I know the title with big words can get people a bit confused, but we will go through it and by the end of reading it won’t be confusing anymore. Ledipasvir and sofosbuvir is a treatment used for hepatitis c sold under the name harvoni among others. These drugs are co-formulated into one tablet. Ledipasvir and sofosbuvir (harvoni) prescribed to be taken once a day with or without food.

Hepatitis is a disease of the liver which is brought by a virus. It has about six different strains, which are well known as genotypes. Harvoni is a medicine which is a direct-acting antiviral (DAA) which means it directly blocks the ability of hep c virus to make copies of itself. This treatment can cure someone with hepatitis c. however, one can still be infected again.

What are ledipasvir and sofosbuvir?

Ledipasvir is one of the DAA found in harvoni. Its purpose is to interfere with a protein require to complete the Hep C virus cycle in the human liver cell. Sofosbuvir is the other DAA found in Harvoni. Sofosbuvir stops the production of new Hep C virus by interfering with the reproduction of the virus’s genetic tissue.

Ledipasvir and sofosbuvir mechanism of action

Ledipasvir inhibits a very important viral phosphoprotein called NS5A, which involve in viral replication, assembly, and secretion. On the other hand, sofosbuvir metabolize to a uridine triphosphate mimics which acts as an RNA chain terminator when incorporate into RNA by the NS5B polymerase.

Ledipasvir and sofosbuvir success rate

Among people with hepatitis c virus with an oral combination therapy of sofosbuvir and ledipasvir boast a 100 percent cure rate. The research was done and the researchers gave the treatment to 25 people with Hep C, who never taken the treatment and nine who fail treatment previously, all of them with the genotype one which is difficult to treat. By the end of the treatment, the entire participant a fully suppresse viral load, 100% of the group maintaine a sustainable virologic response the treatment was safe and well tolerate.

Ledipasvir and sofosbuvir side effects

In most cases, the sides effects are moderate or mild. The most common sides effects of ledipasvir and sofosbuvir are;

• Fatigue
• Headache
• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• A high amount of bilirubin in the blood
• Insomnia
• Weakness

How to take ledipasvir and sofosbuvir tablets

It is important to note that the medication need to prescribe by the doctor. Ask the doctor anything that you don’t understand, and also make sure to read the direction carefully which are found on your prescription label. The tablet take to mouth and take once around the same time of the day with or without food.

How long to take the treatment

The duration of the treatment depends on the past treatments experience, absence or presence of severe liver injuries or the viral genotype. It is essential to speak about this with your doctor. People never gotten the treatment before, who Hep C below six million IU/ml and those who do not cirrhosis may allow for eight weeks of treatment. Generally, the treatment lasts for twelve to twenty-four weeks.

Ledipasvir and sofosbuvir dosage

It is true to say to that all medications work best when they taken exactly as prescribe and direct. Ensure that you are taking medication in the right amount and at the right time for the entire length of time that your treatment last.

One should follow the dosage they prescribe e.g

• Testing of all patients with HBV infection by measuring HBsAg and anti-HBc
• For adults recommendation and periodic dosage should one tablet (90mg ledipasvir and 400mg of sofosbuvir) taken orally once with or without food.
• For adults and pediatric patients with HCV/HIV=1 confection follow the dosage given
• If you are using with a combination with ribavirin, you need follow the recommendations for ribavirin dosing and dosage modification.
• Recommended adult treatment regimen and duration.
• A dosage recommendation should not made for patients with severe renal impairment or end-stage renal disease.

In a case where you forget to take the medication and its within 18 hours of when you suppose to take it, you take it as soon as possible. It is after 18 hours, do not take the medication wait until the next dosage. Do not take a dose twice.

Where to buy ledipasvir and sofosbuvir

You can get the medicine from hospitals you can treat from, of which in most cases it is usually costly there. Other people prefer buying it online or importing it from other countries which might cheap. Many people not able to access treatment because of lack of sufficiency, advance liver disease or because the drugs consider to be too expensive. If these people can afford it, there is the alternative of buying the drugs themselves, generally the cheaper generic version.

