Horrible Headaches & Feeling Faint

[RN1234]

Hi all - I am currently finishing up my sixth week of triple therapy treatment with Incivek, and I would have to say that this week has brought many new challenges.  I first had a "headache episode" on Saturday, and about wanted to cut my head off it hurt so bad.  It was the most intense pain I've ever experienced.  My vision became slightly blurred and I was nauseated.  800mg of Ibuprofen and a cold rag in my forehead for about 45 min helped drastically.  The thing is that it just comes out of nowhere and hits me hard.  It makes it almost impossible to function.  My mom even had to drive me to work yesterday because I was afraid that one would come.  Also, starting about 2 days ago, I started feeling faint if I didn't have food on my stomach.  The nausea starts and I feel light headed.  If I eat something, it goes away.  I don't know if this is blood sugar related or a side effect pd the medication.  Its just been a hard few days with totally new and different side effects.  It seems to be that each andevery day brings something different. :( Has anyone else experienced these side effects? If so, how did you manage them?

[Diana66]

As one which I had headaches for 20 years I tend to agree with what Idylic and Billy are saying. On the list of reasons I found were triggering my headaches: Not enough water, not enough food, not enough carbs, to much acid food (eg tomatoes or coffee on empty stomach)

Since I feel that this drugs are also somehow diuretics, I think we need way more fluids than normal. I bought couple of days ago a sport drink bottle with electrolytes. Here is called Powerade but in US you might have several other brands. Has sodium, potassium, lots of sugar, magnesium.

I am having in my bag peppermint and lavender oil and I put a drop and rub it on my temples and at the beck of my neck where the hair starts.

Hope this helps

[working dog]

are you feeling faint when you stand up? if so then maybe its your bp dropping as you stand up...i felt faint most of triple...hows your hgb??the incivek can be tough for some of us...be careful ...try to watch your step...dehydration can cause headaches....keep drinking lots of water!! its funny i had very bad symptoms on triple and ran into a guy that had no symptoms on triple..we both got to svr...good luck...billy

[Idyllic]

Feeling faint if you don't have food in your tummy sounds familiar. I noticed I  almost completely dropped the carbs when I was taking Incivek. In fact other than the food with my meds and did not eat at all. I found Incivek caused loss of appetite/anorexia. That was a recipe for a headache right there. What helped me was fresh fruit low in sugar and or V8 or one of the V8 juices. Not necessarily because of the sugar but because of the other nutrients and it kept me hydrated. Water is important but so are the other nutrients we need and likely may not be getting.

Not sure if that is related to your headaches though. Glad the Ibuprofen & cold compress took it away though. As always I would contact your doctor to see if there is anything you could take to avert headaches rather than waiting until you have one to treat it. Also a doctor might have insight we don't have.

Sadly I think you hit the nail on the head about one side after another on Incivek. Once you find a remedy for nausea and headache it is possible another side might pop up right after that.

Hopefully others who treated will chime in and talk about how they dealt with this. It really does sound like a side you can treat by experimenting but I would still call the doctor to be sure. I do know having a certain level of acetaminophen in your system can be a help. Not sure if my papers from the doctor said I could take Ibuprofen when I was on the Incivek (it has been a while).

I hope you feel better. I remember how miserable that period could be and you have my greatest compassion ~ and that you are working on top of this!

Hang in there and let us know how this works out ♫