Discription and other details
l l Entecavir can cause serious or life-threatening damage to the liver and a condition called lactic acidosis (a build-up of acid in the blood).Tell your doctor if you drink or have ever drunk large amounts of alcohol, if you use or have ever used injectable street drugs, and if you have or have ever had cirrhosis (scarring) of the liver or any liver disease other than hepatitis B. Tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are taking or have taken the following medications: acetaminophen (Tylenol, others);cholesterol-lowering medications (statins);iron products;isoniazid (INH, Nydrazid); medications to treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS);methotrexate (Rheumatrex);niacin (nicotinic acid);or rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane). If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately: yellowing of the skin or eyes; dark-colored urine; light-colored bowel movements; difficulty breathing; stomach pain or swelling; upset stomach; vomiting;unusual muscle pain;loss of appetite for at least several days; lack of energy; extreme weakness or tiredness;feeling cold especially in the arms or legs; dizziness or lightheadedness; or fast or irregular heartbeat.Do not stop taking entecavir without talking to your doctor. When you stop taking entecavir your hepatitis may get worse. This is most likely to happen during the first several months after you stop taking entecavir. Be careful not to miss doses or run out of entecavir. Refill your prescription at least 5 days before you expect that you will need the new supply of medication. If you experience any of the following symptoms after you stop taking entecavir, call your doctor immediately: extreme tiredness, weakness, upset stomach, vomiting, loss of appetite yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark-colored urine, light-colored bowel movements, and muscle or joint pain.Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory before, during, and for a few months after your treatment with entecavir. Your doctor will order certain tests to check your body's response to entecavir during this time. Talk to your doctor about the risks of taking entecavir. |
