All About Vosevi

If you have chronic (long-lasting) hepatitis C, your doctor may prescribe Vosevi for you. It’s a prescription drug used in certain adults with mild to no liver damage to treat the infection caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). To learn more about the drug’s use for this condition, see “Is Vosevi used to treat chronic hepatitis C?” below.

Vosevi basics

Vosevi is a tablet that you swallow. It contains three antiviral drugs that help treat HCV infection: sofosbuvir, velpatasvir, and voxilaprevir. Vosevi only comes in a brand-name form. It’s not available as a generic.

Vosevi has uses, side effects, and more.

Vosevi may cause mild to serious side effects. The side effects of the drug are described in the lists below. All possible side effects are not included in these lists. Side effects of a drug can depend on other factors.

  • Your age.
  • You have other health conditions.
  • You take other drugs.

“The doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about Vosevi’s side effects. They can suggest ways to reduce them.”

Mild side effects

Below is a short list of some of the mild side effects that Vosevi can cause. To learn about other mild side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist, or read the drug’s prescribing information.

There have been some mild side effects reported from Vosevi.

The side effects of many drugs can be gone in a few days. If they become intolerable, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

The side effect is described in the section “Allergic reaction”.

Serious side effects

Vosevi can have serious side effects, but they are not common. If you have serious side effects, call your doctor. If you think you have a medical emergency, you should call the emergency number.

Vosevi has been reported to have serious side effects.

* For more information, see the “What should be considered before taking Vosevi?” section.
† To learn more about this side effect, see the “Allergic reaction” section just below.

Allergic reaction

Some people may have an allergic reaction to Vosevi. Symptoms of a mild allergic reaction can include:

A more severe allergic reaction is not uncommon. A severe allergic reaction can cause swelling under your skin, usually in your lips, hands, or feet. They can include swelling of your mouth, throat, and tongue, which can cause trouble breathing.

While allergic reaction wasn’t reported in studies of Vosevi, it can still happen. Call your doctor right away if you have an allergic reaction to Vosevi. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number.

Find out what the answers are to some questions.

Does hepatitis C last forever, or can Vosevi cure it?

No, hepatitis C doesn’t last forever, unless it’s left untreated. Treatments for chronic (long-term) hepatitis C virus (HCV) can cure this infection.

Your doctor will check the level of HCV virus in your blood. If your blood tests don’t detect the virus 3 months after you’ve completed your treatment, you’re considered cured. A small percentage of people may have a relapse of hepatitis C. For this reason, your doctor will check your blood for HCV 6 to 12 months after you’ve completed your treatment.

Are Vosevi and ribavirin used together to treat hepatitis C?

No. Vosevi and ribavirin (Rebetol) aren’t used together to treat hepatitis C. (Ribavirin is another antiviral drug used to treat chronic HCV infection.) Other drugs used to treat hepatitis C may be prescribed with Ribavirin, though.

If you want to learn more about ribavirin and how it is used for the disease, you should talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

What’s Vosevi’s mechanism of action (how does it work)?

Vosevi contains three active ingredients. Each kind of antiviral works in a different way to stop the HCV from replicating itself.

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about Vosevi.

What should I know about Vosevi vs. Harvoni?

Vosevi and Harvoni are both combination drugs used to treat chronic hepatitis C. They both contain sofosbuvir. Harvoni contains another antiviral called ledipasvir. And Vosevi contains two other antivirals, velpatasvir and voxilaprevir.

Harvoni is used to treat four of the six hepatitis C strains.

Harvoni is prescribed by doctors for adults and children. Vosevi is only used to treat adults.

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about Vosevi and Harvoni.

Your doctor will recommend the dosage of Vosevi that’s right for you. Below are commonly used dosages, but always take the dosage your doctor prescribes.

Form

Vosevi is a tablet that you swallow.

Recommended dosage

Vosevi will be taken once daily for 12 weeks.

Questions about Vosevi’s dosage

“There are many questions about Vosevi’s dosage.”

