What are the effects of alcohol when taking Harvoni?
Question posted by Ed Barry on 18 Feb 2015
Last updated on 13 February 2019
22 Answers Page 2
Ed B - I've had the same question. I am fortunate to be asymptomatic but started Harvoni after jumping through a few silly hoops. My doctor at one point let it slip that Gilead says their patients can drink and nothing in the product insert addressed alcohol. Once I started the treatment form said not to drink because it can "interfere with treatment". I believe they cut and pasted over an old interferon form (alcohol consumption is clearly contraindicated for interferon. A few blogs have some non-judgmental answers but most just finger wave with global statements. Since I started both blood tests indicated zero/undetected viral load. Sure would be happy to see a clear and rational answer to your question somewhere.
I started 4 weeks ago I have 2 glass of red wine over the weekend , I got blood work after 2 weeks and from 32000 Went down to 24 ... I just did after 4 weeks blood work and I will keep you posted ... Do not abuse alcohol while treatment .. My opinion
I have had the hep c virus for at least 15 yrs now,and have been drinking all this time,but now even after a few,I get tired,and have dull abdominal pains.I am about to go on harvoni,and was thinking of having a drink a day,that is only 2% alcohol,or less.How is ones ability,to drink,when the virus is gone?
I quit drinking and relapsed on incivek triple treatment. it's the insurance company which requires no alcohol use, they don't want to pay to save your life if you are just going to keep on drinking and cost them money to treat your cirrhosis anyway. The only reason they pay for it at all is because it's cheaper than a liver transplant and aftercare for the rest of your life. There is no evidence that alcohol consumption makes Harvoni any less effective. I have drank alcohol while on harvoni, I'll comment here if and when I reach SVR.
very confusing huh ? I agree... gimme a straight answer and your source. PLEASE.
Gloria K - I just started Harvoni Treatment Cure 2 weeks ago... I too am confused about the unclear info about drinking while on the treatment program... As I have no signs of any Liver Disease (mine is Pink with no scarring) & no other Hep C symptoms... Common Sense tells me it would not be harmful to have an occasional drink while on the 8 week program. This is my choice... However, I would never recommend anyone with Hep C to drink while on the medication... It all depends on the condition of your Liver & other medical factors... When I asked my Hep C Team why I needed the "CURE" if I have no signs of the disease ... Answer was ... it would almost eliminate the chances of contracting Liver Cancer... That was good enough for me... BTW... never did drugs in the late 60's, but had a life saving blood transfusion after a miscarriage... Still going strong at 70...
I am sorry and no offense is intended, but no one has directly answered the question.
It is fact that alcohol is not good for the liver, but that is not the question as I understand it. The question is:
DOES OCCASIONAL USE OF ALCOHOL (BEER AND WINE) EFFECT THE EFFICIENCY OF HARVONI IN ERADICATING THE HEPATITIS C VIRUS?
HCV is a virus and damages the liver differently that alcohol. The results may be the same, but the methods of damage are completely different. It is like comparing apples to oranges. No doubt that alcohol exasperates liver damage exponentially.
What is the scientific answer? Not the morally correct answer.
So does alcohol interfere with the ability of Havoni to eradicate the HCV?
Hi, all i can come up with, if you are up for a good read, are the following sources... go to hepmag.com/articles, they have a substantial section on Harvoni treatment and how it and Hep C are affected by drinking alcohol... the first sentence: " A history of heavy alcohol consumption doesn’t reduce the effectiveness of hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment".
I'm looking for the same info. Does alcohol interfere with the ability of Harvoni to eradicate the HCV?
Im on The same page... I just Will like to Know IF having
A glass ... A simple glass of red vin vill interfere with the treatments. I do understand all the morality of drinking
I to wanted to know, I called cvs Caremark and spoke to the pharmacist.
The answer I got yes with moderation.
The answer is no, at least not in my case. I quit drinking for the most part (having a few a week at this point) when I started on Harvoni in early March. At four weeks 7.3m load went to 60, at six weeks undetected. I have had drinks during this period, while maybe not a good decision the Harvoni worked. Three weeks to go on the 12 week course and still undetected.
The answer to your question, at least in my case is no. Drinking while on harvoni did not interfere with the drugs ability to eradicate the virus. I started with 7.3m load, week 4 60 load, week six undetected. Still undetected with 3 weeks to go in the 12 week course. May not be the smartest thing, but I found it hard to abstain. Drank several drinks per week.
Hej wily if you get any answer Pls.. Tell me .. I do like a glass of wine Red one Friday and one in Saturday.. I hope distant interfere ... Now there is not a clear answer about a " Small amount " it's not a Bottle
NO. There is no evidence from anyone who uses alcohol, including myself, that it interferes with Harvoni's work. There is no warning labels on the product and no doctor will tell you not to drink unless you have a horrible case of cirrhosis. Then I would definitely consider not drinking at all.
That is my final answer after doing much research on the subject. Good luck to you!
alot of contraversy out there about drinking alcohol and the affects it may have while on harvoni. in my case, it had none. i continued to drink alcohol as i normally did, right from the start thru the finish, which is on weekends, appx. 8 drinks over the weekend. it has been a year since i finished harvoni, and i am HEP C negative.
not condoning nor condemning this, just stating my truth.
