Entecavir

1 medicine

Entecavir is a nucleoside analogue used to treat chronic hepatitis B; stopping it can cause a severe, sometimes life-threatening flare of hepatitis, so liver function must be monitored closely for months after treatment ends.

Baraclude

Entecavir

0.5mg

Baraclude is a antivirals medication containing Entecavir, available as 0.5mg tablets.

from $2.73 / tablet View

Key facts

  • Entecavir (sold as Baraclude and generics) is a nucleoside analogue that treats chronic hepatitis B by blocking the virus from copying its genetic material.
  • It is taken once daily on an empty stomach, usually for a long course measured in years, guided by regular blood tests.
  • Stopping entecavir can trigger a severe, occasionally life-threatening flare of hepatitis B; your liver must be monitored closely for several months after any dose is stopped.
  • Tell your prescriber if you also have HIV: entecavir has some activity against HIV, and using it without a full HIV treatment regimen can allow HIV to become drug-resistant.

What entecavir treats

Entecavir treats chronic hepatitis B virus infection in adults and some children, including people with evidence of active liver disease or resistance to other antivirals. It works to suppress the virus long-term and reduce ongoing liver inflammation and damage; it does not cure hepatitis B.

How entecavir works

Entecavir is a nucleoside analogue that resembles one of the natural building blocks of DNA. The hepatitis B virus mistakenly uses it while copying its genetic material, which blocks the virus from completing new, functional copies of itself. With fewer new viral particles produced, the amount of virus in the blood falls and ongoing liver inflammation eases over time.

Before you take it

  • Tell your prescriber if you have HIV infection; entecavir should only be used alongside a fully suppressive HIV treatment regimen.
  • Tell your prescriber about kidney problems, since the dose is adjusted for reduced kidney function.
  • Avoid alcohol, which adds to the strain on a liver already affected by hepatitis B.
  • Do not stop taking entecavir without medical advice, even if you feel well; your prescriber will decide when stopping is appropriate and how to monitor you afterward.

Side effects

Common effects include headache, fatigue, dizziness, and nausea.

Seek urgent medical care for:

  • Worsening jaundice, dark urine, or severe abdominal pain, including after stopping treatment.
  • Unusual muscle pain, rapid breathing, or feeling unusually cold or weak (possible lactic acidosis).
  • Unexplained bruising or bleeding.
  • Signs of a severe allergic reaction.

Safety essentials

  • Do not stop entecavir on your own. Discontinuation can cause a severe flare of hepatitis B, sometimes appearing weeks to months later, so your prescriber will monitor liver function for a period after any change in treatment.
  • If you have both HIV and hepatitis B, entecavir must be part of a complete antiretroviral regimen, not used alone against HIV.
  • Regular blood tests to check viral levels, liver function, and kidney function are part of long-term treatment, not optional extras.

This page is educational and does not replace advice from a doctor or pharmacist who knows your health history.