Entavir 0.5 mg Tablets

Entavir 0.5 mg tablet 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. Entavir 0.5 mg tablet thus stops the virus from spreading in the body. It does not prevent spread of HBV infections to other people.Entecavir, a guanosine nucleoside analogue, is a potent and selective inhibitor of hepatitis B virus replication with around 94% patients continuing to remain HBV DNA undetectable and 80% patients with normalization of liver enzymes at the end of 5 years of continuous entecavir therapy. Entecavir resistance is rare in nucleoside-naïve patients, around 1.2% after 5-6 years of treatment. It is recommended as a first line treatment in lamivudine-naïve chronic hepatitis B patients. Salt Information For Entavir Entecavir(0.5 mg) Uses: Entavir 0.5 mg tablet is used in the treatment of HIV infection and chronic hepatitis B. For patients with compensated liver disease due to chronic hepatitis B virus infection, the recommended dose of entecavir in nucleoside treatment-naïve adults and adolescents 16 years of age and older is 0.5 mg once daily whereas in adults and adolescents (at least 16 years of age) with a history of hepatitis B viremia while receiving lamivudine or known lamivudine or telbivudine resistance mutations rtM204I/V with or without rtL180M, rtL80I/V, or rtV173L the dose is 1 mg once-daily. How it works Entavir 0.5 mg tablet prevents the multiplication of HIV virus in human cells. Thus stops the HIV virus from producing new viruses. For adult patients with decompensated liver disease due to chronic hepatitis B virus infection the recommended dose of entecavir is 1 mg once daily.Dosage adjustment is recommended for patients with creatinine clearance less than 50 mL/min, including patients on hemodialysis or continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD).The optimal duration of treatment with entecavir for patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection and the relationship between treatment and long-term outcomes such as cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma are unknown. Common side effects: Nausea, Rash, Allergic reaction, Dizziness, Hair loss, Headache, Indigestion, Vomiting, Fatigue, Worsening of hepatitis b (viral infection of liver), Lactic acidosis. Expert advice For Entavir: Do not discontinue taking entecavir without your doctor's advice. Entecavir should be taken on an empty stomach. Please follow the instructions of your doctor. Do consult your doctor before taking entecavir, if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. Do consult your doctor before taking entecavir, if you are breast-feeding. Do not drive or operate machines if you feed dizzy, tired or sleepy after taking entecavir. Worsening of hepatitis B may occur while taking entecavir and upon discontinuation. Liver function tests must be conducted while on treatment and upon discontinuation. Consult your doctor before taking entecavir, if you have AIDS or HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) infection. Tests for HIV should be performed before taking entecavir in suspected individuals. Immediately report symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and stomach pain to your doctor. These might indicate development of a life-threatening side effect of entecavir called lactic acidosis (excess lactic acid in blood). Lactic acidosis occurs more often in women, particularly if they are very overweight.