After your doctor told you that you have Hepatitis C , you may have been prescribed a somewhat complicated medication. Ombitasvir, Paritaprevir, Ritonavir ... It's normal to feel a little scared when you hear these names. But don't worry. In this article, we will talk about this medication very simply, as if we were telling a friend everything about it.
What exactly is this medicine?
Simply put, this is a combination of three medications. All three medications work together to fight the hepatitis C virus in your body. This is a specific medication that is given to treat hepatitis C, a viral infection that affects the liver.
The most important thing is that this medicine does not cure common colds or flu. It is only designed to control the hepatitis C virus .
You may find this medicine under the brand name `Technivie`. Your doctor may also use this medicine for other reasons, so if you have any questions about it, be sure to ask your doctor.
Things you need to tell your doctor before starting medication
Before starting this medication, it is very important to give your doctor a complete description of your health condition. If you have any of the conditions listed below, be sure to tell them about it.
- Do you have diabetes ?
- Are you infected with HIV or AIDS ?
- Are there other liver diseases besides hepatitis C?
- Do you have an allergy to these medications (ombitasvir, paritaprevir, ritonavir) or any other medicine, food, or dye?
- Are you pregnant? Or are you hoping to have a baby?
- Are you a breastfeeding mother?
Providing this information to the doctor accurately is very important for your safety.
How exactly do you use this medicine?
To get the most out of a medicine, you need to use it correctly.
- This medicine is an oral tablet. Take it with a glass of water .
- The most important thing is to always take this medicine with a meal. Do not take it on an empty stomach.
- Take the medicine at the prescribed time, at the prescribed intervals. If you take it once a day, try to take it at the same time every day.
- Even if you feel a little better, finish the entire course of medication prescribed by your doctor. Don't stop taking it halfway. If you do, the virus may multiply again in your body.
- You will receive a special instruction leaflet ``MedGuide`` with this medicine from the pharmacy. Always read it carefully.
- If you are giving this medicine to children, you should talk to a pediatrician about it.
What if I miss a dose of medication?
Sometimes we forget to take our medicine. If that happens, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is less than 12 hours before your next dose, skip the missed dose. Just take the next dose at the scheduled time. Never take two doses at the same time.
What to do if you take too much medicine?
If you think you have taken too much medicine, immediately call the National Poisons Information Centre at the Colombo National Hospital . Otherwise, go to the nearest hospital Emergency Department (ETU) as soon as possible.
Other medications that may interact with this medicine
This medicine can interact with some other medicines. This means that taking it together with other medicines can cause unwanted effects. Therefore, tell your doctor about all the medicines you are taking, including vitamins, traditional medicines, and herbal remedies.
Don't be alarmed by the two lists below. This means that if you are taking any of these medications, you should definitely talk to your doctor about it.
| Medicines that should not be taken with this medicine | |
|---|---|
| alfuzosin | lomitapide |
| apalutamide | lovastatin |
| atorvastatin | lumacaftor; ivacaftor |
| carbamazepine | lurasidone |
| colchicine | midazolam |
| dronedarone | naloxegol |
| efavirenz | phenytoin |
| ergot alkaloids (e.g. ergotamine) | phenobarbital |
| everolimus | pimozide |
| Female hormones (e.g., birth control pills) | ranolazine, rifampin, sildenafil, simvastatin, sirolimus, St. John's wort, tacrolimus, triazolam |
| Other medications that may cause problems (inform your doctor) | |
|---|---|
| Pain relievers (e.g. acetaminophen; hydrocodone) | cyclosporine, diazepam |
| alprazolam, amlodipine | fluticasone, furosemide, ketoconazole |
| Antiviral drugs for HIV or AIDS | losartan, metformin, nifedipine, omeprazole |
| buprenorphine/naloxone, candesartan, carisoprodol | pravastatin, quetiapine, rosuvastatin |
| Some medications for diabetes | salmeterol, valsartan, verapamil |
| Medicines for irregular heartbeat (e.g. amiodarone, digoxin) | voriconazole, warfarin |
This list is not complete. So don't forget to tell your doctor about all the medications you take, and if you smoke or drink alcohol.
Things to be careful about when taking medicine
- Go back exactly on the days your doctor tells you to. You may need to have some blood tests while you are taking this medicine.
- If your symptoms do not improve, or even worsen, tell your doctor.
- Very important: If you have previously been infected with hepatitis B , the virus may become active again while taking this medicine. Therefore, your doctor will also monitor you for this with blood tests. If you experience symptoms such as feeling weak, pale stools, loss of appetite, unusual tiredness, or yellowing of the eyes and skin , tell your doctor immediately.
- If you have diabetes, this medicine may increase your blood sugar levels. Therefore, ask your doctor if you need to make any changes to your diet or diabetes medication.
What are the possible side effects?
Like any medicine, this can cause side effects, but not everyone gets them.
| Type of side effect | Description and what to do |
|---|---|
| Serious side effects that should be reported to the doctor immediately | |
| Allergic Reactions | Skin rash, itching, swelling of the face, lips or tongue. |
| Symptoms of liver damage | Dark yellow or brown urine, lethargy, pale stools, loss of appetite, nausea, confusion, pain in the upper right side of the stomach, and yellowing of the eyes or skin. |
| Symptoms of high blood sugar | Feeling more thirsty or hungry than usual, urinating more frequently, feeling extremely tired, and having blurred vision. |
| Things that are usually not serious, but should be reported to the doctor if they persist | |
| Dizziness (vertigo) | Headache, itching, nausea and vomiting, skin rash, insomnia. |
Where do you keep the medicine?
- Keep out of reach of children .
- Store at room temperature, below 30 degrees Celsius (30°C).
- Throw away expired medicine.
Take-Home Message
- Always take this medicine with a meal . Do not take it on an empty stomach.
- Finish the entire dose of medicine prescribed by the doctor. Do not stop halfway.
- Tell your doctor about any other medications or vitamins you take.
- If you see signs of a liver problem, such as yellowing of your eyes or skin , tell your doctor immediately.
- This medicine is for you only. Do not share it with anyone else .
- If you miss a dose, skip it and take it at the next scheduled time if it is less than 12 hours before your next dose. Never take two doses at the same time .
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