusion in 1965. I have had no side effects. My advice to everyone that is starting it: Drink at least 100 ounces of water every day, limit caffeine, fake sugars, and spicy stuff. Coffee, hot sauce, and Splenda were aggravating my tinnitus, and cutting back fixed it. Best of luck to everybody, and thank you, Gilead, for developing this drug! You saved my life!"

• Jes...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 26, 2017

For Hepatitis C "So I took 12 weeks of Epclusa for genotype 3a (viral load-3 million). The Epclusa did do the trick to get rid of the Hep C, however, I did experience and still do experience side effects. While I was on treatment, I experienced tingling, nerve pain, irritability, insomnia, ear ringing, etc. The ear ringing and ear issues remain a problem after 7 months off of the meds. I urge everyone to report side effects to the FDA. When I reported them to my doctor, I was told NO ONE else had those side effects...and I felt like I was crazy. The only way they will have a list of the accurate side effects is if they are reported to the FDA and Gilead. This helps other patients not feel so alone. All in all, it solved the main issue I suppose--"

• Hpa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 9, 2020

For Hepatitis C "I was tired before with Hep C, but on Epclusa this is exhausting to a whole new level. I've had migraines, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and shortness of breath. For a month of taking it, it was causing asthma exacerbation along with thrush. The thrush was horrible. I have five weeks left, and I am looking forward to feeling better. My color came back, and during the second month, I have had good days where I've had energy. I didn't have that before. I also broke out in a rash like shingles and scabies mixed on my neck and arms. I refuse to stop taking it though. The shortness of breath is better than the first month. I have ringing in the ears a lot. My blood pressure is higher than usual. My body is usually aching. The exhaustion from it is the worst because I have never felt so tired in my whole life."

• Aus...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 29, 2019

For Hepatitis C "I'm 7 weeks into my 12-week course of Epclusa after having Hep C genotype 3A for about 10 years, and I'm 44. I had not been aware of my Hep C until a month before I started Epclusa and had some aggravating symptoms: lethargy, general malaise, sore eyes, slight memory lapses, and reduced motivation. Since starting my course, I was initially much more energetic, which subsidized to what I consider feeling normal after a week or so. I have been having mild sleeping issues, almost like very light sleeping. My eyes are nearly back to normal again. I have tinnitus, which can be annoying, but is generally bearable. 60% of the time I wake feeling unrested and find it difficult to get out of bed, but a quick strong coffee cures that. I take my medication at 9:30 a.m. sharp, which works for me. In general, I feel much better, I am back at the gym 6 days a week and haven't felt the desire to skip gym days through feeling tired or unwell at all. Highly recommended."

• Lig...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 23, 2019

For Hepatitis C "I completed Epclusa treatment in August 2018 and was cleared hep C free in September. During treatment, I didn't have any major physical side effects except for tinnitus, but I was very moody, depressed, short-tempered, and had anxiety. Nine months on, I still have tinnitus, but that's the least of my worries. I have allergies, which I never had before, and I am always sick now. I now have leaky gut syndrome and have some food intolerances. The most challenging thing is having depression and anxiety. Some days, I feel a burst of sadness and depression where I would be affected the entire day, and it has become frequent, but I'm lucky to have a very supportive partner who's there for me. I have absolutely nothing to be depressed about, but I get these feelings. I refuse to fall victim to taking big pharma's antidepressants. Epclusa has maybe saved my life, which I am very grateful for, but I am annoyed that it's priced at 80K for treatment! I no longer have hep C, but it did come at a price. Time to detox."

• Ble...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 27, 2020

For Hepatitis C "I’m on week 6 of Epclusa, and other than the hair loss (I had ever since getting hep C almost a year ago) and ears ringing, it’s not been bad for me at all. My first checkup, my liver enzymes are back to normal, and HCV is undetected. (Genotype 3, which is the hardest to treat), so I was so nervous about this not working. Hope it stays negative! I haven’t experienced any nausea, and I take it in the morning without food. Will update later once I’m further into treatment."

