Dacriva 60mg Tablet 28 ‘S

Description

About

Treating viral diseases is a daunting task that troubles doctors across the globe. These are particularly difficult to treat due to their quick-spreading nature as well as transmissibility, directly or indirectly. Hepatitis C (HCV) is a disease of viral origin that affects the liver resulting in its damage, which if left untreated can lead to chronic cirrhosis and liver cancer which can be fatal. Dacriva 60mg Tablet 28 ‘S is an antiviral medicine that belongs to a class of drugs called HCV NS5A inhibitors targeting genomes of the type C virus. Dacriva 60mg Tablet 28 ‘S is not used as single drug treatment and must be combined with other antiviral medication such as sofosbuvir and ribavirin as an adjunct drug, without which Dacriva 60mg Tablet 28 ‘S must not be used. 

Dacriva 60mg Tablet 28 ‘S is chemically composed of Daclatasvir, which works by blocking the action of a key viral protein that aids in the spread of the virus in the host body by preventing the replication of viral particles (virion). It is a long-term therapy lasting about 12 to 24 weeks, so one must not stop taking Dacriva 60mg Tablet 28 ‘S without a doctor’s consent to avoid the aggravation of this disease. Your doctor will first start by testing the presence of hepatitis C as well as B which pose a risk of reactivation in case of history with type B and establish the particular type of genome affecting the patient.

This medicine is available in the form of oral tablets to be taken by mouth with or without food. In general, it is prescribed to be taken once a day in combination with other antiviral drugs like sofosbuvir to help your body combat this potent virus effectively. Dacriva 60mg Tablet 28 ‘S is safe to be given to adults, but children and adolescents below 18 years must not receive it due to safety risks. Women who are pregnant or want to conceive a baby should not use this medicine without consulting a doctor first. After ending the treatment pregnancy must be prevented for at least 6 months. Treatment with this medicine can last for longer durations depending on your condition and virus activity. The most common side effects of this medication are nausea, headache, dizziness, anemia, and slowing down of heart rate. 

Indications

Dacriva 60mg Tablet 28 ‘S is prescribed to adults and it is used in combination with other antiviral drugs like  sofosbuvir ( with or without the addition of) ribavirin, to treat:

• Hepatitis C 

How does Dacriva 60mg Tablet 28 ‘S work?

HCV NS5A, a phosphoprotein structure is an indispensable part of the hepatitis C virus aiding the process of putting together all necessary elements required for the formation of a mature virus and thus the replication process. It does so by influencing and regulating the host cells and other viral proteins. On the other hand Dacriva 60mg Tablet 28 ‘S is chemically composed of Daclatasvir, which works by essentially blocking this key protein, HCV NS5A, and controls the spread of the virus in the host body by preventing the replication of viral particles. 

How to use Dacriva 60mg Tablet 28 ‘S?

Dacriva 60mg Tablet 28 ‘S is available in the form of tablets. Swallow the tablets with a glass of water without chewing, this can be taken with or without food. Before initiating the treatment, the doctor must confirm the presence of the virus with serological tests. In general, the treatment with Dacriva 60mg Tablet 28 ‘S is usually prescribed to be taken once a day, the dose being dependent on the seriousness of the condition, the patient’s response to the medicine, and the dose of adjunct antiviral being taken.   Treatment with Dacriva 60mg Tablet 28 ‘S is relatively long-term and can last between 12 to 24 weeks depending on the patient’s recovery from the virus.  Do not stop taking Dacriva 60mg Tablet 28 ‘S without completing the course of your therapy even if you feel like your symptoms have improved. 

Available Potency and Form of Dacriva 60mg Tablet 28 ‘S 

30 mg – Tablets 

60 mg – Tablets 

90 mg – Tablets 

Dosage

Adult Dose

The treatment includes a combination of daclatasvir with sofosbuvir, to be taken orally once a day in the following dose:

Daclatasvir 60 mg +  Sofosbuvir 400 mg 

Ribavirin, another antiviral may or may not be added to the aforementioned drugs depending on your condition

The treatment can last up to 12 to 24 weeks, before ending the therapy your doctor will reaffirm the cure from the virus by checking the presence of antibodies in your blood via serology

Child Dose

Dacriva 60mg Tablet 28 ‘S is not prescribed to children and adolescents below 18 years of age

Elderly dose

The safety concerns of Dacriva 60mg Tablet 28 ‘S in the elderly population may require careful monitoring of liver function and other factors. Your doctor should set the most appropriate dose for you based on your medical history. Doses are adjusted according to a liver impairment or other medications being taken concurrently, or other serious conditions. 

