Entecavir
Pronounced
"en-TEH-cuh-veer"
Uses
See also Warning section.
Entecavir is used to treat long-term hepatitis B infection. Hepatitis B is an infection of the liver caused by the hepatitis B virus. Long-term infection can cause liver damage, rarely liver cancer, and liver failure. Entecavir helps to decrease the amount of hepatitis B virus in your body. It is unknown if this medication lowers your chance of getting liver cancer or liver damage. Entecavir is an antiviral that belongs to a class of drugs known as hepatitis B virus nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors.
Entecavir is not a cure for hepatitis B. It does not prevent the spread of the virus to others through sexual contact or blood/body fluid contamination (such as sharing used needles).
Warning
Rarely, entecavir may cause serious (possibly fatal) liver problems and lactic acid build-up in the blood (lactic acidosis). Get medical help right away if you have any of the following symptoms: nausea/vomiting that doesn't stop, loss of appetite, stomach/abdominal pain, yellowing eyes/skin, dark urine, unusual tiredness/weakness, deep/fast breathing, unusual drowsiness, unusual muscle pain, feeling cold in your arms/legs, fast/irregular heartbeat. These side effects may occur more often in women and obese patients.
Your hepatitis B infection may get worse if you stop taking entecavir. Do not stop this medication without talking to your doctor. Your doctor will do blood tests to check your liver for several months after you stop entecavir.
This medication is not recommended if you have both HIV and hepatitis B and are not receiving effective treatment for HIV. This drug does not treat HIV, and it can cause certain HIV medications to become ineffective. Get an HIV test before starting this medication, and get tested again anytime you may have become infected. Consult your doctor for more details.
How to Use This Medication
Read the Patient Information Leaflet if available from your pharmacist before you start taking entecavir and each time you get a refill. If you have any questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Take this medication by mouth on an empty stomach (at least 2 hours after a meal and 2 hours before the next meal) as directed by your doctor, usually once daily.
If you are taking entecavir oral liquid, carefully measure your dose with the medicine spoon provided. Do not use a household spoon because you may not get the correct dose. Swallow the medicine directly from the measuring spoon. Do not mix the medication with water or other liquids. Rinse the spoon with water after each use.
The dosage is based on your medical condition and response to treatment. For children, the dosage is also based on weight.
It is very important to continue taking this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not skip any doses.
This medication works best when the amount of drug in your body is kept at a constant level. Take this drug at evenly spaced intervals. To help you remember, take it at the same time each day.
Do not take more or less of this drug than prescribed or stop taking it even for a short time unless directed to do so by your doctor. Doing so may cause the amount of virus to increase, make the infection more difficult to treat (resistant), or worsen side effects. See also Warning section.
Tell your doctor if your condition does not get better or if it gets worse.
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