Entecavir
Entecavir Information

About Entecavir

Entecavir is a guanosine nucleoside analogue with selective activity against hepatitis B virus (HBV). It is designed to selectively inhibit the Hepatitis B virus, blocking all three steps in the replication process. Entecavir is more efficient than an older Hepatitis B drug, lamivudine. By competing with the natural substrate deoxyguanosine triphosphate, entecavir functionally inhibits all three activities of the HBV polymerase (reverse transcriptase, rt): (1) base priming, (2) reverse transcription of the negative strand from the pregenomic messenger RNA, and (3) synthesis of the positive strand of HBV DNA. Absorption Following oral administration in healthy subjects, entecavir peak plasma concentrations occurred between 0.5 and 1.5 hours. In healthy subjects, the bioavailability of the tablet is 100% relative to the oral solution.

Indications

Entecavir is primarily indicated in conditions like Chronic hepatitis B infection.

Contraindication

Entecavir

Side Effects

The severe or irreversible adverse effects of Entecavir, which give rise to further complications include Liver symptom.Entecavir produces potentially life-threatening effects which include Lactic Acidosis, Lactic acidosis. which are responsible for the discontinuation of Entecavir therapy.The symptomatic adverse reactions produced by Entecavir are more or less tolerable and if they become severe, they can be treated symptomatically, these include Weakness, Dizziness, Tiredness, Headache, Fatigue, Nausea, Vomiting, Irregular heart beat, Light headedness, Stomachache, Muscle pain, Cold legs, Loss of appetite, Yellow discolortaion of skin and urine, Light-colored bowel movements, Difficulty breathing, dizziness.

Warnings

Before taking entecavir tell your doctor if you are allergic to entecavir, what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking,if have had liver transplantation, AIDS, HIV, or had ever a kidney disease. Your doctor must know if you are pregnant or having surgery (including dental surgery).Do not stop taking entecavir without talking to your doctor. When you stop taking entecavir your hepatitis may get worse. This is most likely to happen during the first several months after you stop taking entecavir. Take entecavir exactly as directed. Be careful not to miss doses or run out of entecavir.Refill your prescription at least 5 days before you expect that you will need the new supply of medication. If you experience any of the following symptoms after you stop taking entecavir, call your doctor immediately: extreme tiredness, weakness,nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark-colored urine, light-colored bowel movements, or muscle or joint pain.

High Risk Groups

Drug should not be given to Pregnant Mothers.If prescribing authority justifies the benefits of the drug against the possible damages he/she should reevaluate them and consult the reference material and previous studies.