Starting Your Hep C Treatment with Mavyret 

Mavyret, or Maviret, is a direct-acting antiviral that treats hep C. It is a combination of 2 ingredients: glecaprevir and pibrentasvir).¹ Over 90% of people are able to achieve a cure, also called a sustained virologic response (SVR), after therapy. If your doctor has recommended Mavyret as a treatment, the following will help break down what to expect.

Labs prior to starting treatment

Before starting any drug, most doctors will run lab tests to determine whether the drug will be safe and effective. For Mavyret,  your doctor will order blood tests within 6 months of starting treatment. In addition to a viral load test, other baseline tests may include:²

• Complete Blood Count (CBC)
• International Normalized Ratio (INR)
• Hepatic Function Panel
• Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR)
• Hepatitis B surface antigen and core antibody test

Mavyret and drug interactions

Mavyret has many drug interactions, including some over-the-counter products. Be sure to let your doctor know of all the medications you take, including herbals and vitamins. Some of these interactions can be serious, and others may decrease effectiveness of Mavyret.¹ For example, St. John's Wort, an herbal product commonly used to treat depression, can interact with Mavyret and reduce its effectiveness.¹ Therefore, it is absolutely not recommended to use along with Mavyret. Sometimes a doctor will still recommend continuation of an interacting drug, but recommend reducing the dose of the interacting agent, as in the case of statins.

Side effects

It is important to be knowledgeable of these potential side effects and let your doctor know if they occur. Possible side effects include headaches, itchiness, diarrhea, nausea, trouble sleeping, and fatigue.¹ The most common side effects are headache and fatigue, also common symptoms of hep C.¹  For most people, the side effects go away after finishing treatment. Others never experience these side effects at all.

How to take Mavyret

Mavyret is typically prescribed as 3 tablets taken at the same time for 8-12 weeks. The duration of treatment depends on a few factors, such as whether you are treatment-naive or have been previously treated. It also depends on your genotype. Your doctor will tell you how long you should take Mavyret for.

Mavyret should be taken with food. Plan on taking this medication until the total duration of therapy is over, even if you feel well before your therapy is over. In addition, do not miss or skip a day -- try to take it at the same time daily. If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember, if it has been less than 18 hours since your usual dosage time. Then, continue with your usual scheduled time.  If it has been more than 18 hours since your scheduled dose, then skip the missed dose, and continue with your original schedule.

Starting a new medication can be stressful experience. By equipping yourself with knowledge and a support system, you will have a better understanding of what to expect during treatment.

Have you been treated and/or considering treatment with Mavyret? Share your experiences below!