Barcavir(Entecavir)
Therapeutic Group: Anti Viral, Hepatitis B Medication
Presentation
Barcavir 0.5 : Each box contains 1 blister strip of 20 tablets.
Barcavir 1: Each box contains 1 blister strip of 20 tablets
Description
Entecavir is a guanosine nucleoside analogue with activity against HBV polymerase. Entecavir functionally inhibits all activities of the HBV polymerase (reverse transcriptase).
Indications
Entecavir is indicated for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus infection in adults and children at least 2 years of age with evidence of active viral replication and either evidence of persistent elevations in serum aminotransferases (ALT or AST) or histologically active disease
Dosage & Administration
The recommended dose of Entecavir for chronic hepatitis B virus infection in nucleoside-treatment-naive adults and adolescents 16 years of age is 0.5 mg once daily. For Lamivudine-refractory or known Lamivudine or Telbivudine resistance mutations, the recommended dose of Entecavir is 1 mg once daily. For patients with decompensated liver disease (adult) the recommended dose of Entecavir is 1 mg once daily. Entecavir should be administered on an empty stomach (at least 2 hours after a meal or 2 hours before the next meal).
Dose Adjustment in Renal impairment: Dose adjustment is recommended for patients with creatinine clearance <50 mL/min.
Dosing interval adjustment of Entecavir in patients with renal impairment
| Creatinine clearance(mL/min) | >= 50 | 30 to < 50 | 10 to < 30 | < 10 Hemodialysis or CAPD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Recommended dose and dosing interval | 0.5 mg every 24 hours | 0.5 mg every 48 hours | 0.5 mg every 72 hours | 0.5 mg every 7 days |
Pediatric use: The recommended once daily dose of Entecavir for pediatric patients 2 years of age or older and weighing at least 10 kg is as below:
10 to 11 kg: 0.125 mg (1/4 tablet of 0.5 mg)
>11 to 20 kg: 0.250 mg (1/2 tablet of 0.5 mg)
>20 to 30 kg: 0.375 mg (3/4 tablet of 0.5 mg)
> 30 kg: 0.5 mg (1 tablet of 0.5 mg)
Geriatric Use: Clinical studies of Entecavir did not include sufficient numbers of subjects aged 65 years and over to determine whether they respond differently from younger subjects. But care should be taken in dose selection, and it may be useful to monitor renal function.
Side Effects
The most common adverse events are headache, fatigue, dizziness and nausea.
Precautions
Lactic acidosis: Lactic acidosis and severe hepatomegaly with steatosis, including fatal cases have been reported with the use of nucleoside analogues alone or in combination with antiretrovirals.
Exacerbations of hepatitis after discontinuation of treatment: Severe acute exacerbations of hepatitis B have been reported in patients who have discontinued anti-hepatitis B therapy, including Entecavir.
Use in Pregnancy & Lactation
Pregnancy: There are no data on the effect of Entecavir on transmission of HBV from mother to infant. Therefore, appropriate care should be taken.
Lactation: It is not known whether it is excreted in human milk. Mothers should be instructed not to breast feed if they are taking Entecavir.
Over Dose
There is no experience of Entecavir overdosage reported in patients.
Commercial Pack
Barcavir 0.5 : Each box contains 1 blister strip of 20 tablets.
Barcavir 1: Each box contains 1 blister strip of 20 tablets
Others
Missed dose
If it is almost time for next dose, skip the missed dose and take the next dose at the proper time. Nobody should take a double dose to make up for the missed dose.