Daclatasvir is an antiviral drug that belongs to a group of medicines called hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS5A inhibitors. FDA approved it initially on 2015 for its medical use.

Daclatasvir is an orally available drug. It is used along with another medication to treat a certain type of chronic hepatitis C (an ongoing viral infection that damages the liver).  It works by stopping the virus that causes hepatitis C from spreading inside the body.

Daclatasvir is a prescription medicine available as a tablet. Your doctor will decide the dose and duration of Daclatasvir based on the disease condition and other factors such as body weight and age. Always take this medicine as prescribed by your doctor. Take the tablet at the same time, with or without food. Do not break, chew, crush, or break the tablet. Swallow the whole tablet with a glass of water.

The common side effects of daclatasvir are nausea, headache, tiredness, and dizziness. Other side effects are decreased heart rate, liver failure, and reactivation of the hepatitis B virus.

This medicine may reactivate the hepatitis B vaccine.  If you have ever had a hepatitis B virus infection, the hepatitis B virus could become active again during or after treatment of the hepatitis C virus with this medicine. The Hepatitis B virus becoming active again (called reactivation) may cause serious liver problems, including liver failure and death. Your healthcare provider will monitor you if you are at risk for hepatitis B virus reactivation during treatment and after you stop taking it.

Do not take Daclatasvir if you are allergic to Daclatasvir or other ingredients. This medicine must always be used in combination with other medicines against hepatitis C infection. Inform your doctor if you have an irregular heartbeat or liver injury before initiating the treatment. Report to your doctor if you have shortness of breath, lightheadedness, palpitations, and fainting while taking this medicine.

Daclatasvir is not recommended for patients below 18 years of age. Do not take this medicine if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Use effective contraception during the treatment. The common side effects of this treatment are headache, tiredness, anemia, and nausea. Inform your healthcare provider about all your medicines, including prescription, over-the-counter, nutritional, and supplements and herbal products. Certain medications interact with Daclatasvir and reduce its effectiveness by causing undesirable side effects.

Store at room temperature (20°C and 25°C). Protect the medicine from light and excessive moisture. Keep the medicine out of reach of children and pets. If you forgot to take the tablet, take your next dose at the scheduled time. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose. Take all of the medicine and complete the course of therapy even if you feel better after the first few doses. 

Do not take extra doses or medicine to make up for a missed dose. Avoid pregnancy during combination treatment with daclatasvir, sofosbuvir, and ribavirin for 6 months of stopping treatment. Tell your doctor right away if you or your partner becomes pregnant. Your doctor will do lab tests at regular visits to check on the effects of this medicine. Keep all appointments.

1. Daclatasvir - Summary Of Product Characteristics; Revised 2020. Accessed May 16, 2023. https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/product-information/daklinza-epar-product-information_en.pdf
2. Daclatasvir - Highlights of Prescribing Information; Revised 2017. Accessed May 16, 2023. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2017/206843s006lbl.pdf
3. Yash Gandhi et al; Daclatasvir: A Review of Preclinical and Clinical Pharmacokinetics; Clinical Pharmacokinetics; Published on Aug 2018; Accessed May 16, 2023; https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29353349/
4. Gillian M Keating; Daclatasvir: A Review in Chronic Hepatitis C; Drugs; Published on Sept 2016; Accessed May 16, 2023; https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27550544/

The drug information on this page is not a substitute for medical advice. It is meant for educational purposes only. For further details, consult your doctor about your medical condition to know if you can receive this treatment.