Compare Harvoni vs. Epclusa

Harvoni (ledipasvir / sofosbuvir)

Myhep Lvir, Hepcinat, Ledihep, etc

Epclusa (velpatasvir / sofosbuvir)

Mylan All, Velpanat, Sovihep, Resof, etc.

Treats hepatitis C.

Harvoni (ledipasvir / sofosbuvir) is a combination pill for hepatitis C that you only need to take once a day. Depending on the amount of liver damage you have, it’s sometimes taken together with another medicine called ribavirin.

Treats hepatitis C.

Epclusa (velpatasvir / sofosbuvir) is a combination medicine that treats hepatitis C, and has been shown very effective at curing the disease in many people. It is very expensive.

Upsides

• Harvoni (ledipasvir / sofosbuvir) is a simple hepatitis C treatment that can cure 96% to 99% of those with genotype 1 who have had no prior treatment. Most people only have to take 1 pill a day for either 12 or 24 weeks.
• The most common side effects are mild to moderate tiredness and headache.
• Harvoni (ledipasvir / sofosbuvir) is also a good option for people taking HIV medications since it doesn’t have drug interactions with most of these medicines.
• Harvoni (ledipasvir / sofosbuvir) is approved for the treatment of hepatitis C in some people with severe liver disease and liver transplants.
• Harvoni (ledipasvir / sofosbuvir) is also one of the first drugs approved to treat hepatitis C in children ages 12 to 17.

• Epclusa (velpatasvir / sofosbuvir) is the first medicine approved to treat all genotypes of hepatitis C.
• Most people only have to take one pill of Epclusa (velpatasvir / sofosbuvir) once a day for 12 weeks. If you have severe liver damage, you’ll have to take it with ribavirin.
• It can be taken with or without food.
• The most common side effects are usually mild, including fatigue and headache.

* GDMeds Pharmacy (www.gdmeds.com)

Downsides

• Harvoni (ledipasvir / sofosbuvir) needs an acidic stomach to be absorbed properly. This means that heartburn medications can affect how Harvoni (ledipasvir / sofosbuvir) works, so talk to you doctor or pharmacist before starting any.
• Harvoni (ledipasvir / sofosbuvir) can cause serious drops in heart rate when it’s taken with amiodarone. If you have to take them together, your heart rate needs to be checked regularly.
• You should be tested for hepatitis B before starting Harvoni (ledipasvir / sofosbuvir), since untreated hepatitis B can become active again with medications that treat hepatitis C.
• If you have severe liver disease or have a liver transplant, you’ll have to take Harvoni (ledipasvir / sofosbuvir) with another medicine called ribavirin.
• Talk to your doctor if you’re currently on rosuvastatin, as you shouldn’t take it with Harvoni (ledipasvir / sofosbuvir).

• Epclusa (velpatasvir / sofosbuvir) can only be absorbed properly in an acidic stomach so heartburn meds can affect how well it works.
• Epclusa (velpatasvir / sofosbuvir) can cause serious drops in heart rate when it is taken with amiodarone.
• If you have severe liver disease, you’ll have to take Epclusa (velpatasvir / sofosbuvir) with another medication called ribavirin.

* GDMeds Pharmacy (www.gdmeds.com)

Used for

Hepatitis C infection genotype 1, 4, 5, and 6

Hepatitis C, all types

Dosage forms

Pill

Pill

Side effects

• Weakness / lack of energy, 31%
• Headache, 28%
• Tiredness, 18%
• Muscle pain, 9%
• Irritability, 8%
• Cough, 5%
• Dizziness, 5%
• Shortness of breath, 3%

• Headache, 22%
• Fatigue, 15%
• Nausea, 9%
• Weakness, 5%
• Insomnia, 5%

Risks and risk factors

• Hepatitis B reactivation
  • History of hepatitis B infection
• Slow heart rate
  • Amiodarone
  • Beta blockers
  • Heart disease
  • Liver disease
• Drug interactions
  • Taking rifampin
  • Taking St. John’s wort
• Ribavirin combination treatment
  • Taking ribavirin with Harvoni (ledipasvir / sofosbuvir)

• Hepatitis B reactivation
  • History of hepatitis B infection
• Slower heart beat
  • Amiodarone
  • Beta blockers
  • Heart disease
  • Liver disease
• Drug interactions
• Ribavirin warnings
  • Taking ribavirin with Epclusa (velpatasvir / sofosbuvir)