• Cha...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 30, 2018

For Hepatitis C "After living with Hep C genotype 3 for 25 years and at the age of 66, I was put on Epclusa for 12 weeks. After 1 month, there was no trace of the virus. I continued to take it until the last dose. I did have side effects, the worst being stomach aches, ringing in my ears, and extreme irritability. It has been one year after my treatment, and the virus is undetected. Epclusa literally saved my life. I was in stage one liver cirrhosis, and I was very ill all of the time. I feel so much better now. One side effect that seems to be permanent is the ringing in the ears."

• Hop...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 18, 2018

For Hepatitis C "I'm a 34-year-old woman, healthy other than hep C. I got hep C from a blood transfusion when I was a baby. AST and ALT have always fluctuated and have been elevated. Fibro score (estimate of scarring in liver) was F1-F2. Also, I was genotype 3. I never even take Advil, so I was very scared to use this drug. Side effects were ringing in my ears, teeth sensitivity, and not headache, but like a weird head change. Nothing major, and I felt very normal otherwise. I took the pill right before I went to sleep at night. Never missed a pill. After the first month, viral load not detected, after 6 months, still not detected, so I am cured. And all AST and ALT are now normal. My fibro score stayed the same after 3 months, but I was told my liver is still healing, and your liver does heal. So I will give it more time with the help of herbs and vitamins. Ear ringing went away but still happens occasionally. I hope everyone can be cured of this disease. We will win this battle."

• Gre...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 15, 2018

For Hepatitis C "Wanted to update my first post. The Epclusa for me has been awesome. Some fatigue and I have ringing in my ears (tinnitus?), but this has been mild. I have 18 days left to go, my numbers are good with no sign of hepatitis C. :) I knew I had it for a long time but was not insured, and the price was prohibitive, so I just lived with it. I had no idea how much of a mental burden that was until it was lifted. I am feeling healthy and free. If this is available to you and you're on the fence, just do it! To the people who are struggling, God bless and do not give up!"

• Han...
• July 31, 2019

For Hepatitis C "I just finished my first month. Although I haven’t gotten my blood work yet, I’ll share side effects. I wasn’t really coached on a lot and was told that the time of day you take it, day or night, doesn’t matter. Well, it does. Dr. said a lot of people have more problems if taking it at night. Did for me at least. I ended up in the ER on night three from uncontrollable vomiting, ear ringing, and migraines that woke me in the dead of night (all 3 nights). I switched to morning and had to be put on Zofran for nausea, and ibuprofen is an everyday thing. My liver aches randomly and never did before. The only symptoms I have now are migraines and tiredness. I must also note I am tapering off methadone, so I’m more moody, anxious already, and everything is heightened. Didn’t really consider the effect it’d have on me doing both, but my GI doctor wouldn’t stop pushing treatment on me. But also, I’m happy I did it and hopeful. The beginning was just a little tough."

• Sto...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 19, 2019

For Hepatitis C "After 3 weeks on Epclusa and no Hep C virus detected. First 4 days had brain fog, mild headaches, and muscle cramping. I'm in the 9th week, I feel pretty good. Ringing in the ears has started. I go to the gym to help with cramping. Eat every few hours and drink plenty of water."

• Nev...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 25, 2019

For Hepatitis C "June 8th, 2019, began Gilead Epclusa HEP C undeterminable genotype (a first). Probably acquired 30-50 years ago, never had any sickness, and never tested. April-May 2019 test shows cirrhosis, had been drinking for 6 years up to July 4th, 2019. QUIT DRINKING. I HAVE ESOPHAGEAL varices, quit smoking. I have had NO noticeable side effects, but now not hungry as of the end of July. My recent blood tests show normal levels of AST, ALT, bilirubin, PT INR, PT, FE binding. All good. I already had tinnitus from working as a roadie for 3-piece power bands in the 60s-70s. All in all, me going to die of liver disease may have been circumvented. I prefer old age. Kaiser Health helped me, and so far, Epclusa too."

• Aus...
• June 17, 2019

For Hepatitis C "45-year-old male here with Hep C, genotype 3a. I had non-specific symptoms (malaise, brain fog, and fatigue, especially after waking in the morning) for around 6 months prior to Hep C diagnosis early December 2018. These symptoms progressively worsened but were manageable, however, I did notice my mood improve quickly after the first few days. I completed my 12-week course of Epclusa at the end of March but haven't received my SVR results for 12 weeks post-treatment yet. My fatigue and brain fog worsened over the first 2 months after treatment completion, yet were still manageable. I have had tinnitus since just before the end of treatment, which has not improved as yet but is manageable, if not annoying at times. Over the last 6 weeks, I have been feeling improvement with all my symptoms, especially brain fog. If you consider the alternative to treatment and look at the previous treatments that were available, completing a course of Epclusa is a wise decision for many reasons."

