I WILL START HARVONI ON FRIDAY:)

[FRED220]

I spoke with  my Docs office today and I start Harvoni on friday,I am very happy and worried at the same time.  I hope treatment is not that bad  since I will continue to work full time .Does anyone know if the pill can be crushed or split so its easy to take down?

[FRED220]

Thanks Dee, tomm is the big start day and hoping for SVR:)

[alico222]

Thanks jimmy.. Very informative.
I'm in uk.. Think ema approved for geno 3.

Bit worried about size of pill..used to be fine.. But I have swallowing probs now..
I'd the solvaldi pill smaller???
Thanks
Alico x

[Dee1956]

Congratulations Fred! I had seen someone else post that they cut theirs in half though the name escapes me she is SVR
I wish the very best for you.  Dee

[FRED220]

thanks.

[Livelife777]

Just want to say Good Luck with treatment.  I do believe the side effects will be easily tolerated as you keep your eye on the prize.  Should you have some low days, always remember SVR.  Your new life will forever be free from the ravages of this disease.  
.....Kim

[FRED220]

Spoke pharmacy today and pill can be cut in half, they suggeted to place pill in side of mouth and take down with apple sauce. Will try it out.  

[fretboard]

Good for you starting Harvoni.  WTG!

[JimmyMose]

Will they give geno 3 harvoni in USA? Yes but off-label Another member posted they were GT3 and getting this treatment.  My guess that at this time only a few are getting this treatment if their doctor belives this is the best option and insurance or other gives approval.  Hcvguidlines may take months to officially recommend after review and publish online.  It is possible providers may have access to updated tx results before publish date. Haven't checked on trials.


AASLD/IDSA/IAS–USA. HCV testing and linkage to care. Recommendations for testing, managing, and treating hepatitis C.
http://www.hcvguidelines.org/full-report/initial-treatment-hcv-infection
     Accessed February 17, 2015

"ledipasvir/sofosbuvir with (n=26) or without (n=25) RBV for 12 weeks in treatment-naive patients with HCV genotype 3 infection, 15% of whom had cirrhosis. All 26 (100%) patients in the RBV-containing arm achieved SVR12 compared with 16 of 25 (64%) of those in the RBV-free arm. Although these data raise the possibility that the addition of ledipasvir to sofosbuvir and ribavirin may shorten the course of therapy for persons with HCV genotype 3 infection, the high EC50 of ledipasvir for HCV genotype 3  (Wong, 2013); (Kohler, 2014) and the homogenous patient population studied limit the generalizability of this study. Until further data are available to confirm these findings, a recommendation for use of this regimen cannot be made at this time. (Gane, 2013b)"

[patra_]

Harvoni is not recommended for Gt3 at this time. Not sure what will happen in future.  You might look on the Gilead site and see if they are doing trials on Gt 3s.

Pat

[FRED220]

Hector hope you are doing well. I like to cut the pill even if it taste like %^$&&* since its easier for me to bring it down, I tend to gag when they are big. I will call Gilead and see if it okay to cut.  
alico222, I am geno 1a and got infected in 1974 at the age of 13, I feel great and no health issues but I am F4 and need to get rid of virus asap.

[alico222]

Are you geno 1...???
Will they give geno 3 harvoni in USA???

Alico ?

[hepcandme]

Congrats on starting treatment!

Someone suggested taking the huge Harvoni pill with apple sauce - seemed like a good idea

[HectorSF]

Even if you could split it...
I was in a very early Sovaldi clinical trial when the pill had no coating. It was nasty bitter to swallow.
No Flintstone vitamin flavors for these treatments as yet.
;-)

Hector

[jules2551]

www.ema.europa.eu/docs/en_GB/document.../WC500177995.pdf

Read sections 4.2 and 5.2 regarding pill crushing and pharmocokenetic properties.

Jules

[can-do-man]

I would say no because of the release of the meds.

Mistakes can occur when people have trouble swallowing a tablet or capsule and they try to chew, crush, break or mix the tablet or capsule in food or drink. The reason is certain medications have a special release mechanism designed to slowly release a certain amount of medication over a given extended time. If the medication is altered or destroyed in any way, the medication can be released too fast and cause a bad effect.
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Make sure you check with your doctor.