Harvoni Treatment 2022

What is Harvoni?

Harvoni is a prescription medicine used to treat long-term or chronic hepatitis C, a type of viral infection that affects the liver. It is a combination of ledipasvir and sofosbuvir, which are antiviral agents that help prevent HCV (hepatitis C virus) from replicating throughout the body. This medication also boosts the immune system, enables it to fight the infection, and assists the liver in recovering well.

The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approved Harvoni in the year 2014. The medicine is a direct-acting antiviral (DAA) type. A DAA is used as the standard treatment option for hepatitis C. Instead of focusing on boosting the body’s immunity, a DAA directly attacks HCV (hepatitis C virus).

Precautions and Warnings

Like other antiviral medications, harvoni treatment also includes a list of precautions and warnings. Medical guidelines are structured to ensure the safety of people taking this drug. Consider the following:

• Do not take Harvoni if you are allergic to it, especially to its ingredients, ledipasvir and sofosbuvir.
• If you have been diagnosed with hepatitis B, the illness can get worse or reactivate if you use Harvoni.
• Note that Harvoni is sometimes used with other antiviral medications. One of these medications is Ribavirin.

Before taking Harvoni, tell your healthcare professional if you have a history of the following medical conditions:

• Hepatitis B
• HIV (human immunodeficiency virus)
• AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome)
• A heart rhythm problem
• Liver problems
• Kidney disease

Dosage

Harvoni comes in the form of tablets and pellets. The pellet form of this medication comes in a packet. A prescription guide is also provided with the product that you can follow in your hepatitis C treatment. Below is the recommended dosage for Harvoni:

Adult dose:

• Take one tablet of Harvoni once per day (90 mg ledipasvir and 400 mg sofosbuvir).

Pediatric dose:

• Take one tablet of Harvoni once per day (90 mg ledipasvir and 400 mg sofosbuvir).
• The dosage can be divided into two tablets of 45 mg/200 mg once daily.
• Packets of Harvoni pellets are available for pediatrics.

Note: Harvoni’s dosage for children will vary depending on their weight. A guide is available, or you can base it on the prescription provided by the healthcare professional.

How to take Harvoni?

For Harvoni tablets:

• Swallow the tablet (pill) whole.
• You can take Harvoni tablets with or without food. Make sure to take your medication at the same each day,

For Harvoni pellets:

• Avoid chewing the pellets.
• If you are taking the pellets with food, mix it with a non-acidic soft food.
• Consume the mixture within 30 minutes of preparing it.

Side Effects

Like other antiviral medications, Harvoni also includes a list of side effects ranging from the most common to the severe ones. Consider the following:

Common side effects:

• Cough
• Headache
• Muscle pain
• Insomnia
• Diarrhea
• Lack of strength
• Nausea
• Irritability

Severe side effects:

• Stomach pain
• Vomiting
• Loss of appetite
• Slow heartbeats
• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath
• Weakness
• Memory problems