Hepatitis B (cont.)
IN THIS ARTICLE
- Hepatitis B Overview
- Hepatitis B Causes
- Hepatitis B Symptoms
- When to Seek Medical Care
- Exams and Tests
- Hepatitis B Treatment
- Self-Care at Home
- Medical Treatment
- Medications
- Surgery
- Other Therapy
- Next Steps
- Follow-up
- Prevention
- Outlook
- Support Groups and Counseling
- For More Information
- Web Links
- Synonyms and Keywords
- Authors and Editors
- Viewer Comments: Hepatitis B - Describe Your Experience
Medications
All of the following medications described that are used to treat chronic hepatitis B are antiviral medications. They stop or slow replication of the virus in the body. This then gives the liver a chance to heal itself. Although these medications are similar in some ways, they differ in other important ways. Talk to your health care provider about the best medication for you.
Interferon alfa-2b (Intron A) - Interferon was the standard treatment of chronic hepatitis B for several years.
- It both slows the replication of the virus and boosts
the body's immune system to fight the infection.
- This is the first choice of treatment for many people
with HBV infection that is likely to progress, as indicated by lab test
results.
- It works best in people who have relatively low
levels of HBV DNA but liver function tests and liver biopsy show that the
liver is affected.
- Interferon usually is not given to people whose liver
damage has progressed to cirrhosis, because it can make the damage worse.
- Treatment is shorter than the other medications, but
requires regular shots (injections) and is more expensive than the others. The
older forms of interferon are given 3 or more times a week.
Pegylated interferon A (PEG-Intron), a newer form of interferon, has been
slightly altered to last longer in the body, so it can be given only once
a week.
- Interferon has unpleasant side effects in many
people. Many describe the side effects as being like having the flu. For many
people, the side effects are so severe that they cannot continue taking the
medication.
- Liver function tests and HBV DNA tests are used to
check how well the treatment is working.
- Interferon stops the infection in about 40% of people. In these people, the infection usually does not return.
Lamivudine (Epivir) - This medication is considered an alternative for people who cannot or do not want to take interferon. It also may be prescribed in people with weakened immune systems.
- Lamivudine (Epivir)
slows
replication of HBV.
- Lamivudine is taken as a pill and has almost no side
effects. The side effects, when they do occur, are similar to those of
interferon but are much milder.
- Liver function tests and HBV DNA tests are used to
check how well the treatment is working.
- Lamivudine works better than interferon in people who
already have severe liver damage (cirrhosis).
- Lamivudine reduces the amount of HBV in the blood in
almost everyone who receives this treatment. In about 40 percent, the amount
goes so low that the test cannot detect the virus.
- In about half of people who take lamivudine as
recommended, liver inflammation goes away (on liver biopsy). In as many as
two-thirds, liver function test results return to normal.
- In most people, however, the virus starts to multiply
again as soon as the treatment is stopped. Sometimes during
the treatment, the virus becomes genetically altered (mutated)
and no longer responds as effectively as before to the medication.
- Ongoing research is looking at combining lamivudine with interferon or with other medications or vaccines to make it work better.
Adefovir dipivoxil (Hepsera ) - This antiviral drug was approved by the FDA in 2002.
- Adefovir slows replication of HBV.
- It is a pill that must be taken every day, like
lamivudine.
- It works well even in people whose disease
is resistant to lamivudine.
- The virus begins to replicate again after stopping
the treatment.
- Adefovir can damage the kidneys. This occurs mostly in people who already had some kidney problems.
Entecavir (Baraclude) - This antiviral is the newest medication approved for chronic hepatitis B.
- Entecavir slows replication of HBV.
- It is swallowed either as a tablet or an oral
solution.
- Like adefovir, it can be prescribed for people who
have become resistant to lamivudine.
- It must be continued long-term, otherwise the virus
begins to replicate again.
- Dosage adjustment is required for individuals with kidney impairment.
Next: Surgery »
Viewer Comments & Reviews
Hepatitis B - Describe Your Experience
Please describe your experience with hepatitis b.
| Printer-Friendly Format | | | Email to a Friend |
Women's Health
Find out what women really need.
From WebMD
Healthy Resources
- How Healthy Is Your Home?
- 12 Tips to Fight Colds, Flu and Other Viruses
- Get the Facts About Depression
Featured Centers
- 12 Ways to Prevent the Spread of Viruses
- 10 Surprising Benefits of Treating Depression
- Healthy Home: To Buy or Not to Buy Organic?
Health Solutions From Our Sponsors
Read What Your Physician is Reading on eMedicine
Hepatitis B »
In 1965, Blumberg et al reported the discovery of the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), also known as Australia antigen, and its antibody, hepatitis B surface antibody (HBsAb).
Featured Topics
Explore 80+ Centers
- Allergy
- Allergy Medications
- Anaphylaxis
- Antidepressants
- Anxiety
- Arthritis
- Asthma
- Baby's Health
- Back, Neck, Head Injury
- Bioterrorism, Warfare
- Blood, Lymphatic System
- Bone, Joint, Muscle
- Brain, Nervous System
- Breathing Difficulties
- Burns
- Camping
- Cancer, Tumors
- Children's Health
- Cholesterol
- Cold and Flu
- CPR, Choking
- Cuts, Scrapes, Bruises
- Dementia
- Depression
- Diabetes
- Diabetic Coma, Insulin Shock
- Digestive System
- Dislocations
- Drowning
- Drug Overdose
- Ear, Nose, Throat
- Emotional Wellness
- Endocrine System
- Environmental Injuries
- Erectile Dysfunction
- Exercise, Nutrition
- Eye, Vision
- Fainting
- Fever
- First Aid, Emergency
- First Aid Kits
- Food Poisoning
- Foreign Bodies
- Fractures, Broken Bones
- Glaucoma
- Headache
- Health, Medical
- Heartburn, GERD, Reflux
- Heart, Blood Vessels
- Heart Attack
- Hepatitis
- Immune System
- Incontinence
- Infections
- Kidneys, Urinary System
- Lung, Airway
- Medications
- Men's Health
- Mental Health, Behavior
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Nosebleeds
- Osteoporosis
- Outdoor Living
- Overexposure
- Poisoning
- Procedures
- Psoriasis
- Public Health
- Scuba Diving, Swimming
- Seizures
- Senior Health
- Shock
- Skin, Hair, Nails
- Sleep Disorders
- Social, Family Health
- Sports Injury
- Sprains, Strains
- Statins
- STDs
- Substance Abuse
- Teen Health
- Teeth, Mouth, Oral Health
- Weight Management
- Wilderness Emergencies
- Women's Health
- Wounds

