Sofosbuvir

Generic name: Sofosbuvir
Brand names: Sovaldi
Drug class: Miscellaneous antivirals

Usage of Sofosbuvir

Sofosbuvir is an antiviral medicine that is used to treat chronic hepatitis C in adults and children who are at least 3 years old.

Sofosbuvir must be given in combination with other antiviral medications (usually ribavirin with or without peginterferon alfa). Sofosbuvir should not be used alone.

Sofosbuvir treats specific genotypes of hepatitis C, and only in certain people. Use only the medications prescribed for you. Do not share your medicine with other people.

Sofosbuvir is sometimes used in people who also have HIV, or people who have liver cancer and are going to have a liver transplant. This medicine is not a treatment for HIV or AIDS.

Sofosbuvir side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to sofosbuvir: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have new or worsening symptoms such as:

right-sided upper stomach pain, vomiting, loss of appetite;

dark urine, clay-colored stools; or

jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

If you take sofosbuvir and you also take a heart rhythm medicine called amiodarone: This combination of medicines can cause dangerous side effects on your heart. Get medical help right away if you take these medicines and you have:

very slow heartbeats, chest pain, shortness of breath;

confusion, memory problems; or

weakness, extreme tiredness, light-headed feeling (like you might pass out).

Common sofosbuvir side effects may include:

headache, feeling tired;

anemia;

nausea, loss of appetite; or

sleep problems (insomnia).

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before taking Sofosbuvir

You should not use sofosbuvir if you are allergic to it. When taking sofosbuvir with other medicine: To make sure all medicines are safe for you, tell your doctor about all your medical conditions, and if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

To make sure sofosbuvir is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:

hepatitis B (you may be tested for this before you take sofosbuvir);

a liver transplant;

liver problems other than hepatitis C;

kidney disease (or if you are on dialysis);

HIV or AIDS;

a heart rhythm problem for which you take a medicine called amiodarone; or

if you use a blood thinner (warfarin, Coumadin, Jantoven) and you have routine "INR" or prothrombin time tests.

Sofosbuvir is sometimes used in combination with ribavirin. Both men and women using ribavirin should use effective birth control to prevent pregnancy. Ribavirin can cause birth defects, miscarriage, or death to an unborn baby if the mother or father is using this medicine.

You should not take ribavirin if you are pregnant, or if you are a man and your sex partner is pregnant. Use effective birth control to prevent pregnancy. Keep using birth control for at least 6 months after your last dose of ribavirin.

Tell your doctor right away if a pregnancy occurs while either the mother or the father is using ribavirin.

It may not be safe to breastfeed while using sofosbuvir. Ask your doctor about any risk.

Sofosbuvir is not approved for use by anyone younger than 3 years old.

Relate drugs

How to use Sofosbuvir

Usual Adult Dose for Chronic Hepatitis C:

400 mg orally once a day Recommended Regimen and Duration of Therapy: -Genotype 1 or 4: Sofosbuvir, peginterferon alfa, and ribavirin for 12 weeks -Genotype 2: Sofosbuvir and ribavirin for 12 weeks -Genotype 3: Sofosbuvir and ribavirin for 24 weeks -Hepatocellular carcinoma awaiting liver transplantation: Sofosbuvir and ribavirin for up to 48 weeks or until liver transplantation (whichever occurs first) Comments: -Genotype 1, 4: This regimen is recommended for therapy-naive patients without cirrhosis or with compensated cirrhosis (Child-Pugh A). -Genotype 2, 3: Both regimens are recommended for therapy-naive and therapy-experienced patients without cirrhosis or with compensated cirrhosis (Child-Pugh A). -Therapy-experienced patients have failed an interferon-based regimen (with or without ribavirin). -The dose recommendations for genotype 1, 2, 3, or 4 should be followed for HCV/HIV-1-coinfected patients. -The manufacturer product information should be consulted for ribavirin tablet dose recommendations; with genotype 1 or 4, the manufacturer product information for peginterferon alfa should also be consulted for dose recommendations. -Sofosbuvir and ribavirin for 24 weeks can be considered for patients with genotype 1 infection who cannot use an interferon-based regimen; treatment decision should be guided by benefit/risk assessment for the individual patient. -The regimen for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma awaiting liver transplantation is recommended to prevent posttransplant HCV reinfection. Use: As a part of a combination antiviral treatment regimen, for the treatment of chronic HCV infection -In combination with pegylated interferon and ribavirin: For genotype 1 or 4 infection without cirrhosis or with compensated cirrhosis -In combination with ribavirin: For genotype 2 or 3 infection without cirrhosis or with compensated cirrhosis

Usual Pediatric Dose for Chronic Hepatitis C:

3 years or older: -Weight less than 17 kg: 150 mg orally once a day -Weight 17 to less than 35 kg: 200 mg orally once a day -Weight at least 35 kg: 400 mg orally once a day Recommended Regimen and Duration of Therapy: -Genotype 2: Sofosbuvir and ribavirin for 12 weeks -Genotype 3: Sofosbuvir and ribavirin for 24 weeks -Hepatocellular carcinoma awaiting liver transplantation: Sofosbuvir and ribavirin for up to 48 weeks or until liver transplantation (whichever occurs first) Comments: -Both regimens are recommended for therapy-naive and therapy-experienced patients without cirrhosis or with compensated cirrhosis (Child-Pugh A). -Therapy-experienced patients have failed an interferon-based regimen (with or without ribavirin). -The manufacturer product information should be consulted for ribavirin dose recommendations. -The same dose recommendations should be followed for HCV/HIV-1-coinfected patients. -The regimen for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma awaiting liver transplantation is recommended to prevent posttransplant HCV reinfection. Use: In combination with ribavirin, for the treatment of chronic HCV genotype 2 or 3 infection in patients without cirrhosis or with compensated cirrhosis

Warnings

If you've ever had hepatitis B, it may become active or get worse while using or after you stop using sofosbuvir. You may need frequent liver function tests for several months.

Sofosbuvir is used in combination with other medication. Read the medication guide or patient instructions provided with each medication in your combination therapy. Do not change your doses or medication schedule without your doctor's advice.

Slow heartbeat and the need to get a pacemaker have happened when amiodarone was given with sofosbuvir and certain other hepatitis C drugs. Sometimes, this has been deadly. Slow heartbeat has happened up to 2 weeks after starting hepatitis C treatment. You will need to be watched closely if you will be taking amiodarone with hepatitis C treatment. Follow what your doctor has told you to do. Call your doctor right away if you have signs of slow heartbeat like chest pain, confusion, dizziness, passing out or near-passing out, memory problems, shortness of breath, tiredness, or weakness.

It is not known if this sofosbuvir stops the spread of diseases like hepatitis that are passed through blood or having sex. Do not have any kind of sex without using a latex or polyurethane condom. Do not share needles or other things like toothbrushes or razors. Talk with your doctor.

What other drugs will affect Sofosbuvir

When you start or stop taking sofosbuvir, your doctor may need to adjust the doses of any other medicines you take on a regular basis.

Sometimes it is not safe to use certain medications at the same time. Some drugs can affect your blood levels of other drugs you take, which may increase side effects or make the medications less effective.

Many drugs can interact with sofosbuvir. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed here. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.

Disclaimer

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