The drug "Sofosbuvir" with the trade name "Sovaldi" allows you to completely cure hepatitis C, while a positive result is achieved quite quickly, as confirmed by clinical studies.
The drug "Sofosbuvir" treats chronic hepatitis C. Complex therapy using this drug and other medicines is prescribed for adult patients. The drug is also used to treat patients with HIV and co-infections.
The active ingredient of the tablets is sofosbuvir. They are coated and contain 400 mg of the main substance. The package contains 28 tablets.
Properties possessed by the drug "Sofosbuvir"
The drug has a depressing effect on NS5B RNA polymerase. As a result of its influence on the body, the process of replication of the virus, which is the causative agent of hepatitis C, is inhibited. If we do not take into account the forums, then one of the most interesting proposals that we managed to find on the Internet is called HCV24 ACCESS PROGRAM.
Indications for use of the drug
The drug "Sofosbuvir" is prescribed to patients with hepatitis C when the disease has become chronic. Forthe effectiveness of treatment, a combined approach is used. It is possible to use the medication in cases where a patient has HIV in addition to hepatitis.
Contraindications for taking the drug "Sofosbuvir"
The drug is not used in case of hypersensitivity to substances that are present in its composition. Despite the fact that the drug does not affect fertility, it is rarely prescribed to women of reproductive age. The use of the drug during pregnancy and breastfeeding is not recommended, as it may harm the baby.
When pregnancy occurs, the combination of Sofosbuvir with drugs such as Interferon alfa and Ribavirin can have a negative impact on its course. For this reason, during the period of treatment, bearing a child is undesirable. Experiments during which the drug "Sofosbuvir" was tested on animals showed that this drug has a slight negative effect on offspring. Before you start taking it, you need to carefully study the instructions for the drug and consult with a specialist.
Dosage of Sofosbuvir
Treatment of chronic hepatitis C with Sofosbuvir can only be performed by those specialists who have relevant experience. Monotherapy is not carried out, the drug is always combined with other drugs. Often, adults are recommended to take 400 mg (1 tablet) of the drug daily. Take the pill with meals.
Hepatitis C treatment with Sofosbuvir can last up to six months. Especially often such a need arises when there are some negative factors. The dose of the drug is selected taking into account the weight of the patient.
Combination treatment for hepatitis C:
- genotypes 3-6 - Interferon alfa and Ribavirin are added to the main drug (treatment takes more than three months);
- genotypes 1, 4-6 - additionally use Interferon alfa and Ribavirin for three months or only Ribavirin for six months (the second option is implemented only if the first method cannot be used);
- genotype 2 - the drug is combined with Ribavirin, recovery usually occurs after three months of using the drugs.
If liver transplantation is necessary for a person who has hepatitis C, Sofosbuvir is prescribed together with Ribavirin before it is carried out. During the period of therapy with Sofosbuvir, the same treatment regimen for patients with a joint course of HIV and hepatitis can be used.
When side effects occur due to the combined use of the drug with "Interferon alfa", accompanied by serious violations, "Interferon" is refused or the previously established dosage is reduced. If Ribavirin is to blame for the development of serious side effects, its dose is also reduced or this medication is canceled. Such decisions are made by the attending physician. Later, when the patient's condition returns to normal, you can try to resume taking medications.
Use of the drug "Sofosbuvir"
When treating with Sofosbuvir, the medication is taken together with food intake. The tablet is bitter, it must not be crushed and broken, it must be swallowed whole.
If vomiting occurs within two hours of taking a pill, it is recommended to take another one. In cases where vomiting is observed after more than two hours, this action should not be performed.
If you miss taking the drug, when no more than 18 hours have passed, you must take the missed dose, if more time has passed, then the required dose of the drug is drunk at the usual time.
Cessation of therapy
If during the combined treatment it becomes necessary to cancel one of the drugs, the Sofosbuvir medication is also canceled. The instruction shows that there are no data on the treatment of adolescents and children confirming the effectiveness of this method. When hepatitis is treated in patients who suffer from renal insufficiency (mild or moderate form), there is no need for individual dose selection. In a severe form of pathology, patients are prescribed a certain dose of the drug necessary for their body.