*Special Doses

30 mg tablets can be given to the patient if co-administered with potent liver enzyme inducers CYP 450 3A

Pregnancy use and lactation

Dacriva 60mg Tablet 28 ‘S contains Daclatasvir in its formulation which does not carry an assigned category by FDA, but this drug should not be prescribed to expecting women due to serious side effects. Nor should Dacriva 60mg Tablet 28 ‘S be used in combination with ribavirin or other anti-vials. Consult a doctor before taking Dacriva 60mg Tablet 28 ‘S. Also, the amount of this medicine that can be secreted into human milk is not known exactly, consult our physician if you are a lactating mother. 

Contraindications

Please inform your doctor if you have a history of any before using Dacriva 60mg Tablet 28 ‘S:

• Allergic reaction to Dacriva 60mg Tablet 28 ‘S or similar drugs

• Potent inducers CYP3A

• Pregnancy 

• Children and adolescents below 18 years of age

• Breastfeeding mothers

Precautions‌ ‌

Please‌ ‌tell‌ ‌your‌ ‌doctor‌ ‌about‌ ‌any‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌following‌ ‌conditions‌ ‌before using the ‌Dacriva 60mg Tablet 28 ‘S:‌ ‌

• A history of allergy to any or similar medicines

• During treatment, if it becomes apparent that there’s no or limited response to ‌Dacriva 60mg Tablet 28 ‘S, treatment should be withdrawn

• ‌Dacriva 60mg Tablet 28 ‘S is known to cause slowing down of heart rate, special caution must be exercised when ingesting this ‌Dacriva 60mg Tablet 28 ‘S alongside antiarrhythmics like amiodarone or beta-blockers

• Careful monitoring is advised if there is a history of heart diseases

• Before starting treatment with ‌Dacriva 60mg Tablet 28 ‘S, along with HCV screening must be done for HBV. There is an increased risk of reactivation of the virus if there is a history of HBV. Continued monitoring is advised for both HBV and HCV

• In diabetic patients, ‌Dacriva 60mg Tablet 28 ‘S can cause hypoglycemia for which reason if you are taking hypoglycemics your doctor will adjust the dose of your diabetes medicine 

• When using ‌Dacriva 60mg Tablet 28 ‘S in combination with ribavirin, during pregnancy strict/ foolproof contraception is advised. Also, the male partner of pregnant females must avoid this combination due to serious side effects that can affect the baby. Discuss the safety measures with your doctor

• Avoid pregnancy until at least 6 months after treatment with ‌Dacriva 60mg Tablet 28 ‘S has ended

• In case of a pre-existing liver disease special attention must be given to it with ongoing therapy

• The amount of ‌Dacriva 60mg Tablet 28 ‘S secreted in breast milk is not known, always discuss it with your doctor before starting the treatment

• Some formulations of Daclatasvir contain lactose which must be avoided if you are lactose intolerant. Read the label carefully

• You will have to make certain lifestyle changes, read the FAQs below

Interaction with other medications

Certain medications could interact with Dacriva 60mg Tablet 28 ‘S and may increase or decrease its absorption, in which case, your doctor might alter your dosage. A few of these interacting drugs are given below:

• CYP3A inhibitors like azole antifungals, clarithromycin

• Amiodarone 

• Atazanavir and other anti-HIV 

• Ritonavir 

• Butalbital

• Carbamazepine 

• Phenytoin 

• Rifampicin 

• Mitotane 

• Bosentan 

• Dexamethasone 

• Dabigatran 

• Digoxin 

• Statins like atorvastatin, rosuvastatin 

• Buprenorphine 

• Naloxone  

• John’s Wort (herb)

Adverse effects

Like most medicines, Dacriva 60mg Tablet 28 ‘S has some side effects which include:

Common Side effects

• Nausea 

• Headache 

• Fatigue 

• Diarrhea 

• Dizziness

• Anemia 

• Fainting 

Rare side effects

• Anaphylactic reaction 

• Blurred vision

• Diarrhea 

• Itching/redness of eyes 

• Liver toxicity 

• Dyspnea 

• Confusion 

• Chest pain 

• Insomnia 

LIST OF HOW TO DEAL WITH ADVERSE EFFECTS

Fatigue – Patients experiencing this adverse effect are advised to take deep breaths, intake tea or coffee, get a good night’s rest, and not overburden themselves for a few days.

Feeling drowsy – If the medication makes you feel drowsy or sleepy, stop what you’re doing and sit or lie down until you feel better, and do not rise too fast or immediately from a sitting or lying down position to a standing posture. Do not drive or use tools or machinery in case of any of these effects.

