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What should I discuss with my health care provider before taking telbivudine (Tyzeka)?

You should not take telbivudine if you are allergic to it.

To make sure you can safely take telbivudine, tell your doctor if you have any of these other conditions:

• kidney disease;
• other types of hepatitis (C or D);
• HIV or AIDS;
• if you have received a liver transplant; or
• if any hepatitis B medications you received in the past did not work well in treating your condition.

Some people develop a life-threatening condition called lactic acidosis while taking telbivudine. You may be more likely to develop lactic acidosis if you are overweight or have liver disease, if you are a woman, or if you have taken HIV or AIDS medications for a long time. Talk with your doctor about your individual risk.

It is not known whether this medication is safe to use while you are pregnant. Telbivudine may not keep you from passing hepatitis B to your unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while you are taking telbivudine.

If you are pregnant, your name may be listed on a pregnancy registry. This is to track the outcome of the pregnancy and to evaluate any effects of telbivudine on the baby.

It is not known whether telbivudine passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Do not give telbivudine to a child younger than 16 years old without the advice of a doctor.

How should I take telbivudine (Tyzeka)?

Take exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

Telbivudine may be taken with or without food. Take the medicine at the same time each day.

Measure liquid medicine with a special dose-measuring spoon or medicine cup, not with a regular table spoon. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist for one.

Use telbivudine regularly to get the most benefit. Get your prescription refilled before you run out of medicine completely.

While taking telbivudine, you should remain under the care of a doctor. Your blood will need to be checked often.

Your liver symptoms may become severe after you stop taking telbivudine, even months after stopping. Your doctor may want to check your liver function for several months after you stop taking telbivudine. Visit your doctor regularly.

If your condition worsens after you stop taking telbivudine, your doctor may recommend that you restart this medication or another treatment for hepatitis B.

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

Throw away any unused or expired telbivudine tablets in a closed container or sealed bag. You may also ask your pharmacist where to locate a community pharmaceutical take-back disposal program.

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