Entecavir (en-TE-ka-veer)

Treats chronic hepatitis B infection.

Brand Name(s):

Baraclude

When This Medicine Should Not Be Used:

How to Use This Medicine:

Liquid, Tablet

• Your doctor will tell you how much of this medicine to use and how often. Do not use more medicine or use it more often than your doctor tells you to.
• Take this medicine on an empty stomach, at least 2 hours before or 2 hours after a meal.
• This medicine comes with patient instructions. Read and follow these instructions carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.
• Measure the oral liquid medicine correctly using the marked measuring spoon that comes with the package. Rinse the dosing spoon with water after each use.
• Do not stop using this medicine without asking your doctor. Do not change your dose or schedule for taking this medicine unless your doctor tells you to.

If a dose is missed:

• If you miss a dose or forget to use your medicine, use it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then to use the medicine and skip the missed dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.

How to Store and Dispose of This Medicine:

• Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light.
• Ask your pharmacist, doctor, or health caregiver about the best way to dispose of any leftover medicine after you have finished your treatment. You will also need to throw away old medicine after the expiration date has passed.
• Keep all medicine away from children and never share your medicine with anyone.

Drugs and Foods to Avoid:

Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

Warnings While Using This Medicine:

• Make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have kidney disease, liver disease, or if you have had a liver transplant.
• A rare but serious reaction to this medicine is lactic acidosis (build-up of acid in the blood) and an enlarged liver. Call your doctor right away if you feel very tired, weak, dizzy, or nauseated, if you vomit or have trouble breathing, or if your skin or eyes have turned yellow.
• Your doctor may want to continue checking your liver function for several months after you stop using this medicine.
• This medicine will not keep you from spreading hepatitis to another person through sexual contact or contact with your blood.
• If you have or get HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) infection, be sure to discuss your treatment with your doctor. If you are taking this medicine to treat chronic hepatitis B and are not taking medicines for your HIV at the same time, some HIV treatments that you take in the future may be less likely to work. Your doctor may need you to get an HIV test before you start taking this medicine and anytime after that when there is a chance you were exposed to HIV. This medicine will not help your HIV infection.
• Your doctor will need to check your progress at regular visits while you are using this medicine. Be sure to keep all appointments.

Possible Side Effects While Using This Medicine:

Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:

• Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing.
• Dark-colored urine or pale stools.
• Extreme weakness, tiredness, or confusion.
• Fast or irregular heartbeat.
• Lightheadedness or fainting.
• Nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, pain in your upper stomach.
• Rapid breathing or trouble breathing.
• Yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes.

If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:

• Feeling tired or dizzy.
• Headache.
• Mild nausea.