Sovaldi (sofosbuvir) can cause side effects that range from mild to serious. More common side effects include fatigue and headache. If side effects from Sovaldi become difficult to tolerate, talk with your doctor about coping tips or other treatment options.

Sovaldi is used in adults and certain children to treat long-term hepatitis C caused by specific genotypes (strains) of the hepatitis C virus.

Keep reading to learn about the common, mild, and serious side effects Sovaldi can cause. To learn more about this medication, including its uses, dosage, and cost, read this Sovaldi overview.

Sovaldi has a boxed warning. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). For details, see the “Boxed warning for Sovaldi” section.

Sovaldi can cause certain side effects, some more common than others. These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. Talk with your doctor if side effects do not go away, get worse, or become too difficult to tolerate.

The following lists contain a few of the more common side effects reported by people who took Sovaldi in studies. These side effects can vary depending on the drugs being taken with Sovaldi.

More common side effects in people taking Sovaldi with ribavirin include:

More common side effects in people taking Sovaldi for with peginterferon alfa and ribavirin include:

  • fatigue (low energy)
  • headache
  • nausea
  • insomnia (trouble sleeping)
  • anemia (low red blood cell levels)

For more information about some of these side effects, see “Tips for managing side effects.”

Note: The more common side effect reported in children taking Sovaldi was decreased appetite.

Mild side effects have been reported with Sovaldi. These include:

  • fatigue (low energy)
  • headache
  • nausea
  • insomnia (trouble sleeping)
  • anemia (low red blood cell levels)

In most cases, these side effects should be temporary, and some may be easily managed. But if you have symptoms that are ongoing or bothersome, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Do not stop Sovaldi treatment unless your doctor recommends it.

Sovaldi may cause mild side effects other than those listed above. See the drug’s prescribing information for details.

For more information about some of these side effects, see “Tips for managing side effects.”

Sovaldi may cause serious side effects. The following list may not include all possible serious side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to Sovaldi’s prescribing information.

If you develop serious side effects while taking Sovaldi, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Serious side effects that have been reported include:

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Sharing your experience helps make medication safer for everyone by giving doctors and researchers more information about how the drug works in real life. If you develop a side effect during treatment with Sovaldi and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch or call 800-FDA-1088.

Allergic reaction

For some people, Sovaldi can cause an allergic reaction. But it’s not clear whether this side effect occurred in the drug’s studies.

In general, symptoms of an allergic reaction can be mild or serious.

What might help

If you have mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may suggest a treatment to manage your symptoms and can determine whether you should continue Sovaldi treatment.

If you have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling or difficulty breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms could be life threatening and require immediate medical care.

If your doctor confirms you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Sovaldi, they may have you switch to a different treatment.

Sovaldi has a boxed warning. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the FDA.

If you’ve had hepatitis B before, taking Sovaldi may reactivate HBV in your body. This wasn’t seen in studies of Sovaldi, but it has occurred with other drugs that are similar. Symptoms of hepatitis B include:

What you can do

Before you start and during treatment with Sovaldi, your doctor will check your liver function. Your doctor will also test you for HBV before you start treatment.

If you have hepatitis B, your doctor may want to treat it before starting Sovaldi. In some cases, they may have you start taking Sovaldi but monitor you closely for signs of HBV reactivation during your treatment.

If you have questions about this risk, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

There may be things you can do to help make certain Sovaldi side effects more manageable. If you have ongoing, worsening, or bothersome side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can suggest tips for managing them or recommend other available treatment options for your condition.

Fatigue

Fatigue (low energy) was a common side effect reported in studies of Sovaldi. Steps you can take to manage symptoms associated with this side effect include:

  • getting enough sleep
  • exercising regularly
  • practicing healthy eating habits
  • staying hydrated

Headache

Headache was a common side effect reported in studies of Sovaldi. Steps you can take to manage symptoms associated with this side effect include:

  • taking over-the-counter pain medications
  • staying hydrated
  • trying relaxation activities, such as yoga
  • drinking caffeinated tea or coffee

Consider the following important information before taking Sovaldi.

Sovaldi has a boxed warning. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the FDA. For details, see “Boxed warning for Sovaldi.”

Other precautions

Before taking Sovaldi, discuss your health history with your doctor. Sovaldi may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health. Be sure to talk with your doctor if any of the following apply to you:

Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.