Viread Side Effects? Please share...

[twinboys1girl4me]

I'm on the fence of going on Viread, just because I'm on the boarder of what the guidelines are.  So, to help, I'm wondering what the main side effects are of those that take it?  I read all of the information on-line (lactic acidosis, worsening of liver function, worsening of HBV, and then others less severe).  Does the really bad side effects like lactic acidosis, worse liver function, worse HBV happen with those taking it for HBV or is it focusing on those that take it for HIV?  It sounds like a very big commitment and risk of possible worsening liver damage, so this makes me very nervous.  I don't want to regret my decision if I decide to go on.  The pharmacy said I will have my 1st month to me tomorrow by mail, so any help before then would be greatly appreciated.  I know once I start there is no looking back.  :)

[stef2011]

1000ml of vit d is impossible and 1000iu of vit d is nothing if you go under the sun you make 20.000iu in your skin

what happened has nothing to do with vit d because you had none.vitd25oh does not measure vit d sufficiency but can only confirm deficiency.vit d in the tissues is not vitd25oh and only intact pth can tell you if you have sufficiency in the tissues

[nic2012]

My vit D is at normal level,i was on 1000ml vit D for a while but stopped i got more than enough.my Dr advised me to..urinating became painful as soon as i stopped i went back to normal.am not fat am 33and i watch my weight am 62kg.i dont  eat fatty food.i eat a  lot of tropical food ,fruits and vegis.i can assure u that the pain  i have has nothing to do with fat.

[stef2011]

i can only suggest keep vit d and try if possible to check your hbsag quant, it is usually low on low hbsag

tdf is safe probably even for 20 years, but we dont need so long time, hbsag will be lost earlier by pegintf add on or by new drugs

[twinboys1girl4me]

Thanks again for all Stef!  I will stop the Milk Thistle and Chana Piedra until hopefully the DNA is undetectable.  I hope with my already low DNA it shouldn't be long.  

Please give me your advise.  As I have stated before, my DNA has never risen above 1300 IU/mL and biopsy is F0 2014 and F0-F-1 in 2003.  So, according to guidelines from this alone I do not qualify for antivirals.  My ALT is on the higher end of ALT 35 and I know women ULN is 19.  Heck, last week my DNA was 286 IU/ml and a month ago it was 160 IU/ml (lowest ever).  Don't know why it's all of a sudden going super low without antivirals, but I did start Vit D3?

My new hepatologist feels that Viread is safe long term and due to me being 41 and had HBV  for life already that now is a good time to start.  He said he knows what guidelines are, but these guidelines were set up for mass guidelines on when to treat in countries with high HBV.  He said for me personally (not mass population), if I want to do everything that I can for now to reduce future risk of HCC then it's most achieved by getting the DNA undetectable.   Do you agree?  

Lastly, I believe Viread has only been studied on HBV population for 8 years, is this correct?  Is it possible to stay on this medication 20-30 years to stay undetectable with favorable outcomes or is it too new for any data to go off of?  Hepatologist said this was a good question and it was more studied in HIV but for HBV is newer med.  I took my first pill this morning and just kind of freaking out about long term and if it's the right choice with current low DNA.  :/

Thanks again for your help!!

[stef2011]

you must take it as all hbvers....you  have to search your answers on hbv conferences and pubmed, you cant find these type of answers on drugs booklets

as to  Milk Thistle, Chanca Piedra it is best to take them when hbvdna und, there was some study on possible interference from  Milk Thistle so best take it when fully und

[twinboys1girl4me]

Thank you all for your replies and glad to see some others are getting help from this same thread!  

I talked with my liver doctor again yesterday, just to go over things one last time.  He said while I can wait (and he has others in my same boat that he is just watching), long term it will help my liver and risks associated with HBV.  

I tried doing a lots of searches but can't find this answer....can I take Viread with my vitamins?  I take Vitamin D3 6,000 IU, Selenium 200, Vitamin K2 200, Milk Thistle, Chanca Piedra.  I can't find any interactions, but just wondering what is best and again what you do with other supplements/medications you take.  

[fcar1]

Well, she said baraclude wasnt working well on me and that viread was the best treatment. I'm just not sure why she did want to start with baraclude.

But luckly everything worked well with Viread and I guess in June I will stop taking it

[Royal36]

Fcar1, why did your Dr changed your treatment from Barculade to the Viread? Coz right now I'm on barculade. Appreciate.

[fcar1]

I started with baraclude but after few months my doctor decided to switch to viread and Ive been taking it for almost 1 year and a half.

Had no severe side effects only felt light headed few times, but Im not sure it was due to viread.

I felt the same way when I started to take these medicines, never had to take anything.... But, then I realized  that it was better with it than without it ... :)

[stef2011]

i also had that pain from time to time unrelated to antivirals...i had some while on peg and before any treatment, i think it is correlated with inflammation, inflammation is very high on obese, fatty liver and immune/metablolic disorders

are you on vit d?

[joc2011]

the pain you are having around your rib cage was something i also experienced at the onset of starting TNF, but was gone after about 6 months, and not back ever since for almost 4 years on.
I have come to realise its due to fatty liver. Get rid of that and you wont experience that no more.
Diet helps,and also vitamin d. daily Detox helped me a great deal too

[bigmoviebuff]

they are obligated to report these side effects for full disclosure. But it is very rare to get them. I  have been on viread for 2+ years wtih no side effects.

[nic2012]

I started TNF 3yrs ago,I had itches all over mybdoy,felt like something moving in my blood,since I started TNF I have been having pain around my rib cage,the itches have not stopped,my ALT then was 10 ,I will do full test next month,the pain is unbearable,at a point I stopped for 2days but nothing felt better

[twinboys1girl4me]

Thank you!

[stef2011]

use search many quite a few members did adding peg to ongoing antivirals

[twinboys1girl4me]

Wonderful news Stef.  Thanks so much and so happy for you!  I think you were the one who told me to fight the virus now since it was weak with low DNA (in the US where I can't get qHBsAg).  I know it's a long shot, but have you heard of anyone clearing HBsAg with being HBeAg negative?  I've been taking 6,000 of Vitamin D the past few weeks, like you had recommended.  Any other vitamins please share.  I also take Selenium and Vitamin K2 (like you said due to high calcimia).

[stef2011]

zero sides effects from both entecavir and tenofovir 5 years

[twinboys1girl4me]

Thank you so much for this.  I'm so nervous since I'm borderline, but I've had HBV my whole life, so due to this and ALT a little high and DNA constant he feels now is a good time to start.  It's a big commitment, as I know I can't miss or go off.  My doctor too said it's generally well tolerated with little or no side effects, but what you read on line is totally different (and I know all meds are that way).  Thanks again and so happy for you that it has helped a lot!

[joc2011]

been taking it for 4 years now with no issues. infact my liver functions have greatly improved.
for the first few months after i started had a bit of nausea, lost a bit of hair, a bit of weight, and my bp increased. that must have been my body system trying to get used to the drug. but all thats in the past now. no more sides, and my doctor is always thrilled with my good lab results each time i go for check ups.