Entecavir

Entecavir is used to treat chronic (long-term) hepatitis B infection (swelling of the liver caused by a virus) in people who have liver damage. Entecavir is in a class of medications called nucleoside analogs. It works by decreasing the amount of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in the body. Entecavir does not cure HBV and may not prevent complications of chronic hepatitis B such as cirrhosis of the liver or liver cancer. Entecavir does not prevent the spread of HBV to other people.

Entecavir comes as a tablet and solution (liquid) to take by mouth. It is usually taken once a day on an empty stomach, at least 2 hours after a meal and at least 2 hours before the next meal. Take entecavir at around the same time every day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take entecavir exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor. To use the entecavir solution, follow these steps:

<list list-type='ordered' numbering='arabic'>
<li>
Hold the spoon that came with your medication upright and slowly fill it with entecavir solution up to the mark that matches your dose.</li>
<li>
Hold the spoon with the volume marks facing you and check to see that the top of the liquid is level with the mark that matches your dose.</li>
<li>
Swallow the medication right from the measuring spoon. Do not mix the medication with water or any other liquid.</li>
<li>
Rinse the spoon with water after each use, and allow it to air dry.</li>
<li>
Put the spoon in a safe place where it will not get lost because you will need to use it every time you take your medication. If you do lose the dosing spoon, call your doctor or pharmacist.</li></ul>

<p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>Entecavir may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if this symptom is severe or does not go away:

<ul>
<li>
headache</li></ul></p> <p></p> <p>Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of the symptoms listed in the IMPORTANT WARNING section, call your doctor immediately.Entecavir may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while using this medication.If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online [at <a href='http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch'>http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch</a>] or by phone [1-800-332-1088].</p>

Before taking entecavir, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to entecavir, or any other medications, or any of the ingredients in entecavir tablets or solution. Ask your pharmacist for a list of the ingredients. tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention the medications listed in the IMPORTANT WARNING section and any of the following: aminoglycoside antibiotics such as amikacin (Amikin), gentamicin (Garamycin), kanamycin (Kantrex), neomycin (Neo-Rx, Neo-Fradin), paromomycin (Humatin), streptomycin, and tobramycin (Tobi, Nebcin); amphotericin B (Fungizone); medications to prevent rejection of a transplanted organ such as cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune) or tacrolimus (Prograf);probenecid; or vancomycin. Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects. tell your doctor if you have had a liver transplant (surgery to replace a diseased liver) or if you have or have ever had kidney disease. if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking entecavir.

In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911.