NEED ADVICE: Co-infected about to start Harvoni

[redrobot]

Hi all, hope you doing well.
I'm co-infected (HIV + HCV) and have been prescribed Harvoni through NHS UK for the Hep.C. I have the 1 month worth of pills already, but after searching the side effects of the Harvoni, the one not mentioned in the drug's leaflet, i found horror story after horror story and this from people that are not POZ.

I've been co-infected since 95, my HIV have been UND for the most part of the last 15 years, and apart from a bit of fatigue my quality of life is still decent.
I did a liver biopsy about 4/5 years ago and came back mild scarring stage 1.

I also have a bad leg, motorbike accident that shattered my pelvis, and walk with a bad limp but without a walking stick.

After seeing many people complain of serious joint problems after taking Harvoni, and many MANY other side effects i don't know what to do anymore. Someone is counting deaths that may or may not relate to Harvoni (even though the vast majority had no symptoms pre Harvoni) and it's up to 107.

The doctors didn't do any testing on my liver (bar blood LFT tests) recently, i don't know my liver status at this point. I don't know if still stage 1, even though i think it could be a bit worse now.

To make matter worse, i was put on HIV meds Rezolta 6 weeks ago and i felt horrible during that time. I started on new drugs, similar to Kaletra (that i was taking b4 Rezolta) and after 3 days, just a very minor headache.

I really don't know what to do.
I don't know the actual state of my liver right now to make a better decision. I may ask my HIV doctor for a proper liver test when i see him next tuesday.

Has anyone here taken Harvoni before ??

[Jim Allen]

I think you would get better support on the hepatitis forum with this one.

Wishing you all the best and try not to worry about stories or package inserts too much, do work with your doctor

https://forums.hepmag.com/index.php?PHPSESSID=nbmki5r1i6tmd2h6kkfvhqlp70&board=28.0

[redrobot]

Thanks

[StRBKK]

I have experience with this.  Based on what you say, I do not think you have anything to worry about.  Harvoni does not, to the best of my knowledge, interact with ARVs.  Furthermore, it is remarkably effective against genotype 1a, and other genotypes.  It has virtually no noticeable side effects in many patients, so it’s extremely tolerable. 

Your infectious disease or hepatitis specialist should make sure that you’ve had the appropriate testing. 

Bear in mind, that anything short of late stage liver damage, i.e. cirrhosis, is something you can recover from.  So, whatever the circumstances are, taking the Harvoni should cure the infection, and with a healthy lifestyle your liver condition will improve when free of HCV.  So, unless your doctor is recommending testing, I see no merit to seeking out additional testing.  Just take the Harvoni, have the HCV RNA (viral load) tests at the recommended intervals, and follow your doctor’s instructions. 

Worrying or doing extra tests won’t help.  The Harvoni will almost certainly help!