Details

Entecavir is an antiviral medication. Entecavir prevents certain virus cells from multiplying in your body. Entecavir is used to treat chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) in adults and children who are at least 2 years old. Entecavir is not a cure for hepatitis. It is not known whether this medicine will prevent cirrhosis or liver cancer. To make sure entecavir is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have HIV or AIDS kidney disease liver disease if you also take lamivudine or telbivudine or if you have had a liver transplant. Inform your doctor if you have been exposed to HIV, or if you have untreated HIV or AIDS. Taking medicines to treat chronic hepatitis B can cause HIV infection to become resistant to certain HIV and AIDS medications.

Typical Uses

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.

Side Effects

Some people develop lactic acidosis while taking entecavir. Early symptoms may get worse over time and this condition can be fatal. Inform your doctor if you have muscle pain or weakness numb or cold feeling in your arms and legs trouble breathing feeling dizzy, light-headed, tired, or very weak stomach pain, nausea with vomiting or fast or uneven heart rate. Entecavir may also cause severe liver symptoms.

Drug Interactions

• Entecavir+abacavir- Using abacavir together with entecavir may lead to increased side effects. Contact your doctor if you experience nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain/distention, fatigue, unexplained weight loss, shortness of breath, and numbness, tingling, and pain in hands and feet. If your doctor does prescribe these medications together, you may need a dose adjustment or special test to safely use both medications.

• Entecavir+aspirin- Aspirin can affect kidney function and may increase the blood levels and effects of entecavir when used together. Contact your doctor if you experience increased side effects or your condition changes. You may need a dose adjustment or more frequent monitoring by your doctor to safely use both medications.

• Entecavir+bacampicillin- Using entecavir together with bacampicillin may increase the blood levels of one or both medications. Contact your doctor if your condition changes or you experience increased side effects. You may need a dose adjustment or more frequent monitoring by your doctor to safely use both medications.

• Entecavir+cefoxitin- Using entecavir together with cefoxitin may increase the blood levels of one or both medications. Contact your doctor if your condition changes or you experience increased side effects. You may need a dose adjustment or more frequent monitoring by your doctor to safely use both medications.

• Entecavir+ibuprofen- Ibuprofen can affect kidney function and may increase the

Mechanism of action

Entecavir is an antiviral drug and belongs to class of drugs called synthetic nucleoside analogues. It works by blocking the DNA synthesis in hepatitis B virus, a process essential for the virus to grow and multiply. Entecavir thus stops the virus from spreading in the body. It does not prevent spread of HBV infections to other people.

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