Size of Epclusa pills in US?
I have trouble swallowing pills. I'm approved by insurance for the 400-100 dose of Epclusa but no one including people at the company that makes it can tell me the size. Googling shows me the size in the UK only. Pharmacist here doesn't know except to say it must be swallowed whole & cannot be cut up.
TIA
Hi Tia. This website shows a photo of the 400 mg pill next to a bottle: https://www.clinicaltrialsarena.com/projects/epclusa-sofosbuvir-velpatasvir-treatment-of-hepatitis-c/?cf-view. Hopefully, that gives you a good sense of its size. My daughter also had trouble swallowing pills when she was younger. She found it easier if she put it in a huge tablespoon of chocolate pudding or applesauce. Since they are both foods you normally swallow without chewing, she instinctively swallowed the pills as well. If your doctor can prescribe Mavyret instead, you can have it specially formulated as granules that come in a sachet and can be sprinkled on soft foods. The problem is finding a pharmacy that can do that. I hope this helps and that you are soon cured. We're here for you if you need us. Warmly, Lori (Team Member)
Thank you. I agree it's probably better to take it. I just don't know if there would be more side effects if split. I may be wrong but I think it's sort of "time released." But I will Google. All I had done (& had done ALOT) was search for the size online.
LizKeep me posted, if you don't mind. I will be thinking of you. - Lori (Team Member)
Thanks Lori.
For anyone who wants to know-- I now know that in the US Epclusa (the brand, not a generic) is 20mm x 10mm. It's a diamond shape and is "coated." For me it's pretty big but mostly doable. Still, I can't help but think it could have been made smaller.So far so good! But it's only been a few days. Thanks for asking. HI
! I am wondering how you are doing with the pills now that it's been a few weeks. Are you still able to swallow them? Have you had many side effect? Wishing you a wonderful and Hepatis-free New Year! - Lori (Team Member)
You cannot split the pill that’s one thing they will tell you when you get the prescription I’m on it now and have been for four weeks. The pill or the medicines work together and do not do what they’re supposed to do if you break the pill in half.
One thing that helps me swallow pills instead of putting my head back and looking up I look down. I know it seems like it’s against gravity, but it works. The muscles will push it straight down instead of it getting hung in the back of your throat, so look down when you swallow instead of up.Thanks. I know that works with capsules because it causes the capsule to float up to where it needs to go down. I'll try it with tablets. I've only taken 2 Epclusa and they've gone down but not too easily. I never would have thought of that,
. Thanks for sharing! How are you feeling four weeks in? Best wishes. - Lori (Team Member)
Headaches are my only side effect and for the first 2 weeks they were pretty much daily around 3pm until I slept. Now they are less frequent.
I had hep c for a long time and felt pretty crummy most of the time. No energy at all, lots of skin issues, stomach issues, joint pain (so extreme at times I would cry out when straightening my legs in the morning or slide out of bed because I couldn’t sit up). I had so many autoimmune issues, skin, hair loss, hyperpigmentation, from hep c. I had honestly gotten used to being sick and feeling awful. And I am only 47. I have some liver damage but very little and it has a good chancel of being reversed. So the tiredness they say is a side effect of the meds doesn’t compare to the tiredness from Hep C. . I have so much more energy most days, I feel better most days except for the headaches that I know will go away.
I don’t know why I put off treatment so long but so far it has really been more good than bad.
Thank you for asking.I am so happy for you,
. I hope others who are undecided read your words and start treatment. Hugs! - Lori (Team Member)
