Sovaldi Vs. Harvoni

Two of the major medications used in treating hepatitis C are Harvoni and Sovaldi. While these two medicines share a common goal, they still have major differences. Read on to know the primary differences between these two effective drugs.

Definition:

Harvoni – This drug is a combination of ledipasvir and sofosbuvir. It has a high percentage of 99% in treating hepatitis C. Harvoni functions by inhibiting the hepatitis C virus from replicating or making more copies of itself. It is also a good alternative for individuals who have been diagnosed with HIV. This drug is taken orally, which comes in a pill form. Its dosage is only one tablet or pill to be consumed on a daily basis.

Sovaldi – This drug is also sold in the market under the generic name Sofosbuvir. Just like Harvoni, Sovaldi is also utilized in providing medical care to people with chronic hepatitis C. It also functions by blocking the viruses’ capacity to multiply and cause more health complications. The same medicine is given for people with HIV and liver disease. Its dosage is only one tablet to be consumed on a daily basis; however, it must not be taken alone. It needs to be combined with other antiviral drugs.

Cost and Pricing:

Since Sovaldi has a generic version, it can be purchased at a more reasonable and cheaper price. Whereas, Harvoni can cost too much as this medicine is already a combination drug. If this is your concern, you can discuss the pricing with your healthcare professional to obtain a more cost-effective purchase of your prescription medicine.

Harvoni Prices

Sovaldi Prices

Side Effects:

Correlative to other medications or antiviral drugs, Harvoni and Sovaldi share most of the side effects or adverse reactions. These side effects are already categorized based on their severity to their hosts. These are as follows:

Harvoni Side Effects:

• Extreme weakness
• Headache
• Tiredness
• Pain in the muscles and joints
• Irritability
• Coughing
• Drowsiness
• Dizziness

Sovaldi Side Effects:

• Headache
• Diarrhea
• Nausea
• Skin itchiness
• Weakness
• Lack of appetite
• Fever and chills
• Pain in the muscles and joints

Takeaway:

Your healthcare professional will only prescribe you a medicine that is suitable and fit for your needs. Since all drugs or medicines have corresponding precautions and warnings before taking them, make sure that you are aware already of these measures. For handling or managing the side effects, contact your healthcare professional if these reactions persist.