I drank several times during the course of my treatment and I'm HCV free.
Ed Barry, I too enjoy a drink or two to relax and/or have a good time. Nevertheless, I have fought the urge to drink because I know the results are negative.
I have decided to give this new medication, Harvoni a decent shot at accomplishing all that it promises to do without me unknowingly attempting to weaken it's performance or rendering it to be less effective. There's a possible chance that I may extremely intensity the side effects as well.
So my friend, it's really entirely up to you how you chose to treat your body during it recovery process.
Researchers have informed us that alcohol consumption is poisonous to our system and it especially does a job on our liver. So good luck; the ball is in your court ... don't spike it across the net ... give it a chance to volley. I'm just saying! :-)
I too like a beer or two when I get off work most nights I would like an informed opinion not your advice which I do appreciate and understand so thanks for that but to the point does it effect the treatment or not
again thanks to all of you for caring answers just looking for a honest answer im not a person with drinking problem don't touch liquor but very rarely don't have liver disease ( THANK GOD ) but I do enjoy a beer when I get home if not to tired from work lol I work 12 hours a day so a beer is nice to relax and go to bed
I'm leaning that way myself thanks
8 weeks on Harvoni. Consume 24 beers a week. Last blood work zero viral load. Just saying. Leo
I have had a few shots of vodka with no side effects, just don't want to jeopardize treatment doctor says no alcohol for rest of my life. Can doctor tell if you have been slipping.
I tend to agree with you. I go 4 my Bloodwork tomorrow prior to Harvoni. Want to stay sober, 100%.
I was wondering about the effects of Harvoni and alchohol. I went through the whole(11 months) treatments using ribairion and interferon and hep-c came back! I think I can go three months without alchohol to save my liver! If not, I need to take a good hard look at my drinking! Thanks for the info!
Ive been wondering the same thing about alcohol consumption. We are going to a wedding this weekend and I wanted to have a glass or two of wine. Did you ever find any information on this ed Barry?
not really, but i have not had any problems at this point. i will know more after my first blood test, which is coming up on 3/12/15. check back around the 15th make sure your all hand i'll let you know how i made out. make sure your all heppa approved... lol. more gov't crap which just makes health care more diffucult, but i'm sure it creates some nice cushy jobs for another worthless gov't employee. Don't forget about their tax payer paid retirement too. "Obamadon'tcare"... what a pile of poop!!!
Thank you! Good luck!
Hello Ed. You ask an interesting question. We all want to feel like a "normal" person at parties and such, I know I have refused a bizillion drinks with very lame excuses because GOD FORBID I say at a party, "no thanks, I have Hep C and cirrhosis". Good way to clear a room.
Nonetheless, I would want the treatment to be VERY effective so I would never drink alcohol while taking Harvoni. That said, I want to die of something besides cirrhosis so I won't ever drink again Quality of life for me does not include a buzz. :)
Ed let me know after your blood result ... I will have my first prov May, 20
I've had a few glasses of wine threw out my harvoni treatment... Just finished the treatment and got the blood work results back.. great news I'm CURED... Virus is undetected :))
Hi, the interactions checker doesn't come up with any interactions, however, not a lot of information has been published about this medication to date. Drinking could make some of the potential side effects worse, such as lethagy, headache & nausea...
https://www.drugs.com/interactions-check.php?drug_list=1034-14582,3567-16903
Hello Ed Barry
I have to agree with kaismama 100% why would you or anyone what to drink alcohol if they already have hep c or any type of liver problems... its not a good idea at alllllll in my opinion...
answer the question. doctors never tell you your going to die anyway. i'd rather have 10 less years enjoying myself then living an extra 10 years doing nothing but watch the doctors, insurance companies and drug companies get rich at my time and expense.
Mr. Ed Barry. My doctor says a quart or 40 0z beer once a week is fine and any damage should be minimal at worst.
Hi Ed. No is the answer best answer I could give you. I started 3 weeks ago and have forced myself to not drink. Reason my Hepatologist indicated that alcohol will interact with Harvoni and may cause it not to effective. I would hate for you to ruin your treatment cycle. Good Luck!
To someone who knows nothing about mental illness or alcoholism, yes, that's easy to say.
Easy folks. Liver disease and alcohol are never good together. Any doctor will tell you the same. It's just a fact. Unless you are not interested in your health. Then you do what you want. It's up to you ultimately. You know the answer I believe. Just hard. Want a pass. Have to do the hard things sometimes.
If you have hep C alcohol should be the last thing on your mind.
answer the question, your not my mother
My doctor never said I couldn't have one beer, I would ask your doctor instead of listening to bias opinions.
Your right but sometimes we have fun on weekends but if effects the treatment I will stop
Just want a simple question answered does drinking beer effect the results of harvoni curing hep c???
I am an alcoholic and drank several times during the course of my treatment. The Dr never asked if I drank. I am HCV free.
Related topics
hepatitis c, alcohol, ledipasvir/sofosbuvir, harvoni
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