Viekira Pak w/Ribaviron

[highlander63]

Has anyone else been taking this combination and suffered any side effects?  I have type 1a with no cirrhosis.

I have been on the Viekira Pak and Ribaviron for 6 weeks and have been sick for 5 weeks.  I have almost constant indigestion.  I have nausea at least 3 times a week and sometimes more.  I am week and tired almost all the time.  I have had my 4 week blood test and the Hep C is detectable at 15 down from 4.2mil, every other test is fine also.  Liver Doc states treatment must be making me sick.  I had treated previously, 9 years ago, with peg/ribaviron. Looking forward to being SRV 12 weeks and for the rest of my life.  

[Livelife777]

So sorry your feeling bad. While on Riba and Sovaldi for 12 weeks, I was somewhat nauseous for the first 5-6 weeks.  Eating protein an hour prior to my meds made it somewhat better.  As Petra suggested "Fat" helps with absorption in the stomach.
Ginger works well also and you can drink Ginger Ale or bring along Ginger Snaps if your out and about.  Certain individuals are more prone to a sensitivity of medication and it may take some time for your body to adjust.  Your around that 6 week mark so your nausea should start to diminish.
Be well
......Kim

[patra_]

Re the indigestion:  Do you remain sitting up for at least an hour following each meal?  I realize that is simplistic.  I have had digestion problems much of my life and that is one thing that most Drs said.

From experience, I am not saying this will cure your indigestion but I can say that it helped.  Also, since there are so many meds one cannot take w/Harvoni or Viekira Pak, try chewing sugarless gum for about 20 + minutes when you feel it begin.  All these are just offered as stopgap measures to help get you through treatment.

Now, a bit of good news:  I am now about 20 or so weeks post treatment, and I am down from Zantac, 150 mg twice a day, to only 1 tab once a day and that has been going on for about 6 or so weeks.  I believe getting rid of the virus will help the digestive problems,  too.  As I said, I am speaking from my personal experience here, and have not read where this has been studied.

I plan to be very careful of sugar and sodium intake and, when I get brave enough, go to taking the Zantac, as needed instead of once daily.  Just not brave enough, yet.

As for the nausea, have you tried eating a little 'good' fat when you take your meds?  I mean a little yogurt, or peanut butter, cottage cheese, avocado, etc.  I have not heard anyone say they have done that with the VPak but many have mentioned it w/the Ribavirin in the Sol/Riba combo, which is what I took.  I never experienced nausea while treating and I did this with my pillss, morning and night.

So sorry you are having such a hare time, but you are on the going-down side of this hill that is tx, please hang in there, and keep us informed of how you are progressing!

Blessings and on to SVR!!!!

Pat

[highlander63]

Thank you, I am hanging in there.  I thank God for my husband who has been very supportive and caring while I am going through this treatment.  I will receive my last shipment of medication on Tuesday and will be happy to see the supply dwindle to nothing.

[SurfsideGal]

So so sorry you are feeling crummy on Viekira Pak. I am 1a and cirrhotic and had no side effects except fatigue on Viekira Pak.  You are half way there. Hang in. It will be worth it in the end.