Sofosbuvir
Sofosbuvir is an antiviral tablet for chronic hepatitis C, sold here as Sovaldi 400mg and in the combination tablets Harvoni 90/400mg and Velpanat 400/100mg.
Hepatitis C and where sofosbuvir fits
Sofosbuvir is an antiviral for chronic hepatitis C, the long-running form of a liver infection that over years can scar the liver. It works inside the virus's copying machine: the tablet is converted in the body into a form the virus grabs instead of a normal building block, and once it is in place the chain cannot grow any further. New virus particles stop being made and the amount of virus in the blood drops. On its own it is rarely used — a second antiviral is added to attack the virus at another point.
Sovaldi 400mg, sofosbuvir alone
Sovaldi is a single-ingredient tablet of sofosbuvir 400mg. You take one daily, swallowed whole, and it does not matter whether that is at breakfast or between meals, so pick a time you will keep to. Courses usually last 12 weeks and sometimes longer, depending on the genotype and on which other antiviral goes with it. The virus is still present while you are feeling well, so the whole course gets finished. Blister strips are best kept cool and dry.
Harvoni and Velpanat: sofosbuvir in combination
Two combination tablets are sold here. Harvoni 90/400mg joins ledipasvir 90mg to sofosbuvir 400mg, and Velpanat 400/100mg joins sofosbuvir 400mg to velpatasvir 100mg. In each, the numbers follow the order the ingredients are named, so both carry the same 400mg of sofosbuvir as Sovaldi; what changes is the second antiviral and the hepatitis C genotypes the pair is used for. One tablet a day covers both drugs, which is why combinations do most of the work. All three sit in the same antiviral medicines group.
Side effects that come up on treatment
Headache, tiredness, nausea and difficulty sleeping are the ones people notice most, and they tend to be mild. With two antivirals in the routine it is often hard to say which tablet caused what. A hepatitis B infection that has been lying quiet can become active during or after sofosbuvir treatment. The signs are unusual tiredness, yellowing of the eyes or skin, dark urine, pale stools, loss of appetite and stomach pain.
St John's wort, rifampicin and other medicines
St John's wort, the antibiotics rifampicin and rifabutin, and the seizure medicines carbamazepine and phenytoin all speed up the way the body clears sofosbuvir, leaving less of it in the blood, so they are not taken with it. St John's wort is easy to miss because it turns up in herbal blends rather than in a medicine box. Amiodarone, used for heart rhythm problems, has caused a very slow heartbeat when combined with sofosbuvir. Some HIV medicines and other hepatitis antivirals are taken alongside sofosbuvir at doses set for the combination.
Sources
- Sofosbuvir: MedlinePlus Drug Information — MedlinePlus / National Library of Medicine
- VOSEVI- sofosbuvir, velpatasvir, and voxilaprevir tablet, film coated — DailyMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine)
Where can I buy Sofosbuvir in Hong Kong?
Sofosbuvir can be ordered online with delivery to Hong Kong. The page lists generic Sovaldi tablets in 400mg, also sold as Sofosbuvir tablets, plus combination tablets such as generic Harvoni in 90/400mg, Velpanat in 400/100mg. Orders can be cancelled within 24 hours if not dispatched, and support replies 24/7 in English and Cantonese.
How are Sofosbuvir prices shown?
Prices vary between the three sofosbuvir products and between pack sizes. Every product page lists its current prices in HKD or in the currency you choose.
Do I need a prescription to order Sofosbuvir?
PockDose does not ask you to upload a prescription when you order sofosbuvir. See the ordering FAQ for details.
What brand names does sofosbuvir have?
Sovaldi is a brand name of sofosbuvir, which is also sold as MyHep. Here, sofosbuvir can be bought online as generic Sovaldi. These are generics, not the original brand.
How long does a course of sofosbuvir last?
Most courses run for 12 weeks; some last 24. How long yours is depends on the hepatitis C genotype, whether the liver is already scarred, and which second antiviral is taken with sofosbuvir. Every tablet in the combination is taken for the full course, and the response is checked with a blood test after it ends.
What is the difference between Harvoni and Velpanat?
Both are sofosbuvir 400mg with one extra antiviral in the same tablet. Harvoni adds ledipasvir and Velpanat adds velpatasvir, and that second ingredient is what decides which hepatitis C genotypes the course is used for. The daily routine is the same: one tablet a day.
Can I take sofosbuvir tablets with food?
Yes. Breakfast, dinner or an empty stomach all suit it, because food does not alter how the tablet is used. The thing to protect is routine: one tablet at the same hour daily keeps the level in the blood even. Swallow it whole instead of crushing or chewing.
Can hepatitis C come back after sofosbuvir treatment?
Treatment can clear the virus, but it leaves no protection afterwards, so you can be infected again. Sofosbuvir also does not stop you passing hepatitis C on to anyone else while you are taking it. A blood test after the course shows whether the virus is still detectable.