Entecavir (Baraclude) is a first-choice antiviral medication used for the treatment of hepatitis B. Some side effects of the medication can include headache and fatigue. Entecavir (Baraclude) is available as a tablet and a liquid solution that are typically taken once daily. While both forms of the medication have a brand name, only the tablet has a generic version available as well.
Hepatitis B virus (HBV)
Entecavir (Baraclude) is a type of antiviral medication called a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI). It inserts itself into the hepatitis B virus's DNA. This prevents the virus from making copies of itself.
Source: DailyMed
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
Incidence not known
Abdominal or stomach discomfort
decreased appetite
difficulty with swallowing
dizziness
fast heartbeat
fast, shallow breathing
general feeling of discomfort
muscle pain or cramping
puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
right upper abdominal or stomach pain and fullness
sleepiness
tightness in the chest
unusual tiredness or weakness
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
Rare
Trouble sleeping
Unusual drowsiness
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
First-choice medication for hepatitis B
Generally mild side effects
Not known to have a risk of kidney damage like other hepatitis B medications (e.g., tenofovir (Viread))
Can use in children as young as 2 years old
Available as a liquid solution for young children and people who have a hard time swallowing tablets
Not a cure for hepatitis B
Must take on an empty stomach (at least 2 hours after a meal and 2 hours before your next meal)
Requires dose adjustments for people with kidney problems
Not the best option for people who’ve taken lamivudine (Epivir HBV) in the past because of possible viral resistance
Not a first-choice option for people with both hepatitis B and HIV
Take entecavir (Baraclude) once a day on an empty stomach at least 2 hours after a meal and 2 hours before your next meal. Food can affect how well this medication works, so taking it on an empty stomach is important for treating your hepatitis B virus.
For the liquid solution: Use the dosing spoon that comes with the medication, and follow the directions to measure the dose accurately. Rinse the spoon after each use, and let it air dry. Don't mix the medication with water or any other liquids. The liquid can be used up until the expiration date on the bottle.
Keep your regularly scheduled clinic and lab appointments. This will help your provider make sure that entecavir (Baraclude) is working well against the virus and check for side effects.
Store the entecavir (Baraclude) tablets and liquid solution at room temperature. Make sure to close the bottle tightly after each use to protect the medication from moisture. Keep the bottle in the outer carton to protect it from light.
Entecavir (Baraclude) can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Risk factors: Hepatitis B virus | Stopping entecavir (Baraclude)
Don't stop taking entecavir (Baraclude) unless instructed by your healthcare provider. Your hepatitis B could come back and get worse if you stop your treatment. If you have severe liver damage, your liver health could get worse as well. If you're instructed to stop entecavir (Baraclude), make sure you get your blood tests done regularly, especially during the first few months after stopping. This is how your provider will check your liver health and HBV infection.
Risk factors: HIV infection
Your provider will test you for HIV before you start entecavir (Baraclude) and periodically while you're taking the medication. Having undiagnosed or untreated HIV while taking HBV treatment can potentially cause HIV drug resistance and make the HIV infection harder to treat. For this reason, entecavir (Baraclude) isn't recommended for people who have both HBV and untreated HIV. We currently don't know if entecavir (Baraclude) can be used to treat HIV. If you happen to have hepatitis B and HIV, your provider will recommend a medication regimen that works well to treat both infections.
Risk factors: Obesity | Women | History of liver problems
Although rare, NRTIs, including entecavir (Baraclude), can cause life-threatening problems like lactic acidosis (too much lactic acid in the blood) and fatty liver disease. Most cases of these problems have happened in women. Risk factors can also include obesity, long-term NRTI use, and poor liver health. Symptoms of lactic acidosis include extreme tiredness, sudden weakness, and fast and shallow breathing, while symptoms of fatty liver disease can include stomach pain. Stop taking entecavir (Baraclude) and go to the emergency room right away if this happens.
People 16 years and older: The typical dose is 0.5 mg or 1 mg by mouth once a day on an empty stomach. The dose depends on your liver health and your hepatitis B infection.
Children 2 years and older weighing at least 22 pounds: The dose is based on your child's weight. The maximum dose is 1 mg by mouth per day. Children weighing less than 66 pounds should use the entecavir (Baraclude) oral solution instead of the tablet.
Your dose might differ if you have kidney problems (either by taking a lower strength or by taking the medication less often).
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your healthcare professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.
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