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Introduction About VELPANAT TABLET
VELPANAT TABLET is a combination of Sofosbuvir and Velpatasvir which belongs to the group of medicines called Antiviral agents. It is used to manage chronic (long-term) Hepatitis C infection.
Hepatitis C infection is a viral infection caused due to hepatitis C virus. It predominantly affects the liver and causes severe liver damage. It spreads mostly through contact with blood from an infected person (such as through sharing needles).
VELPANAT TABLET is suitable for use both in adults and in children (aged 3 years or above). Before taking VELPANAT TABLET inform your doctor if you have diabetes, kidney problems or any other liver problems apart from hepatitis C infection (such as liver transplant or hepatitis B infection). Do not take VELPANAT TABLET without consulting your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
During management with VELPANAT TABLET, your doctor will regularly monitor your blood sugar levels and blood count to access improvement in your health condition and to avoid the risk of unwanted side effects.
The most common side effects of taking VELPANAT TABLET are headache, tiredness and skin rashes. Consult your doctor if they trouble you.
Uses Of VELPANAT TABLET
- Manage chronic Hepatitis C infection
How VELPANAT TABLET Works
VELPANAT TABLET is an antiviral agent. It acts by blocking the actions of certain viral enzymes (HIV-reverse transcriptase) that is required for the viral cell to grow and multiply. As a result, it controls the multiplication of harmful viral cells within the body which reduces the severity of the infection.
How to use VELPANAT TABLET
Take VELPANAT TABLET as directed by your physician. Swallow the medicine with a glass of water. Do not crush or chew the medicine. VELPANAT TABLET can be taken with or without meals.
Your doctor will decide the correct dose and duration of therapy for you depending upon your age, body weight and severity of the infection. Do not stop taking VELPANAT TABLET without consulting your doctor as it may reduce its effectiveness.
Side Effects Of VELPANAT TABLET
Common
- headache
- tiredness
- skin rash
Rare
Stop taking VELPANAT TABLET and contact your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following side effects:
- signs of allergic reactions (such as skin rash, itching, swelling of the face, lips, nose, throat which causes difficulty in breathing or swallowing)
- severe skin reactions causing widespread skin rashes with severe itching, blistering and peeling of skin, accompanied with fever, flu-like symptoms and ulcers in the mouth, eyes and/or genitals)
How To Manage Side Effects
Headache:
Rest and relax. Keep yourself hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids such as water or electrolytes. Applying a pain-relieving balm on your forehead can be beneficial. Do not consume excessive alcohol, as it could aggravate your headache. Consult your doctor if your headache worsens.
Warning & Precautions
Pregnancy
There is no proper information regrading the use of VELPANAT TABLET during pregnancy. Therefore, if you are pregnant or think you may be pregnant, consult your doctor before taking this medicine. Pregnancy should be avoided if this medicine is combined with another antiviral agent known as ribavirin.
Breastfeeding
VELPANAT TABLET may pass through the breast milk. Therefore, it is not recommended for use in breastfeeding women. Consult your doctor for advice before taking it.
Driving and Using Machines
Do not drive or handle any machines if your ability is affected by VELPANAT TABLET.
Kidney
VELPANAT TABLET should be used with caution in patients with kidney problems (such as dialysis). Therefore, consult your doctor before taking it.
Liver
VELPANAT TABLET should be used with caution in patients with other liver problems apart from hepatitis C infection such as awaiting a liver transplant or hepatitis B infection. Therefore, consult your doctor before taking it.
Allergy
Do not take VELPANAT TABLET if you are allergic to Velpatasvir or Sofosbuvir.
Heart Disease
VELPANAT TABLET should be used with caution if you have heart problems. Consult your doctor for advice.
Others
Before taking VELPANAT TABLET, inform your doctor if you:
- are taking medicines for any on-going viral infections
- have diabetes
Use in Paediatrics:
VELPANAT TABLET is not recommended for use in children aged below 3 years. Therefore, consult your doctor before taking it.
Use in Geriatrics:
VELPANAT TABLET should be used with caution in elderly people. Therefore, consult your doctor before taking it.
Interactions
A. Drug - Drug interactions:
Before taking VELPANAT TABLET inform your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines such as:
- rifampicin, rifabutin, rifapentine (used to manage tuberculosis)
- St. John’s wort (a medicine used to manage depression)
- medicines used to manage epilepsy (such as carbamazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, oxcarbazepine)
- rosuvastatin (a medicine used to manage high blood cholesterol levels)
- amiodarone, digoxin (used to manage irregular heart rate)
- warfarin, dabigatran, vitamin k antagonists (used for blood thinning)
- medicines used to suppress your immune system (such as tacrolimus, cyclosporine)
- tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, tipranavir (used to manage HIV infection)
- medicines used to manage stomach ulcers or heartburn (such as aluminium hydroxide, omeprazole, lansoprazole, rabeprazole, pantoprazole, esomeprazole, famotidine, cimetidine, nizatidine or ranitidine)
Overdosage:
If you or anyone else accidentally took more VELPANAT TABLET, consult your doctor immediately.
