Common Side Effects of Epclusa
Epclusa, a prescription medication used to treat chronic hepatitis C, may cause various side effects in some patients. According to the Epclusa patient labeling [1], the most common side effects reported during clinical trials include headache, fatigue, and nausea.
Fatigue and Epclusa
Fatigue, often described as feeling tired or weak, is one of the most commonly reported side effects of Epclusa. In clinical trials, fatigue was reported by approximately 26% of patients taking Epclusa in combination with other medications [2]. In some cases, this side effect may be severe, but for most patients, it is temporary and subsides within a few weeks of treatment.
[2] https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfdadocs/label/2016/208363s000lbl.pdf
Nausea and Epclusa
Nausea, or the feeling of queasiness in the stomach, is another common side effect of Epclusa. In clinical trials, nausea was reported by around 15% of patients taking Epclusa [3]. In some cases, nausea may be severe and require medication to manage. However, it is often temporary and resolves within a few days of starting treatment.
What to Expect
If you are taking Epclusa and experience fatigue or nausea, it is essential to discuss these side effects with your healthcare provider. In many cases, they can be managed with medication or other treatments. To minimize the risk of these side effects, your healthcare provider may recommend taking your medication with food or at bedtime.
Patient Information
For more information on side effects and how to manage them, you can visit the Epclusa website or consult your healthcare provider. Additionally, you can review the Epclusa patient labeling on the FDA website [4].
Sources:
[1] Gilead Sciences, Inc. (2016). Epclusa (sofosbuvir and velpatasvir) for treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 infection. Patient labeling. Retrieved from https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfdadocs/label/2016/208363s000lbl.pdf
[3] Gilead Sciences, Inc. (2016)
https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/nda/2016/208363Orig1s000MedR.pdf