  • What if I miss a dose of Vosevi? If you forget your dose of Vosevi, take it as soon as you remember. But if you’re close to your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the next one at the scheduled time. If you’re not sure if or when you should take a dose after missing one, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. It’s important to take Vosevi every day. Missing doses can make the drug less effective in curing your hepatitis C. Do not take two tablets if you miss a dose of Vosevi, as this can increase your risk of side effects.
  • Will I need to use Vosevi long term? No, you won’t need to use Vosevi long term. The treatment duration for Vosevi is 12 weeks. While infection with a hepatitis C virus (HCV) is long-lasting, taking Vosevi for 12 weeks will lower the level of the virus in your blood to an amount a doctor can’t detect on a blood test.
  • How long does Vosevi take to work? Vosevi starts to work quickly to lower the level of HCV in your blood. But your doctor may only see the full benefits after 12 weeks.

Yes, Vosevi is used to treat chronic (long-lasting) hepatitis C. The hepatitis C virus (HCV) causes liver disease. This virus has several different strains, which are called genotypes. Doctors prescribe Vosevi to treat adults with all genotypes of chronic HCV infection and who have mild to no liver damage. Before starting Vosevi, you must have tried other treatments for HCV infection in the past.

Vosevi helps stop the disease from making copies. This lowers the amount of the virus in your body that your doctor can detect. You are cured of your infection.

“Your doctor will explain how you should take Vosevi, but below is a general overview. They will explain how much to take and how often. Follow your doctor’s instructions.”

Taking Vosevi

You will take one Vosevi by mouth with food.

Accessible medication containers and labels

“If you can’t read the label on your prescription, tell your doctor or pharmacist. Some pharmacies give medication labels.”

  • Have a large print.
  • Use the visual aids.
  • You can change the text to audio with a code you can put in a phone.

“If your current pharmacy doesn’t offer these options, your doctor or pharmacist may be able to recommend a new pharmacy.”

If you have trouble opening your bottles, please let your doctor know. Vosevi may be put in an easy-open container. The pharmacist can recommend ways to make it easier to open the drug container.

Taking Vosevi with other drugs

To treat hepatitis C, you’ll only need to take Vosevi, which contains three antiviral drugs. If you’re taking certain other drugs, your risk of hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation is higher. These include:

Talk with your doctor about any You take other drugs. before starting Vosevi.

Questions about taking Vosevi

Some questions about taking Vosevi are listed below.

  • Can Vosevi be chewed, crushed, or split? There’s no information on whether you can chew, crush, or split Vosevi tablets, so it’s best to swallow them whole. If you have trouble swallowing tablets, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice. Or check out this article with helpful tips.
  • Should I take Vosevi with food? Yes, you should take Vosevi with food as this helps your body absorb the drug.
  • Is there a best time of day to take Vosevi? There isn’t a best time of the day to take Vosevi. But taking it on a regular schedule helps it to work effectively by keeping a steady level of the drug in your body.

Questions for your doctor

You may have questions about Vosevi. Discuss your concerns with your doctor. Here are a few tips that might help you.

  • Before your appointment, write down questions such as:
    • How will Vosevi affect me?
  • Bring someone with you to your appointment to make you feel more comfortable.
  • “If you don’t understand something, ask your doctor to explain it.”

“Your doctor and other healthcare professionals are available to help you. They want you to get the best care possible. Don’t be afraid to ask questions or give feedback on your treatment”

The hepatitis c virus (HCV) has several different strains, which are called genotypes. Vosevi and Epclusa are two antiviral drugs used to treat all genotypes of chronic (long-lasting) hepatitis C. Both drugs contain the active ingredient sofosbuvir. Vosevi contains two other drugs, velpatasvir and voxilaprevir. Epclusa contains one other drug, velpatasvir.

Doctors only prescribe Vosevi for adults, while prescribes Epclusa for some children.

Like Vosevi, Epclusa can reactivate the hepatitis B virus (HBV) in people who have already contracted HBV. (For more information, see the boxed warning in the “What should be considered before taking Vosevi?” section below.)

If you have tried previous treatment for your hepatitis C, you can use pheclusa.

To learn more about how Vosevi and Epclusa compare, see this article.

Vosevi and Mavyret are two antivirals used to treat chronic (long-lasting) hepatitis C. Each drug contains different active ingredients. (An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.)

