Viekira Pak is a combination medication containing 3 antiviral medications, ombitasvir, paritaprevir, and dasabuvir and a booster medication, ritonavir. It's a treatment option for hepatitis C type 1.
Hepatitis C infection genotype 1
Viekira Pak contains 3 antiviral medications that work together to stop the hepatitis C virus from making copies of itself in the body. The fourth medication, ritonavir, raises the levels of the 3 antiviral medications.
Source: FDA
Works well to cure hepatitis C
Comes in easy to follow dose packaging
Not too many side effects; most common include nausea, tiredness, itching, and rash
Treatment length can be as short as 12 weeks
Can be used in people who have received a liver transplant
Only works for genotype 1
Some people with severe liver problems may need to take another antiviral medication called ribavirin
Requires 4 tablets a day, where other regimens can be as few as 1 tablet
Contains a booster medication called ritonavir (Norvir), which interacts with a lot of medications
Can't be taken with birth control that contains ethynyl estradiol
The medication comes in daily dose packages. Each pack contains two PINK tablets (3 medications: ombitasvir, paritaprevir, ritonavir) and two BEIGE tablets (dasabuvir). In the morning, take two pink tablets and one beige tablet. Take the second beige tablet at night 12 hours later.
Don't remove the tablets from the daily dose pack until you are ready to take them.
Always take the medication with a meal. The amount of fat or calories in the meal does not matter.
If you happen to be hospitalized during your course of hepatitis C treatment, make sure you bring your antiviral medications with you to the hospital. Most hospitals do not have hepatitis C medications in stock because they are expensive. They have procedures in place to administer your home medications so that your treatment will not be interupted.
Make sure your hepatitis C provider has a list of all the medications you are taking. Viekira Pak can interact with a lot of medications and make the levels in the body too high. This is especially important for people who take anti-rejection medications after a transplant.
Viekira Pak can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Risk factors: History of hepatitis B infection
Some people who have both hepatitis B and C have had their hepatitis B reactivate or flare up after starting treatment for hepatitis C. This can cause liver problems if not caught and treated. You should be tested for hepatitis B before you start Viekira Pak. Tell your provider if you've ever had hepatitis B or been treated for it in the past.
Risk factors: Moderate to severe liver disease and cirrhosis
Some people taking Viekira Pak have had serious liver problems after starting the medication. It's more common in people who already have liver problems, including cirrhosis and usually happens during the first few weeks of the medication. Your provider may order labs in the first 4 weeks of therapy to monitor for this. People with moderate to severe liver problems (Child-Pugh B and C) should not take Viekira Pak.
Risk factors: Taking estrogen-containing medications
During clinical trials, about 1% of people taking Viekira Pak had high levels of an enzyme in the liver called ALT. It happened more often in female patients who were taking birth control medications that contained estrogen. These birth control medications should be stopped before starting Viekira Pak and can be restarted 2 weeks after stopping. Talk to your provider right away if you experience fatigue, weakness, lack of appetite, nausea, yellowing of the eyes, or discolored feces as these may be signs of liver damage.
Risk factors: Taking ribavirin with Viekira Pak
People with certain types of liver problems may need to take an antiviral medication called ribavirin in addition to Viekira Pak. Ribavirin can have a lot of side effects and should not be taken during pregnancy. Make sure to review this medication with your provider and pharmacist before starting your hepatitis C treatment.
Risk factors: Taking other medications or supplements
Viekira Pak interacts with many other medications. This might require adjusting the dose of Viekira Pak, or your other medications. If the medication doses are not adjusted for interactions, the dose may be too low for it to work properly, or the dose might end up being too high, which can cause unwanted side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist before starting or stopping any medications.
The recommended dose is 2 tablets (which contain ombitasvir 12.5 mg, paritaprevir 75 mg, ritonavir 50 mg) in the morning and 1 tablet of dasabuvir 250 mg in the morning and 1 in the evening.
Chronic hepatitis C infection
Hepatitis C infection genotype 1, 4, 5, and 6
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