Entecavir is an oral antiviral drug. It is used as a hepatitis B treatment for patients who suffer from liver damage and belongs to a group of drugs called nucleoside analogs. These drugs work by blocking the hepatitis B virus in the body, thereby reducing symptoms of the condition.
Hepatitis B is a chronic condition that does not have any known cure. Treating the condition means reducing the amount of symptoms a patient experiences. As a nucleoside analog, entecavir reduces the presence of the virus. Nucleoside analogs prevent the virus from replicating, which reduces the amount of new viruses in the blood.
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) leave patients more susceptible to diseases and illnesses, such as hepatitis B. Entecavir is one medication commonly prescribed to treat chronic hepatitis B in adults with HIV. By blocking reproduction of the hepatitis B virus, further dangerous liver damage is avoided. AIDS and HIV patients’ bodies cannot effectively fight the virus because of their compromised immune system.
Entecavir is available in pill or liquid forms. The pill form should be taken with a full glass of water. Liquid forms should be taken using a medicine spoon. This medicine should be taken at least two hours prior to or two hours following a mean on an empty stomach because food can absorb the medication, preventing it from being digested and entering the bloodstream in proper amounts. It should be taken at intervals throughout the day, keeping consistent times from day to day.
Common side effects of entecavir include dizziness, trouble sleeping, headache, and diarrhea. These side effects generally do not require emergency care, but they should be reported. If they become bothersome, a doctor may reduce the dosage level or prescribe other medications to help reduce side effects.
Serious side effects that can occur while taking entecavir include flu-like symptoms, jaundice, fatigue, and dark urine. Light-colored stools, loss of appetite, allergic reactions, and right-sided stomach pain have also been reported. Immediate emergency medical attention is necessary.
Patients who have HIV or AIDS must inform the prescribing doctor if they are not currently taking medications for the conditions. Entecavir can cause difficulty treating HIV infection and the opportunistic infections that can occur. HIV and AIDS patients may be prescribed additional medications to prevent complications.
Although entecavir is an antiviral medication, it cannot be used to treat HIV. It also cannot stop the transmission of hepatitis B to uninfected people. This medication is designed specifically for reducing the viral count and replication of hepatitis B virus to prolong or prevent fatal organ damage.
