Hep C Discussion Forum

LamontCranston · Senior Member

RE: Epclusa side effects

Tig · Admin

Hi Punky,

Welcome to the forum. It's uncommon to have the degree of side effects you mention as a result of Epclusa itself. It has a low side effects profile. As the others have mentioned, water intake is imperative with these new drugs. Sounds silly perhaps that simple water intake will mitigate the side effects, but after seeing it in action, we know it to be true.

Can you provide us with some additional information on your Uncle? We need some basic information, his current health, previous treatment history, has he suffered with depression and anxiety before? What is his genotype? How many weeks of treatment will he be on and do you know what his fibrosis stage is? All of these things help us understand his situation better and allow us to provide better informed opinions. Without that, all we can do is guess and we don't like to guess when it's as important as these questions and answers are.

Please use the search function above and use a keyword or two and you'll find discussions we've had previously. The Home page directory can provide you with many of those topics as well.

If things get to be too difficult for your Uncle to tolerate with your assistance, like the nausea and emotional problems, you should give his doctor a ring and get their advice. There are medications that can be prescribed to reduce most of those symptoms. Take every advantage possible to get him through this and he'll do much better physically and emotionally. Treatment can be stressful and we'll do our best to offer helpful advice if possible.

Be absolutely sure he drinks at least 3-4 full liters of water every day. No joke, it will make him feel much better. Good luck.

Canuck · Guru

Hi Punky,

Nice you are trying to help your uncle through his treatment.

So you say he is 12 days into his epclusa? - you said he has ... "depression, anxiety, panic attacks & severe insomnia" ... Just to let you know, although people CAN very well experience things that feel dreadful during treatment, they may NOT necessarily be caused by the treatment drugs, or be categorized as a "side effect".

Some people come to treatment already ill or not feeling well (in many ways) because of the HCV (or for other reasons), pre-existing conditions and or tendencies, they may be prone to anxiety or depression, and things can heighten/culminate at any time, things added (such as the stress of treatment) can make people feel worse.

The number one thing people do wrong in taking their HCV treatment drugs is to not drink enough water!!! That can not be highlighted enough - more common "sides" associated with epclusa are headaches, and other "unwellness" feelings, and these are very much avoided with really goood water intake, to keep your body well-hydrated and flushing wastes out. We have seen it time and time again here, that people feel worse when they are not drinking enough water, and they feel better, have less sides, and prevent feeling ill by drinking enough water.

You also say he has ... "severe nausea" ... (if it is mild) then sips of ginger ale or sips of a mild fresh brewed real ginger tea might help - but really, if he is having this much trouble, "severe" nausea/insomnia/anxiety etc. - he needs to see his doc for advice and the docs ideas for remedies.

Nausea (if severe), and anxiety/depression, can ALL interfere with his water intake, which is imperative he consume while on this drug therapy!

There are ways to shift his dose time from day to night, but it HAS to be done very carefully and slowly, under the advise of his doc.

Do let us know how you two make out - I would take him to his doc, and I would be feeding him water to be sure he is getting enough in! We have many people here who strive to drink a gal a day of water while on therapy.

I hope he rounds a "feeling better" corner soon (perhaps with the increased water intake). Some people do experience unwell-feelings the first while they are on therapy and then this CAN dissipate as they get further along in treatment. But keeping hydrated is very much #1 on his list of things he needs to do. C.

HepCGtype2 · Senior Member

When people say that their side effects the first week are pretty rough, where exactly in that first week are we speaking of?

Only asking as I am on day 4 now but so far, no side effects. *touches wood*

So, are you all feeling it within the first day or two, or not?

-- Edited by HepCGtype3 on Monday 7th of August 2017 06:27:56 PM

JimmyK · Guru

Hello Punky and welcome.

I suspect your Uncle is not drinking enough water. He has to while on treatment. Less than a gallon of water over the course of the day and he will have side affects.

Let's start there. Let us know what his water intake is daily on average.

JimmyK

Punky · Newbie

How do people deal with extreme nasea?

Punky · Newbie

How do you know Epclusa side effects may only be for 2 weeks? Amazing if this is true, but I find it hard to believe?

