Zepatier

Brand Name

Zepatier

Common Name

elbasvir - grazoprevir

In this drug factsheet:

• How does this medication work? What will it do for me?
• How should I use this medication?
• What form(s) does this medication come in?
• Who should NOT take this medication?
• What side effects are possible with this medication?
• Are there any other precautions or warnings for this medication?
• What other drugs could interact with this medication?

How does this medication work? What will it do for me?

This is a combination medication that contains elbasvir and grazoprevir. Both medications belong to the group of medications called antivirals. This medication is used by adults, alone and with other medications, to treat certain genetic variations of chronic (long-term) hepatitis C virus infection (CHC).

Elbasvir and grazoprevir work in different ways to prevent the hepatitis C virus (HCV) from multiplying. By stopping the virus from reproducing, they quickly reduce the levels of HCV in the body.

This medication may be available under multiple brand names and/or in several different forms. Any specific brand name of this medication may not be available in all of the forms or approved for all of the conditions discussed here. As well, some forms of this medication may not be used for all of the conditions discussed here.

Your doctor may have suggested this medication for conditions other than those listed in these drug information articles. If you have not discussed this with your doctor or are not sure why you are taking this medication, speak to your doctor. Do not stop taking this medication without consulting your doctor.

Do not give this medication to anyone else, even if they have the same symptoms as you do. It can be harmful for people to take this medication if their doctor has not prescribed it.

How should I use this medication?

The recommended adult dose of elbasvir - grazoprevir is one tablet taken by mouth, once daily. It may be taken with or without food. Your doctor will determine how long you will need to take this medication depending on the type of hepatitis C infection you have, as well as whether or not you have been previously treated.

Swallow the tablets whole with water. They should not be crushed, chewed, or broken.

Many things can affect the dose of medication that a person needs, such as body weight, other medical conditions, and other medications. If your doctor has recommended a dose different from the ones listed here, do not change the way that you are taking the medication without consulting your doctor.

It is important to take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. If you miss a dose, take it as soon as possible and continue with your regular schedule. If it is more than 16 hours since the missed dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one. If you are not sure what to do after missing a dose, contact your doctor or pharmacist for advice.

Store this medication at room temperature in the original package. Protect it from light and moisture, and keep it out of the reach of children.

Do not dispose of medications in wastewater (e.g. down the sink or in the toilet) or in household garbage. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medications that are no longer needed or have expired.

What form(s) does this medication come in?

Who should NOT take this medication?

Do not take this medication if you:

• are allergic to elbasvir, grazoprevir, or any ingredients of the medication
• have moderately-to-severely decreased liver function
• are taking any of the following medications:
• bosentan
• carbamazepine
• cyclosporine
• efavirenz
• etravirine
• HIV protease inhibitors (e.g., atazanavir, lopinavir, saquinavir)
• modafinil
• phenytoin
• rifampin
• St. John's wort

What side effects are possible with this medication?

Many medications can cause side effects. A side effect is an unwanted response to a medication when it is taken in normal doses. Side effects can be mild or severe, temporary or permanent.

The side effects listed below are not experienced by everyone who takes this medication. If you are concerned about side effects, discuss the risks and benefits of this medication with your doctor.

The following side effects have been reported by at least 1% of people taking this medication. Many of these side effects can be managed, and some may go away on their own over time.

Contact your doctor if you experience these side effects and they are severe or bothersome. Your pharmacist may be able to advise you on managing side effects.

• anxiety
• constipation
• decreased appetite
• diarrhea
• dizziness
• dry mouth
• fatigue
• hair loss
• headache
• irritability
• itching
• nausea
• trouble sleeping
• vomiting
• weakness

Although most of the side effects listed below don't happen very often, they could lead to serious problems if you do not seek medical attention.

Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:

• abdominal pain
• joint pain
• muscle pain
• signs of depression (e.g., poor concentration, changes in weight, changes in sleep, decreased interest in activities, thoughts of suicide)
• signs of liver problems (e.g., nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, weight loss, yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes, dark urine, pale stools)

Some people may experience side effects other than those listed. Check with your doctor if you notice any symptom that worries you while you are taking this medication.

Are there any other precautions or warnings for this medication?

Before you begin using a medication, be sure to inform your doctor of any medical conditions or allergies you may have, any medications you are taking, whether you are pregnant or breast-feeding, and any other significant facts about your health. These factors may affect how you should use this medication.

