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"&amp;lt;h3&amp;gt;Classification&amp;lt;/h3&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Viekira Pak is a co-packaged drug combination used to treat chronic &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/hepatitis-c-4014116&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;1&amp;quot;&amp;gt;hepatitis C (HCV)&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; infection. The pack includes one fixed dose combination drug Technivie (ombitasvir &amp;amp;#43; paritaprevir &amp;amp;#43; ritonavir) co-packaged alongside the drug dasabuvir.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The drug components ombitasvir, paritaprevir and dasabuvir are direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) that interfere with the replication of the virus. The drug &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/list-of-approved-hiv-antiretroviral-drugs-49309&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot;&amp;gt;ritonavir&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;, used frequently in &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/your-essential-guide-to-hiv-therapy-49316&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;3&amp;quot;&amp;gt;HIV therapy&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;, is included to &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/what-are-hiv-booster-drugs-and-how-do-they-work-49640&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;4&amp;quot;&amp;gt;boost the drug levels&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; of paritaprevir.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Viekira Pak is most often, but not always, co-administered with&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/information-about-ribavirin-1760157&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;5&amp;quot;&amp;gt; ribavirin&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; and does not need to be taken with &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/sovaldi-sofosbuvir-hepatitis-c-drug-information-49026&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;6&amp;quot;&amp;gt;pegylated interferon&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; (peg-interferon).&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Viekira Pak was approved in December 19, 2014 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in adults 18 years or over with HCV genotypes 1 infection, including those with compensated &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/cirrhosis-what-you-need-to-know-1759889&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;7&amp;quot;&amp;gt;cirrhosis&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; (wherein the liver still functions) and liver transplants. For patients with decompensated cirrhosis, Viekira Pak is not recommended.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Viekira Pak is reported to have a cure rate of 95% or more, with only 2% of patients terminating therapy due to intolerance. It is appropriate for use in patients with &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/treating-hepatitis-c-in-people-with-hiv-48867&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;8&amp;quot;&amp;gt;HIV/HCV co-infection&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;h3&amp;gt;Dosage&amp;lt;/h3&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Two tablets of co-formulated tablets of ombitasvir &amp;amp;#43; paritaprevir &amp;amp;#43; ritonavir (25mg/150mg/100mg) taken one daily in the morning with food, plus one table of dasabuvir taken twice daily in the morning and evening with food.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The tablets come conveniently bundled in daily boxed doses, with dosing instructions included on each box. The co-formulated tablet is pink, film-coated and embossed with &amp;amp;#34;AV1&amp;amp;#34;, while the dasabuvir tablet is beige, film-coated and embossed with &amp;amp;#34;AV2&amp;amp;#34;.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;h3&amp;gt;Prescribing Recommendations&amp;lt;/h3&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Viekira Pak is prescribed over a 12- to 24-week course, as per the following recommendations:&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Genotype 1a without cirrhosis: Viekira Pak with ribavirin for 12 weeks&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Genotype 1a with cirrhosis: Viekira Pak with ribavirin for 24 weeks&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Genotype 1b without cirrhosis: Viekira Pak alone for 12 weeks&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Genotype 1b without cirrhosis: Viekira Pak with ribavirin for 24 weeks&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;For liver transplant patients, Viekira Pak can be taken with ribavirin for 24 weeks only if hepatic (liver) function is normal and fibrosis (scarring) is minor.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;h3&amp;gt;Common Side Effects&amp;lt;/h3&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The most common side effects associated with the use of Viekira Pak (occurring in up to 10% of patients) are:&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Fatigue&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Nausea&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Itchy skin&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Skin reactions&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Insomnia&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Weakness and fatigue&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;h3&amp;gt;Drug Interactions&amp;lt;/h3&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The following should also be avoided when using Viekira Pak:&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Anticonvulsants: carbamazepine, phenytoin, phenobarbital&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Antihyperlipidemics (used to reduce lipid levels in the blood): gemfibrozil&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Anti-arrhythmia medication: pimozide&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Cholesterol-lowering medication: lovastatin, simvastatin&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Erectile dysfunction medication: Viagra (sildenafil)&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Ergot-containing medication (used to treat headaches and migraines): ergotamine, dihydroergotamine, ergonovine, methylergonovine&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Ethinyl estradiol (a man-made form of estrogen)&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt; &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/list-of-approved-hiv-antiretroviral-drugs-49309&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;9&amp;quot;&amp;gt;HIV medication&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;: &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/sustiva-stocrin-efavirenz-hiv-drug-information-48900&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;10&amp;quot;&amp;gt;Sustiva (efavirenz)&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;, &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/atripla-tenofovir-emtricitabine-efavirenz-49248&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;11&amp;quot;&amp;gt;Atripla (efavirenz &amp;amp;#43; tenofovir &amp;amp;#43; emtricitabine)&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; &amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Hypotension medication: alfuzosin&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Rifampin-based anti-tuberculosis medications: Mycobutin, Rifater, Rifamate, Rimactane, Rifadin, Priftin&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Sedatives : triazolam, oral midazolam&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;h3&amp;gt;Contraindications and Considerations&amp;lt;/h3&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;For patients with moderate hepatic impairment, Viekira Pak is not recommended. Viekira Pak is contraindicated for use in patients with severe hepatic impairment.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Viekira Pak is also contraindicated for use in patient with known hypersensivity to ritonavir (including &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/stevens-johnson-syndrome-symptoms-380250&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;12&amp;quot;&amp;gt;Stevens-Johnson Syndrome&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;, a potentially life-threatening, all-body inflammatory reaction).&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Viekira Pak is contraindicated for use in pregnant women when used with ribavirin.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;It is recommended that all women of child-bearing age be monitored monthly for pregnancy during the course of therapy. \u00A0It is also recommended that the patient and her male partner be provided at least two non-hormonal methods of contraception, and that they be used during the course of therapy and for six months afterwards.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;Source:&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm427530.htm&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;externalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;13&amp;quot;&amp;gt;&amp;amp;#34;FDA approves Viekira Pak to treat hepatitis C.&amp;amp;#34;&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; Silver Spring, Maryland; press release issued December 19, 2014.&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<https://www.verywell.com/viekira-pak-hepatitis-c-drug-information-49036>