You might already have hepatitis B (a virus that affects the liver and can result in serious liver damage), but you might not be aware of it. In this situation, taking daclatasvir may raise your risk of developing symptoms and a more serious or life-threatening infection. If you have or have previously had a hepatitis B virus infection, let your doctor know. To determine whether you currently have or have previously had hepatitis B infection, your doctor will conduct a blood test. Throughout and for a few months after your treatment, your doctor will continue to keep an eye out for any symptoms of hepatitis B infection. Before and throughout your treatment with daclatasvir, your doctor may prescribe you medication to treat this infection if necessary. Call your doctor right away if you suffer any of the following signs and symptoms throughout or after your treatment: Extreme fatigue, yellowing of the skin or eyes, appetite loss, nausea, vomiting, pale stools, stomach discomfort, or dark urine are some other symptoms to watch out for.

Keep all of your appointments with your physician and the lab. Before, during, and after your treatment, your doctor may request certain tests to see how your body is reacting to daclatasvir.

The risks of taking daclatasvir should be discussed with your doctor.

To treat a specific kind of chronic hepatitis C, daclatasvir is combined with another drug (sofosbuvir [Solvadi]) (an ongoing viral infection that damages the liver). The antiviral drug daclatasvir belongs to the group of drugs known as hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS5A inhibitors. It functions by preventing the hepatitis C virus from proliferating within the body. Daclatasvir may or may not stop the transmission of hepatitis C to other people.

Daclatasvir is available as an oral tablet. It is typically taken once day, with or without food. Sofosbuvir and daclatasvir must be taken together for a minimum of 12 weeks. Take daclatasvir every day at about the same time. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any instructions on your prescription label that you are unsure about following. Use daclatasvir as prescribed. Never take it in larger or less amounts or more frequently than directed by your doctor.

Daclatasvir should still be used even if you are feeling fine. Without first consulting your doctor, do not discontinue taking daclatasvir or sofosbuvir.

For a copy of the manufacturer’s information for the patient, ask your pharmacist or doctor.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more details if you believe this drug should be used for something else.

Before taking daclatasvir,

• If you have an allergy to daclatasvir, any other medications, or any of the ingredients in daclatasvir tablets, inform your doctor right away. Get a list of the components from your pharmacist.
• Inform your doctor if you’re using rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane, in Rifamate, Rifater), phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek), carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Epitol, Equetro, Tegretol, Teril), or St. John’s wort. If you are taking one or more of these drugs, your doctor probably won’t let you take daclatasvir.
• Inform your doctor and pharmacist about any additional prescription and over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, or dietary supplements you are currently taking or intend to take. Incorporate any of the following: (Nexterone, Pacerone) amiodarone; a few antibiotics, including nafcillin, rifapentine, telithromycin, and clarithromycin (Biaxin, in Prevpac); several antifungals, including voriconazole (Vfend), posaconazole (Noxafil), itraconazole (Onmel, Sporanox), and ketoconazole; naloxone plus buprenorphine (Suboxone, Zubsolv); bosentan (Tracleer); such as atorvastatin (Lipitor, in Caduet), fluvastatin (Lescol), pitavastatin (Livalo), pravastatin (Pravachol), rosuvastatin (Crestor), and simvastatin (Flolipid, Zocor, in Vytorin); medicine including efavirenz (Sustiva, in Atripla), digoxin (Lanoxin), dexamethasone (Dexone), cobicistat (Stribild), dabigatran (Pradaxa), etravirine (Intelence); a few HIV protease drugs, including ritonavir (Norvir, in Kaletra, Technivie, and Viekira Pak), atazanavir (Reyataz, in Evotaz), indinavir (Crixivan), nelfinavir (Viracept), and saquinavir (Invirase); nefazodone, nevirapine (Viramune), warfarin, and modafinil (Provigil) (Coumadin, Jantoven). Your physician might need to adjust the dosage of your drugs or keep a close eye on you for side effects. Daclatasvir may also interact with many other medications, so be sure to let your doctor know about all the drugs you’re taking, even if they don’t appear on this list.
• Inform your physician if you have ever undergone a liver transplant, have any liver conditions other than hepatitis C, or have heart problems.
• Inform your physician if you are nursing a baby, intend to get pregnant, or are already pregnant. Call your doctor if you become pregnant while taking daclatasvir.

Keep eating normally unless your doctor instructs you otherwise.

Take the missing dose as soon as you remember it if you recollect the missed dose on the day you were intended to take it. On the other hand, skip the missed dose and carry on with your regular dosing plan if you don’t realise you missed it until the following day. Never take two doses in one day.

Daclatasvir might have negative effects. If any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away, let your doctor know right once:

• Headache
• Diarrhea

Certain adverse effects can be very harmful. Call your doctor right away if you take amiodarone and have any of the following symptoms or those listed in the IMPORTANT CAUTION section:

• About to faint or already faint
• Feeling unsteady or lightheaded
• State of weakness or unwellness
• Breathing difficulty
• Chest ache
• Memory issues
• Confusion

Further negative effects of daclatasvir are possible. If you experience any strange issues while taking this medicine, contact your doctor right away.

You or your doctor can submit a report to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting programme online or by phone if you have a serious side event (1-800-332-1088).

Keep this medication tightly closed in the original container and out of the reach of children. Keep it away from excessive heat and moisture at room temperature (not in the bathroom).

Although many containers (such as weekly pill minders and those for eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers) are not child-resistant and are simple for young children to open, it is crucial to keep all medications out of sight and out of reach of children. Always lock safety caps and promptly stash medication up and away from young children where it is out of their sight and reach to prevent poisoning. http://www.upandaway.org

Unused prescriptions must be disposed of carefully to prevent pets, kids, and other people from ingesting them. You should not, however, dispose of this medication in the toilet. Instead, utilising a medicine take-back programme is the easiest approach to get rid of your medication. To find out about take-back programmes in your area, speak with your pharmacist or the garbage/recycling department in your city. If you do not have access to a take-back programme, see the FDA’s Safe Disposal of Medications website at http://goo.gl/c4Rm4p for additional information.

Call the poison control hotline at 1-800-222-1222 in the event of an overdose. Moreover, information can be found online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help. Call 911 right once if the person has collapsed, experienced a seizure, is having difficulty breathing, or cannot be roused.

No one else should take your medication. Any queries you may have regarding medication refills should be directed to your pharmacist.

You should keep a written record of every medication you take, including any over-the-counter (OTC) items, prescription drugs, and dietary supplements like vitamins and minerals. This list should be brought with you whenever you see a doctor or are admitted to the hospital. You should always have this information with you in case of emergencies.