Hepatitis B reactivation: People who have hepatitis B infection that is dormant may experience the infection returning, causing further liver dysfunction or liver failure. If you have a history of hepatitis B infection, discuss with your doctor how this medication may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of this mediation, and whether any special monitoring is needed.

If you experience symptoms of worsening liver function, such as fatigue, feeling unwell, loss of appetite, nausea, yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes, dark urine, pale stools, abdominal pain or swelling, and itchy skin, contact your doctor immediately.

Infection with hepatitis B: The safety and effectiveness of treatment with elbasvir - grazoprevir have not been established for people with hepatitis C who are also infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV).

Infection with HIV-1: Many of the medications used to treat HIV infections affect how elbasvir – grazoprevir works and should not be taken with this medication. If you have been diagnosed with HIV infection, talk to your doctor before taking elbasvir – grazoprevir.

Liver function: Liver disease or reduced liver function may cause this medication to build up in the body, causing side effects. This medication has not been studied for safety and effectiveness when used by people with moderately reduced liver function. If you have reduced liver function, discuss with your doctor how this medication may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of this medication, and whether any special monitoring is needed. People with moderately or severely reduced liver function should not use this medication.

This medication has been reported to cause signs of decreased liver function. If you experience symptoms of liver problems such as fatigue, feeling unwell, loss of appetite, nausea, yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes, dark urine, pale stools, abdominal pain or swelling, and itchy skin, contact your doctor immediately.

Pregnancy: This medication should not be used during pregnancy unless the benefits outweigh the risks. If you become pregnant while taking this medication, contact your doctor immediately.

Breast-feeding: It is not known if elbasvir - grazoprevir passes into breast milk. If you are breast-feeding and are taking this medication, it may affect your baby. Talk to your doctor about whether you should continue breast-feeding.

Children: The safety and effectiveness of using this medication have not been established for children.

What other drugs could interact with this medication?

There may be an interaction between elbasvir - grazoprevir and any of the following:

• apalutamide
• aprepitant
• "azole" antifungals (e.g., itraconazole, ketoconazole, voriconazole)
• bosentan
• carbamazepine
• cladribine
• cobicistat
• conivaptan
• cyclosporine
• deferasirox
• diabetes medications (e.g., acarbose, dapagliflozin, exenatide, glyburide, insulin, linagliptin, liraglutide, metformin, rosiglitazone, sitagliptin)
• diltiazem
• dronedarone
• efavirenz
• etravirine
• elagolix
• eltrombopag
• enzalutamide
• eslicarbazepine
• fosphenytoin
• gemfibrozil
• grapefruit juice
• other hepatitis C antiviral medications (e.g., pibrentasvir, glecaprevir, letermovir, velpatasvir, voxilaprevir)
• HIV protease inhibitors (e.g., atazanavir, indinavir, lopinavir, ritonavir, saquinavir)
• leflunomide
• lomitapide
• lumacaftor and ivacaftor
• macrolide antibiotics (e.g., clarithromycin, erythromycin)
• midazolam
• mitotane
• mifepristone
• modafinil
• ozanimod
• phenobarbital
• phenytoin
• pimozide
• primidone
• protein kinase inhibitors (e.g., ceritinib, crizotinib, dabrafenib, dasatinib, imatinib, nilotinib, pazopanib)
• rifabutin
• rifampin
• St. John's wort
• sarilumab
• siltuximab
• "statin" anti-cholesterol medications (e.g., atorvastatin, lovastatin, rosuvastatin, simvastatin)
• stiripentol
• tacrolimus
• teriflunomide
• tocilizumab
• topotecan
• verapamil
• warfarin

If you are taking any of these medications, speak with your doctor or pharmacist. Depending on your specific circumstances, your doctor may want you to:

• stop taking one of the medications,
• change one of the medications to another,
• change how you are taking one or both of the medications, or
• leave everything as is.

An interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of them. Speak to your doctor about how any drug interactions are being managed or should be managed.

Medications other than those listed above may interact with this medication. Tell your doctor or prescriber about all prescription, over-the-counter (non-prescription), and herbal medications you are taking. Also tell them about any supplements you take. Since caffeine, alcohol, the nicotine from cigarettes, or street drugs can affect the action of many medications, you should let your prescriber know if you use them.

All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2024. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/drug/getdrug/Zepatier