Glecaprevir and pibrentasvir

Maviret is only available from some pharmacies. Find your nearest pharmacy providing Maviret.(external link) After your doctor or nurse prescriber has prescribed your Maviret you will need to take it, or have it sent, to one of these pharmacies. The pharmacist will order your Maviret and contact you when it’s ready to pick up (this may take a few days). You will usually get a 1 month supply of Maviret each time you visit until you finish your treatment. You will not have to pay pharmacy fees when you collect your Maviret each month. If you are unable to get to one of the pharmacies on the list, talk to your doctor or nurse about other options.

• The dose of Maviret is 3 tablets once daily. 
• Your doctor will advise you how long to take Maviret for (usually 8 weeks).
• Always take your Maviret exactly as your doctor has told you. The pharmacy label on your medicine will tell you how much Maviret to take, how often to take it, and any special instructions.

• Maviret is taken once a day. Take your dose at about the same time each day with food – either a snack eg, a banana or yoghurt, or with a full meal. 
• Swallow your Maviret tablets whole with a glass of water. Do not crush, chew or break the tablets.
• If you miss a dose:
  • Within 18 hours of your usual dose time: take your missed dose and then continue your regular dosing.
  • More than 18 hours from your usual dose time: skip the dose and take the next dose at the usual time.
• Keep taking your Maviret tablets for the full time it has been prescribed, even if you feel well. 

Here are some things to know when you're taking Maviret. Other things may be important as well, so ask your healthcare provider what you should know about.

• Avoid alcohol intake while you are taking Maviret. Alcohol can increase your chance of side effects such as nausea (feeling sick) and headache.
• Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including prescription and over the counter medicines, vitamins and herbal supplements (for example, St. John’s Wort).
• If you are on treatment for type 2 diabetes, Maviret may increase your risk of low blood glucose levels (hypoglycaemia). Symptoms of this may include hunger, warmth, sweating, headache, dizziness, drowsiness, tremor, irritability, confusion, changes in behaviour or vision, weakness, or tingling around the mouth and tongue. Contact your doctor if this occurs.
• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding.

Like all medicines, Maviret can cause side effects, although not everyone gets them. Often side effects improve as your body gets used to the new medicine.

Hepatitis B virus reactivation

Before starting treatment with Maviret, your doctor will do blood tests to check for hepatitis B virus infection. If you have ever had a hepatitis B virus infection, the hepatitis B virus could become active again during or after treatment with Maviret. Your doctor will monitor you if you are at risk for hepatitis B virus reactivation during treatment and after you stop taking Maviret.