Before you begin using a medication, be sure to inform your doctor of any medical conditions or Allergies you may have, any medications you are taking, whether you are pregnant or breast-feeding, and any other significant facts about your health. These factors may affect how you should use Apo Entecavir.
Hepatitis B transmission: Treatment with entecavir does not reduce the risk of passing on hepatitis B to other people through sexual contact and blood transfer. You should continue to take measures to prevent giving hepatitis B to other people (e.g., using condoms) while taking Apo Entecavir.
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV): People with HIV infection should discuss with their doctor how Apo Entecavir may affect their medical condition. If you are taking entecavir for chronic hepatitis B and are not taking any medications for HIV at the same time, some HIV medications that you take in the future may not work as well to treat HIV. Entecavir has not been studied for the treatment of HIV. Your doctor may test you for HIV before beginning treatment with entecavir. If you think that you might have HIV, contact your doctor immediately to get tested.
Kidney function: Apo Entecavir is removed from the body by the kidneys. If the kidneys are not working properly, entecavir may build up in the body and cause side effects. People with reduced kidney function may need a different dose of the medication. If you have decreased kidney function or Kidney Disease, discuss with your doctor how Apo Entecavir may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of Apo Entecavir, and whether any special monitoring is needed.
Lactic acidosis and enlarged liver: Entecavir can cause a rare but serious condition called lactic acidosis (buildup of lactic acid in the blood) together with an enlarged liver and fat in the liver. If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately:
- abdominal pain, swelling, or bloating
- dark-coloured urine
- diarrhea
- fatigue
- feeling unwell
- light-coloured stools
- loss of appetite for several days
- nausea
- shortness of breath
- vomiting
- weakness
- weight loss
- yellow skin or whites of eyes
Your doctor will periodically monitor you and perform laboratory tests to check your liver function.
Lactose intolerance: Entecavir tablets contain lactose. If you have been told that you are intolerant to lactose, contact your doctor before taking Apo Entecavir.
Liver transplant: The safety and effectiveness of entecavir has not been tested in people who have had a liver transplant. It is not known if entecavir will interact with anti-rejection medications (i.e., Cyclosporine, Tacrolimus) commonly used after an organ transplant. If you have had a liver transplant, discuss with your doctor how Apo Entecavir may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of Apo Entecavir, and whether any special monitoring is needed.
Stopping the medication: If you stop taking entecavir, your hepatitis B infection could get worse. Take the medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor, and do not stop taking the medication without checking with your doctor first.
Pregnancy: Apo Entecavir should not be used during pregnancy unless the benefits outweigh the risks. If you become pregnant while taking Apo Entecavir, contact your doctor immediately.
Breast-feeding: It is not known if entecavir passes into breast milk. If you are a breast-feeding mother and are taking Apo Entecavir, it may affect your baby. Talk to your doctor about whether you should continue breast-feeding.
Children: The safety and effectiveness of using Apo Entecavir have not been established for children less than 16 years of age.