Mavyret treats specific kinds of hepatitis C infection in adults and some children with mild to no liver damage who haven’t tried other hepatitis C treatments before. It’s also used in some people who’ve had certain hepatitis C treatments in the past.

Vosevi will only be prescribed to adults with mild to no damage to the body. The person must have tried some of the drugs for the disease.

To find out which treatment is best for you, talk with your doctor. To learn more about Vosevi and Mavyret, check out this comparison.

There are a number of factors to consider before starting Vosevi treatment.

Interactions

Taking a drug with certain vaccines, foods, and other things can affect how the drug works. These effects are called interactions.

Before taking Vosevi, you should tell your doctor about all your medication. You should also describe any vitamins, herbs, or supplements you use. Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you about any interactions that may occur.

Interactions with drugs or supplements

Vosevi can interact with drugs. These include:

This list does not include all the drugs that may interact with Vosevi. Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about the interactions with this drug.

You can find information about how this drug can interact with other conditions below.

Other interactions

Vosevi interacts with the herbal remedy St. John’s wort. Combining the two may lower the amount of Vosevi in your blood which can decrease its effectiveness.

Boxed warning

Vosevi has a boxed warning for hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation. A boxed warning is a serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) about drug effects that may be dangerous.

“Vosevi can be used to get rid of the disease in people who have had it before. A life threatening disease caused by the type of virus that is called hep B. When you have chronic HBV, you don’t have symptoms, but the virus is still in your body. Vosevi can cause the reactivation of the disease. Your doctor will order a blood test to check for the disease. They will monitor you for the disease during your treatment.”

If your doctor discovers that you have the disease, you will need to start treatment.

Other warnings

Vosevi may not be right for you if you have a medical condition. This is a drug-condition interaction. Other factors may affect whether this drug is a good treatment option. Before taking Vosevi, talk to your doctor about your health history. The factors to consider include those shown.

  • Liver disease. If you have liver disease, Vosevi may not be right for you. In studies of the drug, people with cirrhosis (liver scarring) and moderate to severe liver failure had worsened liver function with Vosevi. Your doctor will closely monitor your symptoms and blood work for worsened liver function. If you develop jaundice (yellowing of your skin and the whites of your eyes) with Vosevi, be sure to tell your doctor. If your liver function worsens, your doctor may have you stop taking the drug. But do not stop Vosevi without talking with your doctor first. This can make your hepatitis C worse.
  • Allergic reaction. If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Vosevi or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe it for you. Ask them about other medications that might be better treatment options.

Vosevi and alcohol

“Vosevi isn’t one of the medications that interact with alcohol.”

Before starting Vosevi, you should ask your doctor or pharmacist how much alcohol is safe to drink.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Hepatitis C is a dangerous condition for a pregnant person. And the infection can be passed from mother to child during delivery. Hepatitis C treatment is important during pregnancy to prevent pregnancy complications and transmission to the child.

There is not enough evidence to confirm if Vosevi is safe to take during pregnancy. If you are pregnant or considering it, talk to your doctor. They can help you find the best treatment.

Vosevi is not known if it is safe to take while breastfeeding. Doctors are unsure if the drug passes through the body or if it lowers production. If you are considering breastfeeding or taking Vosevi, talk to your doctor. They can help you decide if the risks are worth the benefits.

There are many factors that affect the cost of prescription drugs. What your insurance plan covers is one of the factors.

If you have questions about how to pay for your prescription, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. A program called Vosevi Support Path or a copay coupon may also be available for Vosevi.

You can also check out this article to learn more about saving money on prescriptions.

Vosevi can lead to serious side effects if you take more than your doctor prescribes. If you take too much Vosevi, your doctor will watch you for signs of toxicity.

What to do in case you take too much Vosevi

Call your doctor right away if you think you’ve taken too much Vosevi. You can also call 800-222-1222 to reach the American Association of Poison Control Centers or use its online resource. But if you have severe symptoms, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number. Or go to the nearest emergency room.

If you have questions about Vosevi, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. Your doctor can tell you about other options. Some questions you may want to ask.

For an overview of treatment options for hepatis C, check out this article.

Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.