-- Edited by Punky on Monday 7th of August 2017 05:31:39 PM

Punky · Newbie

My Uncle is on day 12 of Epclusa tomorrow. He's really suffering from depression, anxiety, panic attacks & severe insomnia. Can Epclusa be taken @ night so he can try & sleep through the effects & at least try to enjoy the day? He currently takes it am on advice of Doctors. Many thanks everyone

Phoenix17 · Senior Member

Hi Dave- Welcome! The only side effects i had were slight headaches. It will get better for you! Some people react differently, but we all end up the same. UND!!! Hang in there!

Pablito · Senior Member

Agreed, no need to worry. The sides are only for the first 2 weeks.

Razor Blade · Member

Dave z wrote:
Been on the epclusa for one week, take my pill at 4 pm. Feel good in the morning till about 1. Lot of stomach term oil, real short like 5 second headaches, crazy body ache,fatigue and then real tired. Is everyone else going thru this ? Am I being a Salley ?

Hi Dave,

I am a couple of weeks in front of you, i too hard a hard time the first couple of weeks.

Don't worry. it gets better, i am now day 24 and apart from some foggy mornings, acid and a bit tired its no problem.

Onward and upwards !

Check out Epclusa Corner.

Canuck · Guru

Hi Dave z,

I am very glad to meet you!

I'm thrilled we have another member to join our growing group of folk who have managed to be lucky enough to get themselves epclusa!

I am sorry how you felt on it this first week, and that it took you by surprize.

We are getting varied reports about how people feel on epclusa, especially in the first week or two it seems, but as well, it is seeming to vary somewhat for everyone!

I hope it will be similar for you, that you will feel a lessening over the next week. We have had a couple fellows here who were on the earlier "trials" of sof/vel and they were extremely hard pressed to detect ANY sense of a "side". Most people have felt something, and some, more than others.

It is VERY true, you may need to drink even MORE water than you likely think! It really DOES help!! I learned that the hard way, in retrospect. I would have benefited more if I had "flooded myself" a little more.

Tig is right, you should read ALL the sof/vel and epclusa-related communications (including the epclusa corner) and see how others are faring, compared to you, but it is hard to compare yourself directly to anyone, as our bodies can deal with things uniquely for various reasons, even some could be related to pre-existing conditions.

I think people tend to fear, anticipate/expect "sides" and of course anything untoward you experience you would look to blame the drugs, and it may be so, but it may not be "just" sides from drugs, the battle your own systems are waging against this virus and the death of the virus within you, your body is also dealing with.

You can also search up individual threads (by name) from others who are on on epclusa to read other accounts. CandaceV's doc said something interesting - something to the effect about the body not feeling good once the drugs have taken hold and are quickly annihilating a large amount of virus often within quite a short period of time, your body's "symptoms" may also be telling you about the virus being decimated and the toxic clean-up work being required. (Something to that effect).

DO treat yourself VERY well, with LOTS of tender care, good diet and water, and rest!

We will look forward to hearing more from you. Ask away for questions. smile C.

Ruby Red · Senior Member

Hi Dave

Welcome smile

My first week on Epclusa was exactly what you are describing, but it does get better. Like Phoenix, I'm also on day 18 and drinking over 3 litres of water, it seems if I don't keep my water levels up I get unusually thirsty. I do my best to think and remain positive. I remember what one doctor told me...these drugs are fierce. Of course they are, they are at war with a fierce virus. I keep imagining this battle that is happening in my body, a battle that is being won!

You're in the right place for information that's for certain. You've got this!

Tig · Admin

Hi Dave,

No, you're not being a Salley! Nobody is the same and we all experience a little bit different side effects along the way. First, welcome to the forum I'm glad you're here. I see you met some of our members in the New Member section. There are a lot of caring people here.

I want to send you to this section and let you have a look around. If you have seen it already, we will help you any way possible with support and encouragement.

Epcluser's Corner

Dave z · Newbie

Been on the epclusa for one week, take my pill at 4 pm. Feel good in the morning till about 1. Lot of stomach term oil, real short like 5 second headaches, crazy body ache,fatigue and then real tired. Is everyone else going thru this ? Am I being a Salley ?

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