entecavir

Approved for medical use in 2005, Entecavir is an antiviral medication used in the treatment of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. In fact, those with both HIV/AIDS and HBV antiretroviral medication can also use this medication. It is worth noting that Entecavir prevents the hepatitis B virus from multiplying by blocking reverse transcriptase. As for its side effects, they include headache, nausea, high blood sugar, and decreased kidney function. Besides, Entecavir has other serious side effects such as enlargement of the liver, high blood lactate levels, and liver inflammation if the medication is stopped. Even though there appears to be no harm from using this medication during pregnancy, this use has not been well studied. So, maybe it’s preferable that you consult your doctor first. In most cases you may take Entecavir with or without food. However, if you have had a previous treatment with a medicine containing the active substance lamivudine you should consider the following. If you were switched over to Entecavir because the treatment with lamivudine was not successful, you should take Entecavir on an empty stomach once daily. If your liver disease is very advanced, your doctor will also instruct you to take Entecavir on an empty stomach. Empty stomach means at least 2 hours after a meal and at least 2 hours before your next meal.