• My ...
• July 3, 2017

For Hepatitis C "I called it my million-dollar medicine for the first two weeks, then the side effects started: ears ringing, weakness, headache, nausea. Keep on with the commitment to finish the 12 weeks and started calling it my poison. Yes, I took my poison, it had killed the virus so far, 6 weeks out, but I'm still not to full energy yet, so I pray."

• Gra...
• May 16, 2018

For Hepatitis C "60+ male, probably 40 years of infection from intravenous drug use. Did the Ribavirin/Interferon 10 years ago. Didn't work and felt pretty bad. Have side effects with Epclusa but able to better manage them after a month. My viral load was low before I started, so not sure of the efficacy 5 weeks in. Headaches I control by not doing too excessive exercise and maintaining a high water intake. The light band sensation around the forehead is constant. My tinnitus sometimes is very loud. Nausea was initially bad, and I didn't want to eat. I use nuts as a top-up between meals. Fidgety and manic feelings are hard to control, and I do slow exercise, riding my bike. This is also connected with irregular sleep patterns. Sometimes it's 5-6 hours at night and an afternoon nap. I have always juiced and have beetroot, apple, and ginger with other fruits and veggies. Some weed at times helps me feel normal as the afternoons can be draining with a lack of energy and inability to focus."

• Deb...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 24, 2017

For Hepatitis C "Been on Epclusa for 6 weeks now. I'm pretty tired, nothing I can't handle... but I am concerned with the shooting pains in different parts of my body, the numbing sensations throughout my legs, muscle spasms, and ear ringing. I really hope these side effects go away once I stop treatment. They are disconcerting. I hope everyone writes follow-up reviews a few months off treatment as well... all in all, nothing I can't handle and better than the riba."

• Jar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 22, 2019

For Hepatitis C "I started Epclusa two months ago, and my side effects that I have: anxiety, tiredness, anger, everything makes me angry, mental fog, anguish, accompanied by the desire to vomit at all hours. I hope that when the treatment ends, all the symptoms disappear. I forgot to mention tinnitus in both ears."

• Joe...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 25, 2021

For Hepatitis C "I’m grateful for this med. But the side effects for me were immediate. The first thing I noticed is my libido was gone! And my feelings of intimacy and being happy, etc., with myself/my girlfriend were gone against my will. I love her more than anything. After 2-1/2 years together, it tore our relationship apart! She thought it was me and not the medicine feeling how I was. I couldn’t work and barely got out of bed the entire time! I think it messed up my hormones. I was depressed, lazy, tired, unhappy, body ache, bad ear ringing, headache, like a zombie. I felt like I was 90, and I’m only 30 (in pretty good shape too). My girlfriend left me over how I was being/feeling (or not feeling). I’m afraid she isn’t coming back because she doesn’t believe this medicine messed me up to that extent. With all my heart, it truly did. I’ve never felt this way in my whole life. Now I’m off it, I’m feeling better SLOWLY. If I knew this would tear my relationship apart, I'd have waited."

• Dan...
• June 27, 2021

For Hepatitis C "I have had Hep C for many years. I started the Epclusa before learning about the coupon, so I am hoping it will take care of the 20% copay my insurance doesn't cover and the $350 the specialty pharmacy charges for each shipment of 28 pills. I hope that can be worked out! So, it's been almost a month using Epclusa. I don't have many symptoms, but I have experienced short and minor ringing in the ears. The worst one for me is the lack of sleep, which I did not have much problem with before! I have significant psoriasis and am hoping it will be reversed or lessened! Regardless, at least I am finally doing something about this virus that has been cooking my liver and slowly making me sicker and sicker. I would like to spend more time with my grandkids and friends before I go! Oh, I have been sober 19 years this time, and 14 years a time before with a year in between, so I have definitely lived in the bonus round for most of the life I was on my way to give up! Take care, fellow travelers!"

• 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!"