Entekor 0.5mg Entecavir Tablets

What is Entekor 0.5 mg?

Entekor 0.5 mg contains its active substance called Entecavir. It is an antiviral medicine used in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B infection. It is a guanine nucleoside analogue. It is used in compensated and decompensated liver diseases. It lowers the amount of HBV cells in the body by affecting their ability to multiply and infect new liver cells. This medicine is also used in HIV patients co- infected with HBV who never had other highly active anti- retroviral  medicines.

How  is Entecavir drug used for?

Entecavir is sold under the brand name Baraclude. It is used to treat long- term hepatitis B is an infection of the liver caused by the hepatitis B virus. Long- term infection can cause liver damage, liver cancer and liver failure. This medicine helps to decrease the amount of hepatitis B virus in the body.  This medication  lowers the chances of  getting liver cancer or liver damage. It is an antiviral that belongs to a class of drugs known as hepatitis B. It does not cure or prevent the spread of the virus but it lowers the risk of getting symptoms worse.

What is hepatitis B?

Hepatitis B is a viral infection that causes liver inflammation and damage. Inflammation is swelling that occurs when tissues of the body become injured or infected. Inflammation can damage organs. 

Viruses attack normal cells in your body. Many viruses cause infections that can spread  from person to person. The hepatitis B virus spreads through contact with an infected person’s blood, semen, or other body fluids. 

The hepatitis B virus can cause an acute or chronic infection.

Acute hepatitis B

Acute hepatitis B is a short- term infection. Some people have symptoms, which may last several weeks. In some cases, symptoms last for 6 months. Sometimes the body is able to fight infection and the virus goes away. 

Chronic hepatitis B 

Chronic hepatitis  is a long- lasting infection. Your chances of developing chronic hepatitis B is greater if you were infected with the virus as a young child. About 90 percent of infants  infected with hepatitis B develop a chronic infection. About 25 to 50 percent of children infected between the ages of 1 and 5 years develop chronic infections. About 5 percent of people first infected as adults develop chronic hepatitis B.

• How to spread Hepatitis B?

The hepatitis B virus causes hepatitis B. The hepatitis B virus spreads through contact with an infected person’s blood, or body fluids. Contact can occurs by

1. Being born to a mother with hepatitis  B
2. Having unprotected sex with an infected person
3. Sharing drug needles or other drug materials with an infected person
4. Getting an accidental stick with a needle that was used on an infected person
5. Being tattooed or pierced with tools that were used on an infected person
6. Having contact with the blood or open sores of an infected person
7. Using an infected person’s razor, toothbrush or nail clippers

• What are the signs and symptoms of hepatitis B?

Some people with  acute hepatitis B have symptoms 2 to 5 months after they come in contact with the virus. These symptoms may include:

Dark yellow urine

Feeling tired

Fever

Gray or clay colored stools

Joint pain

Loss of appetite 

Nausea

Pain in the abdomen

Vomiting

Yellow eyes  and skin are called jaundice.

Entekor 0.5 mg is recommended orally once daily in treatment of adult patients with compensated liver disease and over 16 years of age. It is taken with an empty stomach at least 2 hours  after and 2 hours before the next meal. Before taking medicine consult your doctor. Dose and duration will be decided by the necessity and need of the patient. It depends on the treatment and may change from time to time. You should take medicine as per your doctor’s advice. This medicine is strictly not recommended for children, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers. It takes some weeks and months to get a better result. Do not stop taking the medicine before your doctor’s advice.

The common side effects of this medicine include tiredness, muscle pain, vomiting, nausea, chills, dizziness, irregular heartbeats and stomach pain. If these side effects become serious, You should consult with your doctor. Your doctor can prevent and get relief from the side effects during the treatment. 

Benefits of Entekor 0.5 mg 

• In the treatment of Chronic Hepatitis B

It is  a chronic liver infection that is caused by the hepatitis B virus. It usually occurs when our body cannot fight against the virus and it is a communicable disease. It is caused by sexual contact with an infected person, sharing needles and from mother to child during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Entekor 0.5 mg contains an active ingredient which is known as a guanosine nucleoside analogue. It acts against HBV polymerase. It competes with deoxyguanosine triphosphate. It inhibits all functions of HBV  polymerase which is required for reproduction of viruses. It treats HBV infection.

Side effects of Entekor 0.5 mg

 There are Some  major and minor side effects of this medicine . But not all side effects need doctor attention. If you observe any side effects become serious,  You may consult your doctor.

Some of the common side effects of this medicine include

Tiredness

Abnormal pain in the muscle

Shortness of breath

Stomach pain

Nausea

Vomiting

Chills on hands and legs

Dizziness

Irregular heartbeats

How Entekor 0.5 mg taken?

Always take this medicine as per your doctor’s consultation. Entekor 0.5 mg is recommended orally once daily in treatment of adult patients with compensated liver disease and over 16 years of age. It is taken with an empty stomach at least 2 hours  after and 2 hours before the next meal.  Dose and duration will decide your doctor. You are not allowed to crush, chew and break the medicine. Swallow it as a whole. Drink plenty of water. Do not miss the dose. If you miss a dose skip the missed dose and follow your schedule regularly on the next day. Do not double the dose. Take medicine every day on time as prescribed by your doctor. Much other medicine can affect this medicine so let your doctor know all medication you are using during the treatment.

How does Entekor 0.5 mg work?

Entekor 0.5 mg indicated in ages above 2 years of age. It inhibits the action of HBV polymerase by incorporating them into nucleotide sequences. It inhibits the action of HBV polymerase, thereby preventing the formation of mature virus particles. This medicine controls and treats HBV infection.