About entecavir
Antiviral; hepatitis B nucleoside analogue
Used for
- Treats chronic hepatitis B infection in adults and children.
- Helps reduce hepatitis B virus levels and liver damage.
Usual adult dose
Usually 0.5 mg once daily on an empty stomach; some patients need 1 mg daily.
Usual dose in children
For children aged 2 years and older, dose is based on weight and prior treatment; specialist prescribing is needed.
Common side effects
- Headache, tiredness, dizziness, or nausea.
- Rarely, serious lactic acidosis or liver enlargement with fat accumulation.
Important warnings
- Do not stop suddenly; hepatitis may flare after stopping.
- Kidney problems may require dose adjustment.
- Not a cure; hepatitis B can still spread.
- HIV infection requires appropriate treatment to avoid HIV resistance.
Pregnancy
Human pregnancy data are limited; use requires clinician assessment of benefits and risks.
Breastfeeding
It is not known whether entecavir passes into breast milk; discuss risks with a clinician.
Interactions
- Few significant interactions are known; other medicines affecting kidney function may raise concern.
AI-generated from general medical knowledge, not from this product's official leaflet. It may be incomplete or out of date. Not medical advice — ask a pharmacist or doctor before making any decision.