Day 1 of 168

[somuchmore2]

Harvoni

Geno 1A
IL28B
Age 60
3rd treament in past 18 years
170 lb
Diabetes 2
Stage 3/4 Cirrhosis
Major bleed back in 8 years ago

Okay
Feeling fine and no side effects but the day is early.

I will try to keep the posting updated during the next 24 weeks

Best Wishes to all as we fight the HEP C.

[nan535]

Re: omeprazole

My husband will be starting Harvoni sometime in December. He was told to take the omeprazole at least  4 hrs before or after the Harvoni.

Best wishes to all who are joining him in this fight. May you all reach SVR12 this go round.

Nan

[somuchmore2]

Thank you.

Day 12 or 168....up early and doing well.

Yes I am seeing Hepatologist.

[flyinlynn]

Hi

Per the Harvoni full prescribing information sheet page 5 table 3

http://www.gilead.com/~/media/Files/pdfs/medicines/liver-disease/harvoni/harvoni_pi.pdf

Proton-pump inhibitors (e.g., omeprazole) cause a decrease in the Ledipasvir component of Harvoni the clinical comment is:

Proton-pump inhibitor doses comparable to omeprazole 20 mg or lower can be administered simultaneously with HARVONI under fasted conditions.

It appears the recommendation if you must take Omeprazole is simultaneously on an empty stomach.

For H2-receptor antagonists (e.g., famotidine) the recommendation is:

H2-receptor antagonists may be administered simultaneously with or 12 hours apart from HARVONI at a dose that does not exceed doses comparable to famotidine 40 mg twice daily.

Apparently the solubility of Ledipasvir is greatly reduced if stomach acid levels are not sufficiently acidic.

In regards to Zolpidem it is not specifically listed on the prescribing information sheet.

However Ambien (zolpidem) can have adverse effects on the liver depending on the health of your liver currently for example if you have advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis.

http://www.livestrong.com/article/262201-ambien-liver-problems/

Liver Function
The liver, the largest internal organ, produces vital substances such as albumin and bile, stores substances such as sugar and vitamins, and filters harmful substances from the blood. Everything ingested into the body, including foods and medications, enters the bloodstream through the digestive tract and travels to the liver. Most medications metabolize, or break down, in the liver and some such as Ambien may break down into substances that can damage liver cells.

I hope you are seeing a hepatologist as they can best advise you about Ambien and it's effects on your liver.

Also for more information Gilead has My Support path they have a 24/7 nurse line that can give you the official information about drug interactions.

Call HARVONI Support Path at 1-855-7-MYPATH (1-855-769-7284).

https://www.harvoni.com/support

Good luck on treatment
Lynn

[somuchmore2]

Thank you.

It does make sense to me so I'll will just take 20mg at 7 PM and Harvoni at 6 AM.

Is anyone else taking Zolpidem (aka Geniac Ambein) for insomia?

[Sarah1949]

With regard to the Omeprazole, I was taking 20 mg twice a day when I read on another forum that the Omeprazole interferes with Sovaldi and Olysio in that they need the acid to work best. I asked my doctor about this and he said it's true the drugs do need the acid and advised me to only take 20 mg once a day and to take it 12 hours before the S/O. Not sure if this relates to Harvoni though.

[somuchmore2]

Day 11 of 168.

Stomach issues but we did do some Thanksgiving feeding this past weekend.

I assume most all of us are on Omeprazole.
What has your doctors said about that medicine dosage and when to take (with or without Harvoni?

Also, what are folks doing about insomina? Is Zolpidem 5mg okay while on Harvoni?