Sofosbuvir velpatasvir is a medication proposed to treat hepatitis C. It is approved for people with all genotypes of the hepatitis C virus. It is a combination medicine of sofosbuvir and velpatasvir. These two medicines are co-formulated into a single tablet. Dosage is administered once daily with or without food. The sofosbuvir velpatasvir has few side effects. They are generally minimal and commonly include tiredness and headache. Hepatitis C treatment can cure an individual from hepatitis C. Although, an individual could become infected again.
How Does Sofosbuvir Velpatasvir Work?
Hepatitis C is a disease of the liver that is developed due to a virus, which is a very tiny germ that creates copies of itself in order to survive by a process known as replication. The hepatitis C virus has at least 6-different strains, which are also called genotypes.The sofosbuvir velpatasvir is a direct-acting antiviral (DAA) medicine. DAAs are a group of drugs that directly inhibit the potential of the hepatitis C virus to create copies of itself. Sofosbuvir and velpatasvir is a combination of two DAAs. These medicines work by weakening the activity of proteins required by hepatitis C. In this combination drug, one is sofosbuvir, which is a nucleotide polymerase inhibitor, and the second is velpatasvir, which is an NS5A inhibitor. Sofosbuvir interferes with the reproduction of the HCV's genetic material. Velpatasvir acts by interfering with a protein required by the virus. Together these two medicines greatly reduce and then inhibit the production of new copies of hepatitis C viruses. Hepatitis C treatment can cure an individual from hepatitis C. Although, an individual could get infected again.
Formulation(s) and Strength(s):
Treatment with sofosbuvir velpatasvir lasts for 12 weeks. Velpatasvir is supplied as a fixed-dose tablet in combination with sofosbuvir. Each tablet typically is a composition of sofosbuvir 400 mg and velpatasvir 100 mg.
Dosing Information:
- The standard dose of the combination is a single tablet, swallowed whole, once a day with or without food. Because of the bitter taste, the film-coated tablet of sofosbuvir 400 mg velpatasvir 100 mg must not be chewed/crushed.
- In patients without cirrhosis or with compensated cirrhosis therapy should be continued for twelve weeks and the addition of ribavirin may be considered for genotype-3 infected patients with compensated cirrhosis.
- In patients with decompensated cirrhosis therapy should be combined with ribavirin and continued for 12 weeks.
- In patients who have previously failed therapy with an NS5A-containing regimen, treatment needs to be combined with a drug ribavirin and continued for 24 weeks.
- Treatment should be started and monitored by a health specialist experienced in the management of patients with HCV infection.
Sticking to Treatment
All medicinal products work best when they are used exactly as prescribed and directed. This means taking the medicines in the appropriate amount and at the right time for the entire time-span that your treatment lasts. Skipping doses of sofosbuvir velpatasvir tablets or halting treatment altogether means that the treatment may not work and the probability of being cured is lower.With a few hepatitis C medicines, there is also a chance that the virus can become resistant to the medicine in case it is not used as directed. In this case, the medicine will not be effective against the virus and cannot be used for the treatment of infection.
Side effects: The most common side effects of sofosbuvir and velpatasvir are:
- Fatigue
- Headache
In maximum cases these side effects are typically mild or moderate.
Special Populations
Discuss with your health specialist about the most appropriate treatment options if you have one or more of the following issues:
- In case you were previously treated with an NS5A inhibitor and not cured from treatment
- In case you have Child-Pugh C cirrhosis, which is a high level of liver injury
- In case you're pregnant or want to become pregnant
- In case you have liver complications other than hepatitis C
- In case you have had a recent liver transplant
- In case you have severe kidney impairment or are on dialysis
- In case you are co-infected with hepatitis B
- In case you are co-infected with HIV
Sofosbuvir/Velpatasvir combination is a new drug and not everything is known about its effect on individuals. Make sure your health specialist knows about all of your medical conditions when you are discussing sofosbuvir velpatasvir as a treatment option.
Warnings
- Breastfeeding/Nursing:
- Individuals with infants and who are taking treatment with sofosbuvir velpatasvir should avoid breastfeeding or nursing their children.
- Serious heart problems when sofosbuvir velpatasvir is used with amiodarone:
- A serious symptomatic bradycardia may appear when the medicine amiodarone, which is used for treating an irregular heartbeat, is taken with sofosbuvir/velpatasvir. It is not recommended to take sofosbuvir/velpatasvir and amiodarone at the same time.
- Hepatitis B:
As per the U.S. FDA, all individuals starting hepatitis C treatment with DAA drugs be tested for hepatitis B prior to initiating treatment. This is because in case someone has hepatitis C and hepatitis B and is not receiving treatment for hepatitis B, therapy with DAAs could reactivate hepatitis B while on or following therapy. For more deets about being tested for hepatitis B, speak to your health specialist.
- People under the age of 18:
Sofosbuvir/Velpatasvir has not been tested in individuals aged 18. In case you are under 18, speak to your health specialist about the most apt treatment option for you.
Drug Resistance
Drug resistance typically establishes when a virus mutates, or changes, while in the replication process. A few mutations of the virus may be able to resist hepatitis C medicines. When this occurs, the medicine becomes a bit less effective or stops working. Resistance may occur when an individual does not take their drug as prescribed and directed.In clinical trials, it was rare for the hepatitis C virus to establish resistance to Sofosbuvir/Velpatasvir. However, it is still necessary for individuals taking this medication to take it exactly as per their prescription. In case you skip or miss doses, Sofosbuvir/Velpatasvir could potentially fall to low levels in the body. This can allow the hepatitis C virus to mutate and become able in order to resist the effect of treatment.
Price and Availability
The combination of sofosbuvir and velpatasvir is the first once-daily single-tablet regimen along with pangenotypic activity. A single tablet regimen is widely used for adult patients with genotype 1 to 6 chronic HCV infection with pangenotypic activity. The sofosbuvir velpatasvir price is most promising, reasonable and varies depending on the availability of generic and innovator brands. The generics of sofosbuvir velpatasvir tend to cost reasonably less than their innovator alternatives. In order to procure genuine sofosbuvir velpatasvir, kindly contact us (a WHO-GDP and ISO certified pharmaceutical company) at TOLL-FREE No: 1800-889-1064.NOTE: Deets mentioned in this article about "Sofosbuvir Velpatasvir: A Pangenotypic Medicine for Simplifying HCV Therapy" is for informational or educational purposes only, and does not substitute professional medical advice or consultations with health specialists.