Synopsis
| Drug | : | Velpatasvir, Sofosbuvir |
| Pharmacological Category | : | HCV NS5A inhibitors, nucleotide polymerase inhibitors |
| Therapeutic Indication | : | Hepatitis C infection |
| Dosage Forms | : | Tablet |
More Information
- Keep VELPANAT TABLET out of reach of children
- Store VELPANAT TABLET at room temperature
FAQs About VELPANAT TABLET
What is VELPANAT TABLET?
VELPANAT TABLET is an antiviral medicine used to manage Hepatitis C infection.
Is VELPANAT TABLET safe?
VELPANAT TABLET is safe at doses prescribed by the physician.
How does VELPANAT TABLET work in our body?
VELPANAT TABLET acts by blocking the actions of certain viral enzymes (HIV-reverse transcriptase) that is required for the viral cell to grow and multiply. This reduces multiplication of viral cells and manages the spread of infection.
Can I stop taking VELPANAT TABLET if I feel unwell?
No. Do not stop taking VELPANAT TABLET without consulting your doctor. Take VELPANAT TABLET regularly, because if you miss a dose of VELPANAT TABLET or take it at irregular intervals, you may experience some unpleasant reactions. If you wish to discontinue VELPANAT TABLET due to unpleasant symptoms, consult your doctor for advice.
What to do if I forget to take a dose of VELPANAT TABLET?
If you miss a dose of VELPANAT TABLET take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is time to take the next dose, skip the missed dose and take the next one at regular time. Do not take a double dose of VELPANAT TABLET to compensate the missed dose.
Can VELPANAT TABLET manage Hepatitis C completely?
Yes. VELPANAT TABLET acts by reducing the number of viral cells within the body. Eventually, it can eliminate the virus from the body and can manage hepatitis C completely.
What are the precautions to be followed while taking VELPANAT TABLET?
Before taking VELPANAT TABLET inform your doctor if you have diabetes, kidney problems or any other liver problems apart from hepatitis C infection (such as liver transplant or hepatitis B infection). Do not take VELPANAT TABLET without consulting your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Regularly visit your doctor and take all the blood tests recommended for you. Do not stop taking VELPANAT TABLET without consulting your doctor.
Can VELPANAT TABLET be used in children?
VELPANAT TABLET is not recommended for use in children aged below 3 years. Children aged above 3 years must consult their doctor before taking this medicine. Therefore, consult your doctor for advice.
How to take VELPANAT TABLET?
Take VELPANAT TABLET as directed by your physician. Swallow the medicine with a glass of water. Do not crush or chew the medicine. VELPANAT TABLET can be taken with or without meals. Continue to take VELPANAT TABLET regularly as advised by your physician for maximum benefits.
References
1. Harsh Mohan. Viral Hepatitis. The Liver, Biliary Tract and 592 Exocrine Pancreas. Textbook of Pathology. 6th Edition. Page – 605.
2. Ajit Sood, Ajay Duseja, Mayank Kabrawala, Pradeep Amrose, Bhadadev Goswami, Abhijit Chowdhury, Shiv Kumar Sarin, Abraham Koshy, Robert H. Hyland, Sophia Lu, Gregory Camus, Luisa M. Stamm, Diana M. Brainard, G. Mani Subramanian, Madhura Prasad, Shobna Bhatia, Samir R. Shah, Dharmesh Kapoor, Shalimar and Vivek Saraswat. Sofosbuvir–velpatasvir single-tablet regimen administered for 12 weeks in a phase 3 study with minimal monitoring in India. NIH. National Library of Medicine. National Center for Biotechnology Information. PMC. PubMed Central. February 2019. [Accessed on 4th January 2023]. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6418070/
3. Gilead Sciences Ltd. Epclusa 400 mg/100 mg film-coated tablets sofosbuvir/Velpatasvir. Electronic Medicines Compendium (EMC) [Revised in May 2022] [Accessed on 4th January 2023]. https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.3461.pdf
4. Asegua Therapeutics LLC. SOFOSBUVIR AND VELPATASVIR- velpatasvir and sofosbuvir tablet, film coated. Dailymed.com. [Revised in May 2022]. [Accessed on 4th January 2023]. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=d0c1a945-4440-4b5c-81aa-693ed3db597c
Useful Diagnostic Tests
- Complete Blood Count
- Bilirubin Total
- Hepatitis B s (Surface) Antigen
- Hepatitis C Virus Total Antibody
- Liver Function Test
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