Before buying them you need to know certain things and follow them like:

• Do not prescribe yourself
• You require an experience doctor to advise you
• Importance of being monitor during treatment
• Is it legal to import drugs yourself?
• How to buy the drugs online and safely

It advisable to consult your doctor before buying the drugs yourself.

Ledipasvir and sofosbuvir cost

The biggest question that many people ask is” how much does ledipasvir/sofosbuvir cost?” Well, it is one of the most expensive drugs in the world. For a period of 12-week treatment, the price tag is 94,500 dollars. Look at the prices for ledipasvir/sofosbuvir cost across the world

Bangladesh (1,000 dollars)

The UK (39,000 Euros)

Germany (48,000 pounds)

Egypt(1200 dollars)

The Us(94,000 dollars)

Twinvir as an alternative for hepatitis c medicine of harvoni

Twinvir is one of the best selling generic medication in the world which produce by Incepta Pharmaceuticals. It made up of 400 mg of sofosbuvir and 90 mg of ledipasvir.

Twinvir becomes accessible to the patients who need it. The best thing about twinvir is that its cheaper than harvoni but has the same effectiveness.

Twinvir cost

Unlike harvoni twinvir is pocket-friendly and many people opt to go for it because it costs 1000 dollars compare to harvoni which is 9400 dollar. That is a huge difference considering they have the same effectiveness.

Other treatment of chronic hepatitis c

Chronic hepatitis c occurs primarily to patients with cirrhoses, it associate with an increased danger of hepatocellular carcinoma. It is the most common blood-borne infections, which accounts for 40% of all chronic liver diseases.

Treatment is different for everyone depending on which type you have. The approve treatments by the FDA include:

• Daclatasvir

It sells under the name of Virodacla and This a medicine use with the combination of other medicines to cure hepatitis c.

• Elebasvir grazoprevir

This is a fixed dose two drugs combination to treat chronic hepatitis C.

• Interferon alpha 2b

It is an antineoplastic or antiviral drug used for a wide range of indications, including cancers and viral infections

• Boceprevir

This is a protease inhibitor which use to treat hepatitis cause by the hepatitis C virus genotype 1. It connects to the HCV nonstructural protein 3 active site.

• Ribavirin

Ribavirin also known as tribavirin. It is an antiviral medication use to treat hepatitis c where it combine with other medications like peg interferon Alfa 2b. it also treats RSV infections and viral hemorrhagic fever

• Sofosbuvir

It sells under the name of Hopetavir and this medicine use to stops the production of new Hep C virus by interfering with the reproduction of the virus’s genetic tissue.

• Peginterferon alfa 2a

It sells under the name pegasys, a medication use in the treatment of hepatitis C and hepatitis B

• Ombistavir, paritaprevir, dasabuvir.

It sells under the name viekira. It is also among the medicine use to treat hepatitis C.

The treatments of hepatitis c careening very fast. Treatment will depend on which hepatitis c virus one has. Ask your doctor which treatment is best for you

Final Thought

It is essential for people using harvoni to take it exactly as prescribe. If you skip or miss a dosage harvoni could fall too low levels in the body. This can make the Hep C Virus mutate and can allow it to able to resist the effect of the treatment. Before taking the treatment it is vital for you to let the doctor know if you are pregnant, other liver problems apart from hepatitis c, if you co-infected with hepatitis B and if you severe kidney impairment or are on dialysis. Never give harvoni to other people even if they show the same symptoms you have. Also never use it for a condition that not prescribe. In case you get stuck you can ask for the information you need from your doctor.

Reference

https://www.catie.ca/en/fact-sheets/hepatitis/harvoni-ledipasvir-sofosbuvir

https://aidsinfo.nih.gov/drugs/542/ledipasvir-sofosbuvir/181/professional

https://www.quora.com/How-much-does-Harvoni-ledipasvir-sofosbuvir-cos