Other Brands/Names

Atevir, Baraclude, Bucretis, Entegard, Hepavir, Hevapir, Tecavir, TKV, Virobet.

How It Works

Entecavir is an antiviral medicine used to treat viral infections. This medicine belongs to the nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) class.

NRTIs block the viral enzyme needed to build viral DNA, which slows or stops the virus from replicating, spreading, and damaging body tissues. Entecavir is used primarily for managing hepatitis B infection.

Indications

Used for chronic hepatitis B virus infection (lasting more than 6 months) in adults and in children older than 2 years. This medicine does not cure hepatitis B and does not prevent the virus from being transmitted to others. However, it suppresses hepatitis B virus replication and helps prevent additional liver injury.

Entecavir is recommended when there is evidence of active viral replication or when blood tests show elevated liver enzymes (raised SGOT or SGPT levels).

Contraindication

Do not take entecavir if you have a known hypersensitivity or allergy to any ingredient in this product. In addition, entecavir should not be given to people who have both hepatitis B and HIV if they are not already on appropriate HIV treatment.

Side Effects

The most frequently reported side effects include:

• Headache (9%).
• Fatigue (6%).
• Dizziness (4%).
• Nausea (3%).

Gastrointestinal issues such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or abdominal pain may also occur.

A rare but potentially life-threatening effect is elevated blood lactic acid levels (lactic acidosis). Warning signs can include:

• Unusual muscle pain.
• Shortness of breath.
• Stomach pain.
• Dizziness.
• Extreme fatigue.

Types

Tablets: 0.5 mg and 1 mg.

Dosage

Chronic Hepatitis B

Adults

• Compensated liver disease (asymptomatic)
  
  • 0.5 mg once daily for patients who have not received prior therapy.
  • 1 mg once daily for patients with documented drug resistance or for those also receiving the antiretroviral lamivudine.

• Uncompensated liver disease (symptomatic)
  
  • 1 mg once daily.

Children (≥2 years old, Weight ≥10 kg)

• Compensated liver disease
  
  • 0.015 mg/kg body weight once daily (maximum 0.5 mg per day) in treatment-naïve patients.
  • 0.03 mg/kg once daily (maximum 1 mg per day) in patients who are also taking lamivudine (ARV).

Dose adjustments are required for patients with reduced kidney function.

Safety

Pregnancy:

Category C: data from animal studies indicate fetal adverse effects, and adequate human studies are lacking. Use only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk.

Drug Interactions

• Concurrent use with medicines that affect kidney function, such as NSAID pain relievers (e.g., ibuprofen, mefenamic acid), may increase entecavir blood concentrations.
• Using entecavir with orlistat (a weight-loss medicine) may lower serum entecavir levels.
• Co-administration with immunosuppressive agents may elevate the serum levels of those immunosuppressants, such as cyclosporine and tacrolimus.

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