Is It Safe to Consume Alcohol While Taking Mavyret?
In This Article
The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a viral infection that causes liver inflammation; sometimes, it can cause severe liver damage. Mavyret (glecaprevir-pibrentasvir) is used to treat patients with advancing HCV.
Mavyret doesn’t have any reported drug interactions with alcohol use. However, if you have HCV, you should avoid drinking alcohol.
Alcohol can worsen HCV, which increases the risk of severe liver damage. If you’re concerned about stopping alcohol use, consult your doctor for medical advice. For the best help, speak with a doctor of pharmacy (PharmD).
What are the Side Effects of Mavyret and Alcohol?
There isn’t any known interaction between Mavyret and alcohol. However, studies show that alcohol can worsen HCV or chronic hepatitis C.
Drinking alcohol with HCV increases the risk for the following conditions:6
- Liver scarring (fibrosis): HCV often causes liver fibrosis, and drinking alcohol may worsen it, leading to cirrhosis
- Infection relapse: Alcohol can cause the infection to reappear if you’ve been treated for HCV before
- Liver cancer risk: Alcohol use is one of the factors linked to the development of liver cancer after HCV treatment
Can you drink alcohol after Hep C treatment?
If you are cured of Hep C, you may be cleared to drink moderate amounts of alcohol again (up to 2 standard drinks per day for men and one standard drink per day for women). However, it is essential to talk with your doctor beforehand.
What is Mavyret Used For?
Mavyret is an antiviral prescription medicine authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It is not available as an over-the-counter medicine.
Mavyret is also prescribed for individuals who meet specific requirements as decided by a healthcare provider. It is used to treat:4
- Hepatitis C virus (HCV)
- Chronic hepatitis C
- Kidney disease
- Patients on dialysis
Who Should Get Mavyret Treatment?
Mavyret treats adults or children older than 3 years old with HCV or chronic hepatitis C. The treatment is approved for HCV genotypes 1-6 without cirrhosis.4
It’s also available for genotype 1 infections treated with an NS5A inhibitor or an NS3/4A protease inhibitor. However, the treatment cannot include both.4
Mavyret treatment usually lasts for eight weeks for all HCV genotypes. Previously, the standard treatment length was 12 weeks or longer.
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Does Mavyret Cure Hep C?
Mavyret should effectively cure HCV after around 8 weeks of use. It is a combination of two medications (glecaprevir-pibrentasvir) that work together to stop HCV from multiplying.
Mavyret comes as an oral tablet and is usually consumed with food daily for 6 to 8 weeks. The medicine should be taken around the same time every day.
Patients taking Mavyret for HCV treatment should follow the directions on the prescription label carefully. If you don’t understand anything on the label, speak to your doctor or pharmacist for advice.
What Happens if You Miss a Dose?
If you miss a dose of Mavyret, and it’s been 18 hours or less, take the missed tablet with food as soon as possible. However, skip the missed dose if more than 18 hours have passed since the time you usually take your Mavyret dose.
After skipping the dosage, you can continue with your regular schedule. Do not take a double dose.
Mavyret Side Effects
Taking Mavyret for hepatitis C may cause side effects.
Common side effects include:
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Weakness
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Itching
Serious side effects include:
- Confusion
- Tiredness
- Swelling of the stomach area
- Vomiting blood or material that resembles coffee grounds
- Dark, black, or bloody stools
- Nausea
- Jaundice (yellowing of your skin or eyes)
- Bleeding or bruising more quickly than usual
- Loss of appetite
- Dark or brown urine
- Lightheadedness
- Hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation
In people who had or have advanced liver problems before taking Mavyret, there is a rare risk of worsening liver disease or liver failure. In extreme cases, prolonged use of Mavyret can even cause death.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How long do Mavyret side effects last?
Most side effects of Mavyret are usually mild and do not require medical attention. As you adjust to the medicine, these side effects will likely diminish during treatment.
Can you take Tylenol with Mavyret?
There are no known interactions between Tylenol (acetaminophen) and Mavyret.
Does Mavyret cause weight gain?
Weight gain is not a side effect of Mavyret. However, some patients may lose weight because the medication can make them nauseous.
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- “FDA approves Mavyret for Hepatitis C.” U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), 2017.
- “Glecaprevir and Pibrentasvir.” MedlinePlus, 2020.
- “Glecaprevir / Pibrentasvir.” Aids Info, 2020.
- “Common side effects, Mavyret.” 2019.
- “How to take Mavyret, Mavyret.” 2019.
- Xu et al. “Effects of alcohol consumption on viral hepatitis B and C.” World Journal of Clinical Cases, 2021.
