Entecavir, Oral

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: antiviral

Generic and brand names: entecavir, oral; Baraclude

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is taken by mouth to treat continuing (chronic) hepatitis B virus infections in adults.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• an allergic reaction to any medicine
• HIV infection (You may become resistant to another type of this medicine used to treat HIV if you take this medicine)
• kidney disease.

Females of childbearing age: Talk with your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.

How do I take it?

Take this medicine exactly as your healthcare provider prescribes. Do not take more or less or take it longer than prescribed. Do not stop taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval. Your symptoms may get worse if you stop taking this medicine too soon.

Take this medicine on an empty stomach, at least 2 hours before or 2 hours after a meal. Take it at the same time each day to help you remember to take it.

If you are taking the liquid, carefully measure your dose with the spoon provided. Do not use a kitchen spoon or other measuring device. Swallow the medicine directly from the measuring spoon. Do not mix it with any other liquid before taking. After each use, rinse the spoon with water and allow it to air dry.

If you miss a dose of this medicine and you are taking just one dose daily, take the missed dose as soon as you remember that same day. If you do not remember until the next day, skip the missed dose. Do not take double doses. If you are not sure of what to do if you miss a dose or you miss more than one dose, contact your healthcare provider.

What should I watch out for?

You should be tested for HIV infection before taking this medicine and while taking this medicine. If you have an HIV infection and take this medicine, the HIV virus can become resistant to the drug, so that the medicine is no longer effective.

You will need to have blood tests regularly to see how this medicine affects you. Keep all appointments for these tests.

Lactic acidosis is a rare but serious complication that can occur with use of this medicine. This condition is caused by a buildup of lactic acid in the blood. This happens more often in people with kidney problems. Most people with kidney problems should not take this medicine. The symptoms of lactic acidosis are:

• feeling very weak or tired
• unusual muscle pain
• having trouble breathing
• feeling cold, especially in your arms and legs
• being dizzy and lightheaded
• stomach pain with nausea and vomiting
• suddenly developing a fast or irregular heartbeat.

This medicine does not cure hepatitis B or keep you from spreading it to other people. Do not share needles, toothbrushes, or razor blades with others.

If you need emergency care, surgery, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you are taking this medicine. Carry an ID card or a Medic Alert bracelet. If you become unconscious, the ID tells emergency healthcare providers that you may need special care.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): Muscle pain, trouble breathing, severe abdominal pain, feeling very ill generally, fast or irregular heartbeat, dark urine, decreased urination, light-colored bowel movements, yellowish eyes or skin.

Other: Nausea, vomiting, tiredness, headache, drowsiness, trouble sleeping, diarrhea, indigestion.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• aminoglycoside antibiotics such as amikacin (Amikin), gentamicin (Garamycin), kanamycin (Kantrex), tobramycin (Nebcin, TOBI), and paromomycin (Humatin)
• ACE inhibitors such as benazepril (Lotensin), lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril), quinapril (Accupril), ramipril (Altace), and fosinopril (Monopril)
• angiotensin receptor II blockers such as candesartan (Atacand), eprosartan (Teveten), irbesartan (Avapro), losartan (Cozaar), olmesartan (Benicar), telmisartan (Micardis), valsartan (Diovan), and losartan/HCTZ (Hyzaar)
• beta blockers such as sotalol (Betapace)
• diuretics (water pills) such as hydrochlorothiazide (Microzide, Oretic), furosemide (Lasix), chlorothiazide (Diuril), bumetanide (Bumex), torsemide (Demadex), spironolactone (Aldactone), triamterene (Dyrenium), spironolactone/HCTZ (Aldactazide), triamterene/HCTZ (Dyazide, Maxzide) and chlorthalidone (Thalitone), and amiloride (Midamor)
• immunosuppressants such as cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune) and tacrolimus (Prograf, Protopic)
• nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Motrin IB, Advil, Nuprin), naproxen (Naprosyn, Anaprox, Aleve, Naprelan), ketoprofen (Oruvail), nabumetone (Relafen), indomethacin (Indocin), ketorolac (Toradol), sulindac (Clinoril), piroxicam (Feldene), diclofenac (Voltaren, Cataflam), and oxaprozin (Daypro).

Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, nonprescription, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins) with you. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

How should I store this medicine?

Store this medicine at room temperature. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect it from heat, high humidity, and bright light.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicines in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.