Chronic Hepatitis B
4 medicines
Chronic hepatitis B is a long-term liver infection caused by HBV that can lead to cirrhosis or liver cancer if untreated. Antiviral medicines such as entecavir and tenofovir suppress the virus and slow liver damage.
Epivir Hbv
Lamivudine
100mg
Epivir Hbv is a hiv medication containing Lamivudine, available as 100mg tablets.
Key facts
- Chronic hepatitis B is a persistent infection of the liver by the hepatitis B virus (HBV), lasting more than six months and often for life.
- Most people have no obvious symptoms for years or decades while the liver is damaged gradually; routine blood screening is how it is usually caught.
- Antiviral treatment does not eliminate the virus but suppresses it to very low levels, slowing fibrosis and sharply reducing the risk of cirrhosis and liver cancer.
- Entecavir and tenofovir disoproxil are the first-line antiviral agents; lamivudine is an older option still used in some cases.
What chronic hepatitis B is
Chronic hepatitis B is a persistent infection of the liver by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Unlike the acute form, which the body clears within months, chronic hepatitis B lasts more than six months and often for life, requiring long-term monitoring and, for many people, ongoing treatment.
Why it often goes undetected
Most people with chronic hepatitis B have no obvious symptoms for years or even decades. The liver is damaged gradually, and by the time fatigue, jaundice, or abdominal discomfort appear, significant scarring (fibrosis) may already be present. This long silent phase is why routine blood screening matters, particularly for anyone with a family history of hepatitis B or born in a region where the infection is common.
How antiviral therapy limits liver damage
Treatment does not eliminate the virus but suppresses it to very low levels, slowing fibrosis progression and sharply reducing the risk of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Medicines from the antivirals category work by blocking HBV replication. Entecavir and tenofovir disoproxil are the two first-line agents recommended internationally; both achieve strong viral suppression with a low risk of resistance. Lamivudine, an older nucleoside analogue also used in HIV management, was historically the first oral agent for HBV and is still used in some settings.
Monitoring and long-term care
People on antiviral therapy need regular liver function tests and HBV DNA measurement to confirm that the virus remains suppressed. Ultrasound surveillance every six months is standard for those with cirrhosis or other liver cancer risk factors. Lifestyle measures, limiting alcohol, maintaining a healthy weight, and vaccinating close contacts, complement medical treatment.
This page is educational and does not replace advice from a doctor or pharmacist who knows your health history.