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adefovir (Oral route)

a-DEF-oh-vir

Pharmacologic Class: Nucleotide Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor

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Uses For adefovir

Adefovir is used to treat chronic infections with active hepatitis B in patients who are at least 12 years of age. Adefovir is not a cure for the hepatitis B virus, but it may lower the amount of hepatitis B virus in your body. It may also lower the ability of the virus to multiply in your body .

adefovir is available only with your doctor's prescription .

Before Using adefovir

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For adefovir, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to adefovir or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated pediatrics-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of adefovir in children 12 years of age and older. Safety and efficacy have not been established in children less than 12 years of age .

Geriatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatrics-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of adefovir in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more likely to have age-related kidney or heart problems, which may require an adjustment of dosage in patients receiving adefovir .

Interactions with Medicines

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your healthcare professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.

Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Proper Use of adefovir

adefovir comes with patient instructions. Read and follow these instructions carefully each time you get more medicine. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions .

You may take the tablets with or without food .

Dosing

The dose of adefovir will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of adefovir. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

For oral dosage form (tablets):
- For treatment of chronic hepatitis B infection:
  - Adults—10 milligrams (mg) once a day.
  - Children 12 years of age and older—10 milligrams (mg) once a day.
  - Children below 12 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor .

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of adefovir, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Do not refrigerate. Keep from freezing.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.

Precautions While Using adefovir

It is very important that your doctor check your progress and kidney function at regular visits. This will allow your doctor to see if the medicine is working properly. Blood tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects .

If you have or get HIV infection, be sure to discuss your treatment with your doctor. If you are taking adefovir to treat chronic hepatitis B, and are not taking medicine for your HIV infection at the same time, some HIV treatments may be less likely to work. You may need to get an HIV test before you start taking adefovir, and again later if there is a chance you were exposed to HIV. adefovir will not help your HIV infection .

When adefovir is stopped, the liver disease (hepatitis) may become worse. Do not stop taking adefovir unless your doctor tells you to. Be sure to keep all appointments with your doctor after you stop adefovir. Blood tests will be needed to check your liver function .

adefovir may cause a rare but serious side effect called lactic acidosis, which means there is too much acid in the blood. adefovir can also cause an enlarged liver (hepatomegaly). Call your doctor right away if you feel very tired, weak, dizzy, or nauseated; if you vomit or have trouble breathing; if you have severe abdominal pain, dark urine, or pale stools; or if your skin or eyes turn yellow .

Treatment with adefovir has not been shown to decrease the chance of giving hepatitis B virus infection to other people through sexual contact or by sharing needles .

adefovir Side Effects

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

More common

Dark urine
general tiredness and weakness
light-colored stools
nausea and vomiting
upper right abdomen pain
yellow eyes and skin

Less common

Blood in the urine
change in frequency of urination or amount of urine
difficult breathing
drowsiness
increased thirst
loss of appetite
swelling of the feet or lower legs
weakness

Rare

Fast, shallow breathing
general feeling of discomfort
muscle pain or cramping
shortness of breath
sleepiness
unusual tiredness or weakness

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common

Abdominal pain
headache
lack or loss of strength

Less common

Acid or sour stomach
belching
bloated or full feeling
diarrhea
excess air or gas in the stomach or intestines
heartburn or indigestion
nausea
passing gas
stomach discomfort, upset, or pain

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

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