Side effects of the drug "Sofosbuvir"
During the treatment with Sofosbuvir, Interferon and Ribavirin, the same side effects appear as during the period of treatment with only Interferon and Ribavirin. In this case, their manifestation is not enhanced.
When combined treatment with Sofosbuvir, reviews show that its combination with Ribavirin often leads to the development of such conditions:
- irritability,fatigue;
- headache;
- increase in bilirubin or decrease in hemoglobin;
- nausea;
- sleep problems.
When taking the main drug is combined with the use of "Ribavirin" and "Interferon", it can often be noted:
- myalgia, joint pain;
- lack of sleep;
- cough, shortness of breath;
- high bilirubin;
- neutropenia, anemia, insufficient number of platelets, lymphocytes;
- fever, chills;
- increased irritability;
- constant fatigue;
- itchy skin, rashes;
- negative manifestations of the gastrointestinal tract;
- headache, dizziness;
- poor appetite.
When Ribavirin is additionally used in addition to the Sofosbuvir drug, the instruction shows a slight likelihood of developing such side effects:
- anemia;
- disturbances in the digestive tract;
- depressive states;
- asthenia and fever;
- convulsions;
- concentration problems;
- myalgia;
- pain in the back, in the joints;
- nasopharyngitis;
- weakening the hair roots;
- itchy skin, increased dryness;
- cough;
- shortness of breath with exertion.
When therapy is combined with Ribavirin and Interferon, the following adverse reactions may be seen in some cases:
- vision and concentration problems;
- skin lossmoisture;
- reflux;
- asthenia and discomfort in the chest, back;
- weak hair roots;
- depressive states;
- migraine;
- convulsions;
- restlessness and manifestation of fear;
- constipation;
- bad memory;
- drying of the membrane lining the mouth;
- weight loss;
- shortness of breath as a reaction of the body to stress.
The side reactions that are most often found during treatment with Sofosbuvir, reviews include:
- increased irritability;
- constant fatigue;
- decrease in the concentration of hemoglobin in the blood;
- nausea;
- headache;
- lack of sleep;
- high bilirubin.
Common unwanted effects are as follows:
- disturbances in the digestive tract;
- muscle cramps and pain;
- anemia;
- hair loss;
- respiratory disorder;
- depressive state;
- attention deficit disorder;
- cough;
- shortness of breath, which is the body's response to physical activity;
- fever;
- rhinitis;
- lack of strength;
- change in skin condition;
- pain felt in the back, joints.
The entire period of taking the drug "Sofosbuvir" must be under the supervision of the attending physician. In no case should you self-prescribe this drug.
Drug Interactions
Complex therapy using Sofosbuvir means can be performed when the possible benefit exceeds the existing risks. Experts do not advise simultaneously being treated with this drug and Boceprevir or Telaprevir. The same applies to the combination of the drug with drugs that are considered to be strong glucoprotein inducers. Phenytoin, Carbamacepin belong to drugs with such properties. St. John's wort and "Rifamycin" can be distinguished from such funds. The possibility of combining certain drugs is determined by the doctor.
Special Instructions
The course of treatment must be prescribed by an experienced specialist. There is a risk of allergies, which is manifested by asthma, redness of the eyes, itching, as well as swelling, itching of the mucous membranes, rhinitis, rashes. Some patients may experience loss of consciousness, possibly developing anaphylactic shock. If signs of an allergic reaction are detected, the help of a doctor is needed, if necessary, adjustment of the treatment regimen or discontinuation of the drug "Sofosbuvir" in general.
Sofosbuvir analogues of the drug are not used to treat patients under the age of eighteen years, since the safety of such therapy has not been confirmed by studies.
It has been observed that the incidence of adverse reactions is highest in patients over the age of 35 years. The body of young people perceives the drug better.
The necessary drugs are selected by the doctor, taking into account many factors, including the genotypeillness. During the treatment of hepatitis of the first genotype, a combination of Ledipasvir and Sofosbuvir is allowed. With the second and third genotypes, the use of "Ribavirin" is possible, with the genotypes of the first or fourth - "Ribavirin" with "Interferon".
