Sofosbuvir

Drug Status in USA : Approved
Drug Status in Canada : Approved

pronunciation

pronounced as (soe fos' bue vir)

Why is this medication prescribed?

Sofosbuvir (International brand name Sovaldi) is used along with ribavirin (Copegus, Rebetol) and sometimes another medication (peginterferon alfa - Pegasys) to treat chronic hepatitis C (an ongoing viral infection that damages the liver). Sofosbuvir is also used along with ribavirin (Copegus, Rebetol) in people with liver cancer and hepatitis C infection who are waiting for a liver transplant to treat hepatitis C infection and to decrease the risk of reinfection after the transplant. Sofosbuvir is in a class of antiviral medications called nucleotide polymerase inhibitors. It works by decreasing the amount of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in the body. Sofosbuvir may not prevent the spread of hepatitis C to other people. In comparison to hepatitis C virus treatment in the past, sofosbuvir-based regimens provide a higher cure rate, fewer side effects, and a 2-4 times reduced duration of therapy. Sofosbuvir allows most people to be treated successfully without the use of peginterferon, an injectable drug with severe side effects that is a key component of older drug combinations for the treatment of hepatitis C virus.


How should this medicine be used?

Sofosbuvir comes as a tablet to take by mouth. It is usually taken with or without food once a day. Take sofosbuvir at around the same time every day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take sofosbuvir exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.

Continue to take sofosbuvir even if you feel well. Sofosbuvir must be taken in combination with peginterferon alfa and ribavirin or in combination with ribavirin alone. If sofosbuvir is taken in combination with peginterferon alfa and ribavirin, it is usually taken for 12 weeks. If sofosbuvir is taken in combination with ribavirin alone, it is usually taken for 12 or 24 weeks. If you have liver cancer and are waiting for a liver transplant, you will take sofosbuvir with ribavirin for up to 48 weeks or until you have a liver transplant. The length of your treatment depends on your condition, how well you respond to the medication, and whether you experience severe side effects. Do not stop taking sofosbuvir, peginterferon alfa, or ribavirin, unless told to do so by your doctor.

Ask your pharmacist or doctor for a copy of the manufacturer's information for the patient.


What are the precautions to be followed?

Before taking sofosbuvir,
  • tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to sofosbuvir, any other medications, or any of the ingredients in sofosbuvir tablets. Ask your pharmacist for a list of the ingredients.
  • tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, and nutritional supplements you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention any of the following: amiodarone (Cordarone, Nexterone, Pacerone), certain medications for seizures such as carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Epitol, Equetro, Tegretol), oxcarbazepine (Trileptal), phenobarbital, or phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek); rifabutin (Mycobutin); rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane, in Rifamate, in Rifater); rifapentine (Priftin); or tipranavir (Aptivus). Your doctor may tell you not to take sofosbuvir if you are taking one or more of these medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
  • tell your doctor what herbal products you are taking, especially St. John's wort. You should not take St. John's wort during your treatment with sofosbuvir.
  • tell your doctor if you have had a liver transplant, if you have or have ever had depression or mental illness, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), kidney disease, or any type of liver disease other than hepatitis C.
  • tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or can possibly become pregnant. If you are male, tell your doctor if your partner is pregnant, plans to become pregnant, or can possibly become pregnant. Sofosbuvir must be taken with ribavirin which can seriously harm the fetus. You must use two methods of birth control to prevent pregnancy in you or your partner during treatment with these medications and for 6 months after your treatment. Talk to your doctor about which methods you should use; hormonal contraceptives (birth control pills, patches, implants, rings, or injections) may not work well in women who are taking these medications. You or your partner must be tested for pregnancy prior to treatment, every month during your treatment, and for 6 months after your treatment. If you or your partner becomes pregnant while taking these medications or within 6 months after your treatment, call your doctor immediately.
  • tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding.

What are possible side effects of this medication ?

Sofosbuvir may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:
nauseadiarrheaheadachemuscle paindifficulty falling asleep or staying asleeploss of appetiteirritabilityitchingrashSome side effects can be serious. If you experience any of these symptoms call your doctor immediately:
pale skindizzinessshortness of breathtirednessweaknesssore throat, fever, chills, and other signs of infectiondepressionchanges in mood or behaviorthoughts of killing or hurting yourself

Sofosbuvir may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.


How to store the medication and dispose it of after its use later?

Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom). Throw away any medication that is outdated or no longer needed. Talk to your pharmacist about the proper disposal of your medication.


Drug Category/Class

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Antiinfectives for Systemic Use
  • Direct Acting Antivirals
  • Antivirals for Systemic Use
  • Other antivirals
Prescribed Sofosbuvir is used in combination therapy to treat chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infected patients with HCV genoptype 1,2,3, or 4, and to treat H...
Weight :529.4525
Structure Sofosbuvir
Generic Drug Sofosbuvir prescribed Sofosbuvir is used in combination therapy to treat chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infected patients with HCV genoptype 1,2,3, or 4, and to treat H...
Formula

C22H29FN3O9P

Sofosbuvir has 16 Brands listed


Cimivir (400 mg)Cimivir (400 mg)
Hepcinat (400 mg)Hepcvir (400 mg)
Hepcvir (400 mg)MyHep (400 mg)
Novisof (400 mg)Resof (400 mg)
Sofab (400 mg)Sofocruz (400 mg)
Sofocure (400 mg)Sofokem (400 mg)
Sofovir (400 mg)Sovihep (400 mg)
Viroclear (400 mg)Virso (400 mg)

Search Generic Drugs alphabetically