Headaches – In which case make sure you rest and drink plenty of fluids. Avoid the use of alcohol. Take a prescribed painkiller. Consult your doctor if the headaches last longer than a week or are severe

Feeling or being sick (nausea or vomiting) or diarrhea – Avoid eating rich or spicy food. It might help to take medication after food. If you’re sick, try drinking small, frequent sips of water 

Feeling dizzy (lightheaded) or weak – If the medication makes you feel dizzy or weak, stop what you’re doing and sit or lie down until you feel better, and do not rise too fast or immediately from sitting or lying down position to a standing posture. Do not drive or use tools or machinery in case of any of these effects.

Skin Rash – This can be eased by applying soothing and healing lotions or creams such as calamine lotion/cream. Applying a cold compress to the rash helps reduce itchiness and redness caused by the rash. Antihistamine (prescribed by a doctor) is also recommended as an effective way to combat any skin rash.

FAQs

#1. WHAT EXACTLY DOES Dacriva 60mg Tablet 28 ‘S DO?

Dacriva 60mg Tablet 28 ‘S is used to treat Hepatitis C which works by inhibiting key proteins of the type C virus which consequently prevents viral replication in the host body.

#2. HOW LONG WILL I HAVE TO TAKE Dacriva 60mg Tablet 28 ‘S FOR?

Time duration depends on the response of the virus to the prescribed treatment. Your doctor will prescribe serology and liver function tests to assess it. In general, the treatment can last up to 12 to 24 months.

#3. CAN I STOP TAKING Dacriva 60mg Tablet 28 ‘S?

Do not just stop taking the medicine on your own, make sure to complete your treatment course even if you feel better. Stopping it suddenly may cause the return of your infection. 

#4. CAN I DRINK ALCOHOL WITH Dacriva 60mg Tablet 28 ‘S?

The Hepatitis virus directly affects the liver, causing damage. We also know that intoxicants like alcohol progressively cause liver damage too. Consuming alcohol in this condition will aggravate the symptoms of liver damage.

#5. WHAT IF I TAKE TOO MUCH OF Dacriva 60mg Tablet 28 ‘S?

Taking more than required can cause serious damage to the liver and kidneys. If you have taken too much of the prescribed Dacriva 60mg Tablet 28 ‘S you may experience symptoms of toxicity which will vary depending on the dose ingested, for example, fast pounding, irregular heartbeat, upset stomach, blurred vision, fainting, dizziness, seizures, or life-threatening severe symptoms. Contact your doctor or emergency immediately if you have any of these symptoms. 

#6. WHAT IF I FORGET TO TAKE Dacriva 60mg Tablet 28 ‘S?

Dacriva 60mg Tablet 28 ‘S is taken once a day so you can take the missed dose as soon as you remember unless it’s about time until your next dose, in which case you should skip the missed dose. If it helps to remind you, set an alarm or use a pill organizer or a mobile application so you do not miss any dose. Make sure to complete your course of treatment even if you feel better and think you do not need to take it anymore.

#7. CAN I TAKE Dacriva 60mg Tablet 28 ‘S DURING PREGNANCY OR BREASTFEEDING?

Dacriva 60mg Tablet 28 ‘S has safety concerns for unborn babies and is known to cause serious defects in these babies. If you are pregnant, think you may be pregnant, or are planning to conceive a baby, please consult your doctor before using Dacriva 60mg Tablet 28 ‘S. Strict contraception is advised for women and male partners. If you are breastfeeding, please consult your doctor before taking Dacriva 60mg Tablet 28 ‘S. 

#8. CAN I DRIVE OR RIDE A BIKE AFTER TAKING Dacriva 60mg Tablet 28 ‘S?

Know how your body handles the medicine. Dacriva 60mg Tablet 28 ‘S can sometimes make you dizzy so make sure you know how your body reacts while using ‘product’. Do not drive or use any sharp or heavy machinery until you feel normal again.

#9. HOW SHOULD Dacriva 60mg Tablet 28 ‘S BE STORED?

Store it at room temperature between 20 to 25 °C, away from excess heat, direct sunlight, and moisture. Make sure it is not consumed by pets, children, and other people. Dispose of the unused medicine. 

#10. CAN I TAKE CONTRACEPTIVES WITH Dacriva 60mg Tablet 28 ‘S?

You must use contraceptives if you are not pregnant. In case you are pregnant still adopt safety measures, also male partners must take measures accordingly.

#11. ANY LIFESTYLE CHANGES THAT I NEED TO MAKE?

Hepatitis C is a viral disease that is known to be contagious, special measures must be taken to prevent its spread from person to person. 

• Maintain a balanced healthy diet to strengthen your immune system 

• If you are suffering from a chronic infection that tends to damage the liver massively, your doctor might ask you to decrease your salt and protein intake due help ease out liver 

• Before taking any medicine, make sure to know how it will affect your liver

• Items of personal use such as razors/sharp blades, toothbrushes, and syringes must not be shared with anyone

• Practice “safe sex” since HCV can be transmitted sexually

• Do not donate blood to anyone.