Harvoni Helps Treat the Following Conditions:

Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is a liver disease caused by a bloodborne virus. Infection usually occurs through unsafe injection practices, or via the transfusion of contaminated blood and blood products. The virus can cause acute and chronic forms of the disease.

Acute hepatitis C does not often have symptoms, and up to 45% of infected people recover without treatment. The rest can go on to develop chronic hepatitis C. Antiviral therapy can treat 95% of these cases, although some patients may develop serious complications such as liver cancer and cirrhosis.

Harvoni Active Ingredients

Generic Harvoni Alternative: Fluticasone Propionate

Harvoni is a combination medication which contains two active ingredients: ledipasvir and sofosbuvir. Harvoni helps to reduce the amount of hepatitis C virus in the body, which in turn assists the immune system in fighting the infection more effectively.

General Drug Information

What is Harvoni and What Is It Used For?

Harvoni is prescribed to patients with chronic hepatitis C, a viral infection of the liver. Chronic hepatitis C is a serious condition which can lead to complications like cirrhosis and liver cancer.

Harvoni is a combination medication which helps the immune system fight the hepatitis C virus, allowing the liver to recover. Harvoni is sometimes used with other antiviral drugs (e.g. ribavirin).

It is not known whether treatment with Harvoni can prevent patients from passing the virus to others. Patients should not share needles. They should use latex condoms – and other reliable methods – to lower the risk of passing the virus on to others during sex.

Usage and Application

Before sourcing Harvoni or its generic alternatives online, please read the medication guide provided by your doctor or pharmacist.

Harvoni should be taken as prescribed by a patient’s doctor. Most patients are directed to take one daily oral dose. This medication works best when taken at evenly-spaced intervals so the drug maintains constant levels in the body. To prevent forgetting, patients should take the drug at the same time each day.

Patients should inform their doctor if they vomit within five hours after taking Harvoni. They may be directed to take another dose.

It is important to continue taking Harvoni for the full length of the treatment course, even if symptoms have disappeared. Ending treatment early may cause the infection to return.

Antacids lower the absorption of ledipasvir, one of the active ingredients in Harvoni. Patients who need to take antacids should do so at least four hours before or four hours after taking Harvoni.

Other medications for indigestion, heartburn, and ulcers may prevent Harvoni from working. This is the case with both prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications (e.g. famotidine and omeprazole). Patients should ask their doctor or pharmacist how to use such medications safely.

Considerations Before Taking Harvoni

Patients need to discuss the possibility of allergic reactions to Harvoni and its generic alternatives before starting treatment. Patients preparing for surgery or certain dental procedures should inform their doctor or dentist about all medicines, supplements, and herbal products they are taking.

If you shop for Harvoni online, note that you may encounter the drug under its generic names: ledipasvir and sofosbuvir.

It is vital to discuss the patient’s medical history, especially of kidney disease or liver problems like hepatitis B.

Patients preparing for surgery should inform their doctor or dentist about all medicines, supplements and herbal products they are taking.

Harvoni should only be used when clearly needed during pregnancy. Women should discuss the risks and benefits of treatment with their doctor.

Combination treatment featuring Harvoni and ribavirin must not be used during pregnancy – by the mother or her male partner – as it can harm an unborn baby. In cases when one of the sexual partners uses this combination, two reliable forms of birth control (e.g. condoms and birth control pills) must be used. This applies during the course of treatment and for six months afterwards. In the event of a suspected pregnancy, the treating physician must be alerted right away.

It is unknown whether Harvoni passes into breast milk. Breastfeeding while using Harvoni (in combination with ribavirin) is not recommended. Women should consult their doctor before breast feeding.

Delayed and Omitted Doses

Patients who miss a dose of Harvoni should take it as soon as they remember. If this happens less than six hours until the next dose, patients should skip the missed dose and proceed as usual. Patients should not double their dose to catch up.

Other Medications and Harvoni

Drug interactions may change the way Harvoni and its generic alternatives work, and can increase the risk of side effects. Before starting treatment, patients need to discuss the full list of medications and supplements they are taking with their doctor. Patients should not change their dose or stop taking this medication unless their physician advises them to do so.

Some medications – like the heart drug amiodarone and hepatitis C medication simeprevir – may interact negatively with Harvoni.

Certain other medications can affect the removal of Harvoni from the body, affecting how it works. Examples include rifamycin antibiotics like rifampin (Rifadin) and rifabutin (Mycobutin), and HIV medications such as tipranavir and ritonavir (Norvir). The list also includes the herb St. John's wort and drugs used to treat seizures (e.g. carbamazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, and primidone).

Harvoni slows the removal of certain medications from the body, affecting how they work (e.g. the cholesterol drug rosuvastatin).

Patients should not take Harvoni with other products that contain sofosbuvir (e.g. Sovaldi).

This document does not contain a full list of all possible interactions. Please consult your physician before buying Harvoni or its generic alternatives online.

Adverse Reactions

Many patients are able to take Harvoni safely without serious side effects.

Common side effects include: tiredness, nausea, diarrhea, and difficulty sleeping. Patients should alert their doctor or pharmacist if any of these symptoms persist.

Serious allergic reactions to Harvoni are rare, yet patients should be aware of allergic symptoms such as rash, itching and swelling, severe dizziness and trouble breathing.

How to Store Harvoni

Harvoni should be stored in the original container, at room temperature. Keep away from light and moisture. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep away from children and pets.

Unwanted medication should be disposed of properly and should never be poured down drains or flushed down the toilet. Patients should consult a pharmacist or their local waste disposal company to find out more about safe disposal methods.