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Hep C Discussion Forum -> General Discussion -> Can Harvoni be cut in half?
Post Info TOPIC: Can Harvoni be cut in half?
Shadowfax


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RE: Can Harvoni be cut in half?
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I have always liked that song and it seemed to fit my post.

 

Not to worry Dave, no backing talkwards for me!



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65 yo, GT1A, , Cirrhosis, F-Scan F4 33.5, TX Naive Harvoni 12 wks

SOT 2/9/16 / ALT 187 AST 114 VL 2.3M.    POSTS

EOT 5/2/16  ALT 35/ AST/25  platlets 126 C/B VL UND

EOT +12 7/26/16  ALT 25 /AST 22/ ALP 83  platlets 129 C/B VL UND

EOT + 24 10/18/16 ALT 27/ AST 20/ ALP 71 platlets 153 C UND

 * SVR *
Linuxter


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63yy,HCV,2b,F3-A1, Sof/Riba,12wks Tx   SOT: 1/20/16, HCV-RNA 9,816,581, ALT 56, Hb 14.6

4wk: HCV-RNA <15 Detected, ALT 15, AST 17, Hb 13.6 EOT: 4/12/16, ALT 18 , Hb 12.9176a2f85d05d9c965eafe199f2ba9ba5.jpg SVR Achieved 7/8/16

 
JimmyK


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And now a word from our sponsors.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XR8LFNUr3vw

no

Carry on and on and on........

 

JimmyK



__________________

Harvoni TX 2 12 weeks. UND weeks 4, 12 and now EOT + 4 Weeks. SVR-12 09/29/16. All Glory, Honor and Thanks be to God.

"I go to war with the brothers I trust."
Linuxter


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... just don't start talking backwards Mr. White Knight and I think you'll be fine ...

Dave



-- Edited by Linuxter on Wednesday 10th of February 2016 12:39:57 AM

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63yy,HCV,2b,F3-A1, Sof/Riba,12wks Tx   SOT: 1/20/16, HCV-RNA 9,816,581, ALT 56, Hb 14.6

4wk: HCV-RNA <15 Detected, ALT 15, AST 17, Hb 13.6 EOT: 4/12/16, ALT 18 , Hb 12.9176a2f85d05d9c965eafe199f2ba9ba5.jpg SVR Achieved 7/8/16

 
Shadowfax


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I am happy to say this was not a problem at all. It was absolutely the largest pill I have ever taken but a big gulp of water, pill the back of my tongue and down the hatch with another large gulp... As if everyone here except me didn`t know this.

PLUS

One pill makes you larger and one pill makes you small...

 



__________________

65 yo, GT1A, , Cirrhosis, F-Scan F4 33.5, TX Naive Harvoni 12 wks

SOT 2/9/16 / ALT 187 AST 114 VL 2.3M.    POSTS

EOT 5/2/16  ALT 35/ AST/25  platlets 126 C/B VL UND

EOT +12 7/26/16  ALT 25 /AST 22/ ALP 83  platlets 129 C/B VL UND

EOT + 24 10/18/16 ALT 27/ AST 20/ ALP 71 platlets 153 C UND

 * SVR *
Shadowfax


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The slick hard surface might actually help when thinking of it. I did not have this  problem with a pill the size of (if you know it) Bufferin. They were a caplet and coated and I was conscience of taking a big gulp of water with them or aspirin the odd time I take tham. Perhaps it is that the small pills like to find the opening to my nasal passages and lodge there for a little while. They taste great when they do that  smile.

Thank you for the link; I have read it and there are some good ideas there on top of the ones that were suggested here.

 

 



__________________

65 yo, GT1A, , Cirrhosis, F-Scan F4 33.5, TX Naive Harvoni 12 wks

SOT 2/9/16 / ALT 187 AST 114 VL 2.3M.    POSTS

EOT 5/2/16  ALT 35/ AST/25  platlets 126 C/B VL UND

EOT +12 7/26/16  ALT 25 /AST 22/ ALP 83  platlets 129 C/B VL UND

EOT + 24 10/18/16 ALT 27/ AST 20/ ALP 71 platlets 153 C UND

 * SVR *
wmlj1960


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If a diazepam gets stuck then it's certainly not a size issue. Harvoni has a slick / relatively hard surface so this might not help but; I take Intelence for HIV which is soft, chalky texture, and sticks to a wet throat like glue. I used to choke on them occasionally until I tried coating them with olive oil. Haven't had an olive oil coated Intelence stick in over a year.

More ideas in THIS THREAD

 



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60 yo, geno 1a, Dx 1994 HCV-HIV co-inf, Dx 2013 decompensated cirrhosis
Tx #1 - 24wks Sov+Riba /SOT 7-24-2014/UND@EOT/DETECTED@EOT+16 wks
Tx #2 - 24wks Harvoni /SOT 7-25-2015/UND@EOT,+12,+24,+52 = SVR

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Shadowfax


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Thank you all for your response and suggestions. It is greatly appreciated.

