... after being off for 5 days. Is there any known withdrawal? Or, is it possible that since I was on an antiviral for 12 weeks that I'm more susceptible to catching the flu or other viruses? I'm also "moody" and lethargic. I'm so grateful I was clear of the Hepatitis after 3 weeks! I hope and pray I start to get some more energy.
I've completed my Epclusa Tx. I was feeling great, but I'm having depression and flu like symptoms?
Question posted by tararrtma on 16 Dec 2016
Last updated on 26 December 2023
The information on this page reflects personal experiences shared by our community members. It is not reviewed for medical accuracy and should not replace professional medical advice.
23 Answers Page 2
Stell76
24 Nov 2018
Yes! Finally some info...
I compleated treatment 5 days ago...
During treatment, I felt OK but had all the side effects but mildly...
Some that come to mind are: trouble sleeping... tiredness... mild depression... nausea... weight loss... worse back ache... bone ache... weight loss due to nausea and a few others...
But now after finishing although my liver count is perfect! I feel very low and am so fatigued I can hardly move or keep my eyes open... I feel like going to bed and have hot flushes flu-like feelings and general aches and pains... just like withdrawals in fact...
Hoping to feel better soon, but must admit I am pleased with the results...
Gramma Cargo
22 July 2018
I finished 5 days ago, the same day I got home from a 2 week vacation. I thought maybe the trip wore me out way more than usual. Still feel like I got hit by a truck... and so very tired. I felt like it had to be withdrawal since everything hurt... glad to read this. Hope you all are feeling great again soon.
Londonont123
16 June 2018
Yes I experienced the same thing. Felt fine while on the medication, this is my 6th day off it and I had felt depressive symptoms and feel really really tired.
I had no idea what was going on with me, only change has been me finishing m treatment last week.
I'm really glad I found this post as I had questions as to whether or not stopping the epclusa was the culprit. It makes sense that you would experience withdrawal symptoms stopping a antiviral medication. There is definitely going to be an adjustment period. I wish I was told this before hand tho.
So to go into detail into exactly what I had felt since finishing treatment, on day 2 or 3 I started feeling really really tired. Just more tired than usual. I would need to drink more coffee to get me going. Stimulants weren't having the effect on me as they have in the past.
Also I started feeling really really depressed on day 4 post treatment. I was getting really sad really easily and it had a noticeable effect on my day to day mood.
Now it is day 6 post treatment, mood has improved but energy is still not there.
I will keep updating this as symptoms hopefully improve.
Keep in mind.
I have been excersising 5 days a week for the last 2 months of treatment.
And this has fallen completely by the wayside since finishing treatment.
Before I would get excited and really motivated to work out. Now ita really hard to get that spark that I use to before my workouts.
bzerrato
9 March 2019
hello.how long before u felt better
petedr
18 April 2018
I have only just finished epclusa 2 days ago. I woke at 3 o'clock in the morning wondering what's going on because here I am going through definite withdrawal symptoms. I was aware of the possibility of some side effects from taking the drug but research indicated that our bodies would adjust and these effects would lessen, which they did.
The fact that our bodies adjust to the drug should have made us aware that there would also be withdrawal symptoms. There was no mention of this in Gilead's (epclusa's manufacturer) list of side effects.
Any way I started researching and flu-like symptoms which can last for several weeks seems to be the main withdrawal problem and in my case insomnia coupled with the general uncomfortable feeling of my body withdrawing from something. petedr
annamarie89
16 Jan 2018
I completed mine 6 days ago and feel the same. I had depression, tinnitus (ear ringing) and bad acid reflux during the treatment but now I’ve stopped the ear ringing is 10 times worse, I have aches and pains all over my body and I’m weak and very tired. It feels like the flu x10. So maybe there is a period of physical withdrawal after stopping. The medication is so new that the company and doctors don’t seem to know a lot about it, I was old fatigue would be the only side effect I could possibly get lol
Survivor44
1 Jan 2018
I also completed Epclusa about a week ago. The last 2 days I was very tired, achy, depressed, and had a nagging headache. Like you I also felt pretty good during treatment. Anyone else have this happen? Is there withdrawal from Epclusa?
annamarie89
16 Jan 2018
Are you feeling better now? I recently completed treatment and I feel horrible, definitely worse than I did during. The crappy side effects I got haven’t went away and now I feel similar to the flu but worse. Whole body aches and pains, cold sweats, head aches and very weak and fatigued.
tararrtma
17 Jan 2018
It takes about 8 weeks and you'll feel great! I drank Yogi Detox Tea to speed up the process of getting the drug out of my system. It helps clear out your kidneys and liver. Apparently the medicine is really hard on the renal and hepatic systems. That being said, the hepatitis was way worse. Keep it up and you'll feel great before you know it!
annamarie89
17 Jan 2018
Thank you!
Survivor44
19 Feb 2018
It's been about 8 weeks for me now too and I feel amazing! I never thought I'd feel this good, healthy, and alive again! I'm working 60 hours a week no problem and my overall well being is better than its ever been!
Stell76
24 Nov 2018
Yes same
Glad to hear there are others out there
Dadzbrt
15 Feb 2017
I just finished 12 weeks of epclusa 9 days ago and started having flu like symptoms for the past 4-5 days. I get the chills and my whole body aches but no fever or other symptoms. Tried to find out if this is normal but couldn't find anything except for side effects while you are taking it.
MommaC15
22 June 2017
Hey I am 3 weeks into my treatment. Just wandered if your symptoms went away and if so how long did it take? I havent really had any bad symptoms other than having a hard time pulling myself up in the mornings but nothing too bad.
tararrtma
17 Jan 2018
I feel great now! I think it took about 2 months to get back to feeling "normal" post treatment. I actually get up super early now, and all the negative side effects were worth every minute of it to feel like a healthy human now!
Janesaysstop
5 Jan 2019
Thanks for you post... I have 11 days until I am done with 3 month treatment... I feel awful... can't wait to get back to feeling healthy again...
sweetsvirgo
2 Jan 2017
Did some research on your drug:
Common side effects of Epclusa include:
Tiredness
Headache
Nausea
Diarrhea
Insomnia
Anemia
Other side effects of Epclusa include:
Weakness
Irritability
Rash
Depressed mood
Other less common side effects of Epclusa include:
Increased blood levels of lipase
Increased blood levels of creatinine kinase
Increased blood levels of indirect bilirubin
Possible serious side effects include:
There is an increased risk of low heart rate (bradycardia) when Epclusa is combined with amiodarone (Cordarone)
From what I read the are likely no withdrawal symptoms from this med.
Hope this helps!!
tararrtma
3 Jan 2017
Thank you.
Related topics
depression, hepatitis c, withdrawal, symptom, epclusa
Further information
- Epclusa uses and safety info
- Epclusa prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Epclusa (detailed)
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