What is Hepsera prescribed for?

Hepsera is an antiviral medicine prescribed for the treatment of adults with chronic infections with active hepatitis B virus who have:

• active hepatitis B virus in their blood
• high levels of liver enzymes in their blood
• liver damage that is seen on a liver biopsy

Who should not take Hepsera?

Do not take Hepsera if you are allergic to any of the ingredients in Hepsera.

Warnings for People taking Hepsera:

• Hepsera can cause a worse or very serious hepatitis in some people when they stop taking Hepsera. This usually happens within 12 weeks after stopping. You will need to have regular blood tests to check for liver function and hepatitis B virus levels if you stop taking Hepsera.
• Hepsera can cause liver enlargement and damage to the liver. Some of the warning signs of liver damage can be yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark urine, light-colored stools, nausea, lower stomach pain, or loss of interest in eating for several days.
• Hepsera may cause kidney damage. This usually happens in people that already have a kidney problem, but it can happen to anyone taking Hepsera.
• If you get or have HIV that isn’t being treated with medicines, Hepsera may increase the chances your HIV infection cannot be helped with usual HIV medicines. You should get an HIV test before you start taking Hepsera and anytime after that when there is a chance you were exposed to HIV.
• Hepsera can cause a serious condition called lactic acidosis (build up of lactic acid in the body). Lactic acidosis is a medical emergency and must be treated in the hospital. Some of the warning signs of lactic acidosis can be weakness, tiredness, unusual muscle pain, trouble breathing, stomach pain with nausea and vomiting, cold feelings in your arms or legs, dizziness, or irregular heartbeat.

General Precautions to take when on Hepsera:

• It is very important to take Hepsera exactly as prescribed by your doctor for the entire time that you are being treated. It is especially important not to stop taking Hepsera without first talking to your doctor or else your liver disease may get worse.
• Since Hepsera does not stop you from passing hepatitis B to others, it is important to avoid activities that can spread hepatitis B virus. This includes:
  • do not share needles of any kind
  • do not share razors, toothbrushes, or other items that may carry blood or bodily fluids
  • do not have unprotected sex, and always practice “safe sex” by using condoms and dental dams

There are some things that you should tell your Doctor including:

Tell your doctor if:

• you are pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or if you are currently breast feeding. If you take Hepsera and you are pregnant, talk with your doctor about how you can be on the Hepsera pregnancy registry.
• you have or have had kidney problems now or had them before. Your dose and schedule of Hepsera may be reduced. Blood test will be done regularly to see how your kidneys are working.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Some medicines may affect how Hepsera works, especially medicines that affect how your kidneys work.

What side effects can you expect when taking Hepsera? (This is only a partial list of side effects reported with Hepsera. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for a complete list of possible side effects and drug interactions..)

In addition to the serious side effects listed above, the most common side effects of Hepsera are:

• weakness
• headache
• stomach pain
• nausea

For more detailed information about Hepsera, ask your doctor and pharmacist.