I am hoping that one of these will work, I am sure I will need to make one work. It`s just when a small pill the size of diazepam can get stuck there, it gives me a cause for concern.

Thank you for that insert Tig56. I have it saved on my computer. I will ask about it and find out if it as mentioned an absorption issue or as they said the bitter taste.

I hope everyone had a great weekend.

Cheers

 



__________________

65 yo, GT1A, , Cirrhosis, F-Scan F4 33.5, TX Naive Harvoni 12 wks

SOT 2/9/16 / ALT 187 AST 114 VL 2.3M.    POSTS

EOT 5/2/16  ALT 35/ AST/25  platlets 126 C/B VL UND

EOT +12 7/26/16  ALT 25 /AST 22/ ALP 83  platlets 129 C/B VL UND

EOT + 24 10/18/16 ALT 27/ AST 20/ ALP 71 platlets 153 C UND

 * SVR *
Gracie


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Try taking it with a small piece of banana. Helps mentally as bananas are easy to swallow and it makes the pill slide right down.



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  1. Gracie

1A. Previously treated non responder Rebetron in 2000 And Incevik in 2014 with a breakthrough at week 12. Fibroscan 15.5. VL 6,000,000. Finished 24 weeks harvoni on Dec. 19, 2015. SVR. Latest Fibroscan 8.8.
Iris Dragonfly


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You might try taking it with food instead of water. Pudding or yogurt work well...drop the pill in your mouth and then take a spoonful. ..it should slide right down.

Blessings,  Iris 



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in the silence of the woods, you will not be alone- Chief Seattle

60 years on planet, Female, diagnosed 1978 as non-a non-b, VL 8mill+, Fibro f-1f-2, Genotype 1a, treatment naïve....UNTIL 7-01-18  !!!! started Harvoni 12 weeks. :)

4 weeks=UND, 8 weeks=UND, 12 weeks=UND (EOT= 09-23-2018)
wendyo


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I do not know if I will be able to explain this sufficiently, but I too have a hard time with pills so I drop it in the back of my throat and then drink....give that a try. For me everything else just makes the pill float around in my mouth. 



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Wendy 53 y/o, DX 1994, geno 1A F1

1999 TX 1 - Inter -non responder 2001 TX 2 - Peg + Riba - viral load tripled and taken off

T3:  Harvoni 12 weeks Sept. 19, 2015 ALT 41 AST 30 VL 541800 UND at EOT and SVR 24 ALT 18 AST 26 platelets 223

 
JimmyK


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Greetings,

 

"....I suppose if I gulp enough water with it the chances of that happening will be less...."

 

Two birds one stone. You need a lot of water anyway. Do not split the pill. Took a long time for such a cure to come about so take directly as suggested. 

You can do it!

 

JimmyK

 



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Harvoni TX 2 12 weeks. UND weeks 4, 12 and now EOT + 4 Weeks. SVR-12 09/29/16. All Glory, Honor and Thanks be to God.

"I go to war with the brothers I trust."
Tig


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I wouldn't do that without specific permission from Gilead. Many of these types of medication are coated to enhance or delay absorption. Cutting or crushing these pills may change it's absorption, so at the least I would call the manufacturer. Here is a small snip from the manufacturers leaflet:

https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/PIL.29468.latest.pdf

"How to take Harvoni

Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.

Recommended dose
The recommended dose is one tablet once a day. Your doctor will tell you for how many weeks you should take Harvoni.

Swallow the tablet whole with or without food. Do not chew, crush or split the tablet as it has a very bitter taste. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have problems swallowing tablets" 



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Tig

67yo GT1A - 5 Mil - A2/F3 - (1996) Intron A - Non Responder, (2013) Peg/Riba/Vic SOT:05/23/13 EOT:12/04/13 SVR 9+ years!

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Shadowfax


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I have a huge problem taking pills and even very small ones just love to get stuck in my throat. I suppose if I gulp enough water with it the chances of that happening will be less. I know some medications should not be split because of protective coverings and time release etc. 

Is this the case with Harvoni or can I cut it in half once I get them?

 

Cheers



__________________

65 yo, GT1A, , Cirrhosis, F-Scan F4 33.5, TX Naive Harvoni 12 wks

SOT 2/9/16 / ALT 187 AST 114 VL 2.3M.    POSTS

EOT 5/2/16  ALT 35/ AST/25  platlets 126 C/B VL UND

EOT +12 7/26/16  ALT 25 /AST 22/ ALP 83  platlets 129 C/B VL UND

EOT + 24 10/18/16 ALT 27/ AST 20/ ALP 71 platlets 153 C UND

 * SVR *
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