Formulary
Entecavir: Indications, Dosing, Side Effects and Interactions
Entecavir clinical drug profile including indications, dosing, side effects, cautions and interactions.
MedNext Academy | 3 min read
Entecavir: Indications, Dosing, Side Effects and Interactions
Entecavir clinical drug profile including indications, dosing, side effects, cautions and interactions.
Indications and dose
**Chronic hepatitis B in patients with compensated liver disease (with evidence of viral replication, and histologically documented active liver inflammation or fibrosis) not previously treated with nucleoside analogues**
- **Adult** (By Mouth): 500 micrograms once daily.
**Chronic hepatitis B in patients with compensated liver disease (with evidence of viral replication, and histologically documented active liver inflammation or fibrosis) and lamivudine-resistance**
- **Adult** (By Mouth): 1 mg once daily, consider other treatment if inadequate response after 6 months.
**Chronic hepatitis B in patients with decompensated liver disease**
- **Adult** (By Mouth): 1 mg once daily.
Cautions
HIV infection-risk of HIV resistance in patients not receiving 'highly active antiretroviral therapy'; lamivudine-resistant chronic hepatitis B-risk of entecavir resistance Cautions, further information Manufacturer advises review treatment and consider discontinuation if deterioration in liver function occurs (risk of lactic acidosis)-consult product literature.
Side effects
Common or very common Diarrhoea; dizziness; drowsiness; dyspepsia; fatigue; headache; insomnia; nausea; vomiting Uncommon Alopecia; rash Frequency not known Lactic acidosis
Interactions
**Other interactions (5):**
- Since entecavir is predominantly eliminated by the kidney (see section 5.2), coadministration with medicinal products that reduce renal function or compete for active tubular secretion may increase...
- Apart from lamivudine, adefovir dipivoxil and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, the effects of coadministration of entecavir with medicinal products that are excreted renally or affect renal function...
- Patients should be monitored closely for adverse reactions when entecavir is coadministered with such medicinal products.
- No pharmacokinetic interactions between entecavir and lamivudine, adefovir or tenofovir were observed.
- Entecavir is not a substrate, an inducer or an inhibitor of cytochrome P450 (CYP450) enzymes (see section 5.2).
Pregnancy
Toxicity in animal studies-manufacturer advises use only if potential benefit outweighs risk.
Breast feeding
Manufacturer advises avoid-present in milk in animal studies.
Renal impairment
Dose adjustments Reduce dose if creatinine clearance less than 50 mL/minute (consult product literature). M See Prescribing in renal impairment .
Medicinal forms
Tablet,Solution
Clinical governance
**Author:** MedNext Clinical Team. **Clinical reviewer:** Dr Shameer Deen, MBBS, MS, MRCS. **Sources:** BNF, Indian Pharmacopoeia, CIMS India. **Correction:** Report errors at support@mednext.academy.
Inside MedNext for this topic
- 411 MedNext-authored chapters
- 80,000+ MCQ bank
- 15 study modes
- Growing visual cheat sheets
Study modes
- Notes
- MCQ
- Audio
- Video
- Visual
- 3D Anatomy
- Trace
- Flashcards
- Mnemonics
- Image Bank
- Clinical
- Microscopy
- Audio QBank
- Cadaver
- Book Match
Continue reading
Subject HubPharmacology Hub
All pharmacology resources in one place.
Drug SchedulesIndian Drug Schedules
Schedule H, H1, X and G classifications.
FormularyBrowse all drugs
Search 1,850+ drug profiles.
Study Entecavir in the MedNext app
Challenge yourself with targeted pharmacology MCQs on this drug class. Every explanation links back to the chapter that teaches the concept.
Start drug challengeExplore the full formulary

