Entecavir

Uses	Chronic Hepatitis B Virus (Hbv)
Therapy	Drugs For Hepatitis B
Side Effects	Headache, Fatigue, Dizziness, Nausea

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Molecule Description

Entecavir is an ‘antiviral’ medicine used in the treatment of long standing (chronic) Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) infection of the liver in adults and children.

Uses

This medicine is used to treat chronic (long-standing) Hepatitis B infection of the liver caused by a specific virus called Hepatitis B Virus
This medicine can be used in all stages of the infection – mild and moderate (compensated) or severe, life-threatening (decompensated) liver disease
Entecavir can be used in Hepatitis B patients in whom the virus is actively replicating (HBe-Antigen positive) or in the patients in whom the virus is not active (HBe-Antigen negative)
Entecavir can be used in adults, adolescents and children above 2 years of age

Contraindications

When should one not use Entecavir

Allergy to Entecavir or any of the components of the medicine.

Side effects

Common side effects of this drug are:

Nausea (feeling sick), vomiting, diarrhea, stomach upset, headache, skin rash, fatigue, dizziness or sleep problems (no sleep or excess sleep), indigestion, increased liver enzymes (common)
Hair loss, rashes (uncommon)
Severe allergic reaction causing facial swelling, breathing and swallowing difficulty, with or without rashes, itching, skin blisters (rare, but serious)

Precautions and Warnings

Pregnancy

Entecavir has the potential to harm the unborn baby and should be used in pregnant women only if it is necessary and cannot be replaced.

Breast Feeding

It is unknown if Entecavir is secreted in breast milk. To avoid any risk to the baby, it is advised not to take this medicine while breastfeeding.

Driving

Not enough data is available to suggest if Entecavir affects the ability to drive. But it can cause side effects such as dizziness, tiredness or sleepiness and caution is advised if you experience any such symptoms.

Alcohol

Alcohol affects the liver and will stop the liver from recovering and aggravate the Hepatitis B infection. Hence it is strictly recommended to avoid alcohol.

Other General Warnings

Talk to your doctor if

You have kidney or liver disease
You are also infected with HIV/AIDS
You have received treatment previously for Hepatitis B
Avoid having direct sex (use proper and efficient methods of protection)
Do not stop taking this medicine suddenly on your own
Entecavir should not be used in children below 2 years

Mode of Action

How Does It Work?

Entecavir acts by interfering with the replication or multiplication process of the Hepatitis B Virus, reduces the viral load in the blood significantly and reduces the damage to the liver.

Interactions

Interactions with other medicines

Inform your doctor of all the medicines you are taking before starting or during the treatment.

Interactions with food items

If you are taking Entecavir for the first time or you have mild to moderate liver disease, you can take Entecavir with or without food
But if you had previous treatment for Hepatitis B or you have severe liver disease, it is advised to take Entecavir on an empty stomach

Dosage

Overdose

Unintentional overdose is unlikely to be harmful. But inform your doctor if you experience symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, etc. High overdose will require immediate medical attention.

Missed a Dose

Entecavir is usually given once a day. If you miss a dose, take medicine as soon as you remember the missed dose. If it is almost time for your next dose, don’t take the missed dose and go back to the regular dosing schedule. Do not take a higher dose or double dose to compensate for the missed dose.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

No, Hepatitis B is not curable in most cases. A small percentage of patients get cured completelyBut it is not a cause to worry because high quality and effective medicines like Entecavir are available, which can control the disease and will not allow the virus to multiply. Low viral load means less damage to you and less chances of transmitting the diseaseOnce your viral load is under control for some time, you can also stop the treatment and live a healthy lifePeriodic visits to the doctor and blood tests are requiredHepatitis B virus is transmitted through blood or body fluids while having sex or during baby birth, etc. Hence, it is advised to use effective forms of protection while having sex or during deliveryImportantly, a vaccine is available and it should be given to the people living near and around the patient, which will reduce their chances of contracting the infection drastically

Entecavir is a very effective medicine if you are taking it for the first time. It controls the infection well and does not allow the virus to multiplyEntecavir is also a safe medicine and can be taken for long periods without any unwanted effectsLactic acidosis (increased levels of lactic acid in the blood) is a rare problem causing stomach pain, vomiting, and occurs commonly in overweight women. Be careful if this applies to youSome medicines are used to treat both HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis B infections interchangeablyRemember not to use Entecavir for any condition other than Hepatitis B, under medical supervisionThis medicine should not be used in children below 2 years of age

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