As studies have shown, "Sofosbuvir" most effectively treats the disease of 1-4 genotypes. In many cases, the effectiveness of therapy using this drug has been confirmed in a person who has not only hepatitis, but also the human immunodeficiency virus.
During therapy, the patient must introduce some restrictions into his life. You can not perform tasks related to the need to be attentive and quickly respond to what is happening.
For the body of pregnant women, the combination of Sofosbuvir + Ribavirin + Interferon is undesirable.
The cost of the drug, reviews, analogues of "Sofosbuvir"
It is worth knowing that when using Sofosbuvir, the price of such therapy will be very high. The drug is expensive, you can buy it for about 16-25 thousand euros. Although the drug is considered effective in the fight against advanced hepatitis C, it is quite possible that it does not help in all cases, since the body is different for everyone and reacts differently to different drugs. Treatment requires special care, the choice of the required dose should be carried out by the doctor, much depends on the experience of the specialist in the treatment of hepatitis with Sofosbuvir.
Sometimes a replacement of Sofosbuvir is required. Reviews show that for the treatment of hepatitis C,which has not been eliminated at the acute stage, a doctor can select a remedy that has a similar effect. Among the possible analogues are Cycloferon, Ledipasvir, Pegintron. The doctor may prescribe "Neovir" or "Algeron". For treatment, Ferrovir, Daclatasvir can be used. There are also such substitutes as "Rebetol", "Ingaron". Therapy is possible with "Reaferon EC", "Asunaprevir" or "Peginterferon". Often, doctors resort to the help of "Ribamidil", "Laifferon", "Altevir". A similar effect is achieved due to the intake of Sovriad, Pegasys, Ribavirin Medun. No less effective is Roferon A. Other drugs of similar action are also known - "Intron A", "Alfaron". Possible effective treatment of hepatitis based on the use of Realdiron or Molixan.
"Sofosbuvir" (Egypt - the country of origin of the drug) is an expensive drug, so you need to be especially careful when buying it. It is important to pay attention to the reviews of people who have already bought this drug. In this way, it will be possible to find out which side reactions are most common and whether the medication is really doing its job well. Not only Egypt produces Sofosbuvir. India also produces this drug.
The drug has undergone several clinical trials. As a result of six such procedures, the drug was approved based on positive results. The studies involved 1947 people with hepatitis C. For the studies, people were selected whopreviously not treated for their disease, and those patients whose body did not respond to previously performed therapy.
The effectiveness of the drug has been proven in the treatment of diseases with genotypes from the first to the fourth. Good results were obtained as a result of the treatment of patients with both hepatitis and HIV. Approximately 50-90% of people participating in studies and suffering from hepatitis C have been observed to have a sustained virological response. Many patients with chronic hepatitis and HIV infection received the same result due to the use of the drug. A virologic sustained response has been reported in 76-92% of coinfected people.
Many people with chronic hepatitis C, leaving feedback, note that after completing the course of treatment prescribed by the doctor, their condition returned to normal. Already after three months of combined therapy, the readings of liver enzymes may be within the normal range, after about six months it is possible to forget about the disease, the virus in the blood is not detected. Side effects are practically not mentioned, they are usually minor: fatigue, fatigue. Even after being cured, care must be taken so that the disease does not return.
Some people with a disease of the second genotype, the drug helps in just one month, the test results are good, the causative agent of hepatitis in the blood is not detected after therapy with the drug "Sofosbuvir". The price of the medicine is rather high, but, wanting to be cured and forget about such an unpleasant disease as hepatitis C forever, people take risks. Side effects are usuallyweak or moderate, or none at all. And still, it is best to take the drug under the supervision of your doctor. There are no negative reviews, which means that if the doctor prescribed the right treatment and paid attention to all the features of the patient's body, his state of he alth, ruled out the presence of contraindications, the result of therapy should be positive. It is important to understand that a competent specialist in the treatment of advanced hepatitis C is very important for obtaining good results and a complete recovery. Constant monitoring of the doctor, compliance with all recommendations and maintaining a he althy lifestyle will certainly lead to improved he alth. Even if the disease cannot be completely cured, it will be possible to improve the analysis indicators, which will definitely have a positive effect on well-being.
