Hep C Discussion Forum

You keep thinking those positive thoughts, this will turn out right, I promise! You should be putting yourself first, there comes a time when our health has to be a priority. You can't be there for anyone else if you aren't around to do it. You'll find that people are very supportive. The old drugs used to make us so blasted sick, you could barely get out of bed some days. It has been 4 years for me and I remember how unpleasant that 7+ months were. Epclusa is a breeze...

All you need to do is take a single pill each day, drink a gallon of water and 12 weeks later, you're done. Few side effects and no more virus. What's not to like? Don't sweat it, it's easy and you're going to achieve what you set out to do. Commit to it and go get it. The whole thing will go by fast and we'll walk the path with you. 

I'm glad to hear you are working on your water intake. I can't begin to say how important the one gallon per day requirement is. People that fail to do that frequently express how poorly they feel compared to those that do. Do everything in your power to meet that goal.

We all have considered what these medications might do down the road. It's a common question. The treatments for everything are new in some respects. The old Interferon and Ribavirin protocols were all we had for decades. I can tell you from experience, they were horrid on mind and body. They also had very low rates of success and were up to a year long. Half the time, or more, they failed and made further treatment doubly hard. Be very glad you don't have to take those treatments. The new drugs have been trialed and approved after years of research. They are extremely effective, fast and easy to tolerate. Nothing is certain, but from my vantage point, these new treatments shouldn't be avoided based on your concern of what they might do hypothetically. If you should postpone treatment for the next drug in line, you'll have to consider those same issues again. If you don't treat, I guarantee your liver disease will progress and cause it's own set of possibilities.

As far as Velpatasvir is concerned, it is combined with Sovaldi (Sofosbuvir) to make Epclusa. Ledipasvir is combined with Sovaldi to make Harvoni. They are both extremely effective when used according to directions. There are other medications that are highly effective. Don't let your mind go to the dark side and avoid listening to second and third hand stories related to adverse effects. Discuss your concerns here and with your doctor. We'll do our best to give you accurate information without all the fluff.

Hi Scared E Cat,

Tig is right, the time of day dosing is really up to your personal life circumstances/routine, YOUR choice, YOUR judgement - try to pick a "for sure" time, as THEE most important thing is the  CONSISTENT same time of day dosing. Same time every day.

Pick a tme of day that you will NEVER be likely overwhelmed with any extraneous events occuring, which might cause you to be delayed in taking your dose, or to forget to take a dose (yes, forgetting can happen!).

Epclusa can be taken with or without food - I generally take any med, with food (when I have a choice, when not contra-indicated), and, of course, with LOTS of water! - If you are very consistent with meal times, you can land your pill dosing time with breakfast, lunch or supper, if that makes it easier for you.

Some people who were afraid of experiencing "sides", debated whether they should take their dose in the morning before they went off to their day job, or, to take it when they finished work, when at home for the afternoon, evening and could go to bed and "sleep" through any possible sides. 

Just take into consideration your normal, predictable routines and work with them, to choose a time of day dose.

I was very much having altered sleeping and eating times, prior to treatment (sleeping long periods, meals not on time), so, when I entered my trial I had no choice but to pick lunch time as the safest/most reliable time of day to take my pill (my trial drugs, dif than yours, included another drug, which dictated that I HAD to take my meds with food). You do not have to take your pill with food, but it may help keep you "on time" if you pair the dosing with a regular timed meal.

Had i been on epclusa only, I might have opted for that evening dosing, but, I really don't know whether that would make any dif for anyone as far as addressing a fear of sides. You will have the epclusa in your bloodstream, all day, every day, for 12 weeks anyway. This is what the treatment is all about, keeping your body saturated with consistently timed/supplied dosings to keep the blood levels of the drug in you at their max. Being late for for a dose will allow the blood level of the drug in your body to drop below ideal for a while. Strive utmost to be on time.

Plain ole water is best, but yes, you can gussy up/flavour water any way you wish, as long as you get that gal a day in - the flushing of your system while on these drugs is the kindest thing you can do for yourself as far as feeling blah or preventing headaches (should you get any), you are helping your kidneys and body to excrete the wasted metabolized by-producst of the drug. Coffee and sugary drinks definitely do not count as much as good ole plain water does.

Just pick the safest/most reliable time of day that suits you, and stick with it. Have pre-counted portable containers of your fluids to take with you to work, so you do not fall down on the daily water intake. Plan for frequent pee-breaks.

That's very good, lucky you, that your work schedule is very flexible - that always helps. It is quite possible that you may not feel improved while on treatment, but then again, you might not feel any dif or worse than you are feeling right now! I am hoping you will feel as kick-ass as Jaggles did when she got on epclusa!  C.

Epclusa will destroy geno 2, it has been one of the easy (like any of it is easy?) genotypes to cure. I must say though, all genotypes are easily treated and cured with these new drugs.

I don't understand why so many people hate drinking water. It's good for you, boring but good, lol! Avoid sugary drinks though, they place additional strain on your metabolism. Try fruit infused water, you can make it at home. Slice up oranges, lemons, strawberries, etc., and put them in a pitcher. You can put some in a reuseable water bottle to take with you. I used those little squirt bottles, like MIO. That made it easy. If you like watermelon, eat lots of it, it's full of water and good for you. Try drinking small amounts all day long. Whatever it takes! 

When you take it is really a judgement call. You can take it anytime you want, but you have to take it at the same time everyday. 7AM or 7PM works for many, it depends what works best for your schedule. The first couple of weeks seem to be a period of adjustment for many. Fatigue and headache seem to be the most common complaint, while others experience very little. They can be avoided by drinking that necessary gallon of water each day! Once started, you can adjust the time by an hour either way, but only one hour. These drug treatments rely on constant exposure, that's why a consistent schedule is so important. 

Hi Scared E Cat,

I love your name, that's what i used to call my kitty! 

I am so glad you have come here, and I am thrilled to bits you got epclusa! 

Do you happen to be a GT3 like me? Epclusa is very pan (GT 1-6), but I was very well cured with epclusa (and another drug added) in only 8 weeks (I was in a trial). 

Tig is always right (on all counts) - about the new DAA's, and the water advice is of utmost of importance, and about poking around searching the site for info. Setting up a signature line with more of your Tests done, Labs/GT, VL, Fscore, etc.,  will be ever so helpful for conversations.

Tips? - get your water supply ready ahead of time. Clear the path so you are stress and obligation free during treatment. Pick a time of day for your dose. Make sure you and your doc have covered your immunity to hep a/b, and/or immunization for anything else he may recommend for you. Try to find out what your blood testing schedule will be (and what your doc visit schedule will be) and mark them out on calendar. Simple as that - and, of course, prepare to be cured! Energy/fatigue! - many here know of what you speak - and, many of us have experienced improvements (of all sorts) including energy after treatment, search Jaggles for example of energy improving even when on treatment! Others have had NO discernable sides during treatment, one actually wondered if they had been given a placebo by mistake! It's different for everyone.

Fire away for burning questions. We will all try to help. C.