Telbivudine
About Telbivudine
Telbivudine is an antiviral medicine used to treat viral infections. Telbivudine is used in the treatment of chronic Hepatitis B infection in patients with evidence of viral replication. It is a serious infection caused by the Hepatitis B virus. It is a contagious infection that spreads from person to person and affects the liver. Telbivudine is only used in treating the infection. It does not cure or prevent further liver complications.
Telbivudine contains Telbivudine, a nucleoside analogue. It works by blocking the activity of the hepatitis B virus DNA Polymerase enzyme in liver cells. This causes DNA termination and reduces the amount of hepatitis B virus in the body.
Telbivudine may cause certain side effects such as headache, abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhoea, dizziness, vomiting, cough, abdominal pain, fever, myalgia, back pain and fatigue. Most of these side effects do not require medical attention and gradually resolve over time. However, if the side effects persist, please consult your doctor. It should be taken with or after food to avoid any stomach upset. Use it as suggested by your doctor. Your doctor will decide the dose of the medicine based on your health condition.
Telbivudine should be avoided if you are allergic to it. Caution should be exercised in conditions like liver cirrhosis, liver cancer, or kidney problems. Telbivudine may cause lactic acidosis, severe hepatomegaly with steatosis, myopathy, and peripheral neuropathy in some patients. Stopping the treatment with Telbivudine may lead to acute exacerbations of Hepatitis B infection. Hence, careful monitoring should be done during and after the treatment. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, inform your doctor before starting treatment with this medicine. Telbivudine is not recommended for children below 16 years of age as efficacy and safety have not been established.
Uses of Telbivudine
Medicinal Benefits
Telbivudine contains Telbivudine, which belongs to the class of nucleotide analogues. It works by blocking the activity of the hepatitis B virus DNA Polymerase enzyme in the liver cells, which is essential for the virus to grow. This causes DNA termination and, therefore, reduces the amount of hepatitis B virus in the body. This medicine only treats the HBV infection but does not cure it or prevent further liver complications.
Directions for Use
Storage
Side Effects of Telbivudine
- Headache
- Abdominal pain
- Nausea
- Diarrhoea
- Vomiting
- Tiredness
- Trouble sleeping
- Fatigue
- Back pain
- Dizziness
- Cough
- Myalgia
- Fever
- Sore throat
Drug Warnings
Avoid taking Telbivudine and inform your doctor if you are allergic to it. Keep your doctor informed about your complete medical history to rule out any serious side effects. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, inform your doctor before starting treatment with this medicine. Caution should be exercised in patients having underlying conditions like liver cirrhosis, HIV infection, liver cancer, or kidney problems before starting the treatment. Telbivudine may cause lactic acidosis, severe hepatomegaly with steatosis, myopathy, peripheral neuropathy and acute exacerbations of Hepatitis B, HIV infection, lactic acidosis and severe hepatomegaly with steatosis, as it may cause serious side effects. It is advised not to stop taking Telbivudine abruptly, as it can cause a recurrence of severe acute exacerbations of hepatitis or may also lead to cirrhosis. Telbivudine is not recommended for children below 16 years of age as efficacy and safety have not been established. Telbivudine should not be taken along with pegylated interferon alfa-2a as it can cause peripheral neuropathy. Hence, informing your doctor about your complete medication history before taking this medicine is advised.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interactions: Telbivudine may interact with immunomodulators (interferon alpha-2a), antibiotics (vancomycin), vitamins, minerals, etc.
Drug-Food Interactions: Avoid smoking and alcohol consumption.
Drug-Disease Interactions: Inform your doctor if you have any history of liver or kidney disease, cirrhosis, and liver cancer.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
unsafeAlcohol intake might increase the risk of side effects. Hence, avoid alcohol consumption while on treatment with Telbivudine.
Pregnancy
cautionLimited data is available on the effect of Telbivudine in pregnancy. Hence, if you are pregnant or planning pregnancy, inform your doctor before taking Telbivudine. Your doctor may prescribe this medicine if the benefits outweigh the risks.
Breast Feeding
cautionLimited data are available on the effect of Telbivudine on breastfeeding. Hence, if you are a nursing mother, inform your doctor before taking Telbivudine. Your doctor may suggest you stop breastfeeding while taking Telbivudine.
Driving
unsafeTelbivudine may cause dizziness as a side effect. Hence, do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you are not alert or during the treatment.
Liver
cautionTelbivudine has not been studied in patients with decompensated liver disease or liver transplant recipients. Hence, if you have liver problems, inform your doctor before using Telbivudine.
Kidney
cautionIf you have a pre-existing or a history of kidney disease, inform your doctor before taking Telbivudine. Your doctor may adjust the dose of this medicine or prescribe a suitable alternative based on your condition.
Children
unsafeTelbivudine is not recommended for use in children, as efficacy and safety have not been established.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Eat more vegetables, fruits, and whole grains such as brown rice, oats, quinoa, and barley.
- Include healthy fats like avocados, olive oil, and nuts.
- Drink plenty of water for better processing of food by the body.
- Avoid sugary foods such as cake, cookies, packaged baked goods, and soda. Also, avoid heavy-salt foods.
- Avoid foods containing saturated fats such as fried foods, fatty cuts of meat, sour cream, and butter.
- Try to eat low-fat or non-fat dairy products to minimize damage to the liver.
Special Advise
- Sudden withdrawal of Telbivudine should be avoided as it can cause severe acute exacerbations of hepatitis or other serious side effects.
- Frequent monitoring of liver and kidney function tests are required while on treatment with Telbivudine to monitor liver and kidney functions.
- Patients should be observed carefully for any changes in the liver function test even after the completion of the treatment course.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Hepatitis B Virus Infection: It is a serious contagious infection caused by the Hepatitis B virus affecting the liver. It can be an acute (an infected person may be sick for only a few days) or chronic infection (it develops slowly but progresses to a serious lifelong infection). This infection spreads from person to person through blood contact (being pricked with a contaminated needle, using a razor), intimate contact with the infected person, direct contact with infected blood, or contact with any other personal items with leftovers of infected fluid or even from mother to baby during birth. Telbivudine is used to treat HBV infection.
FAQs
Telbivudine is used to treat Hepatitis B Virus infection.
Telbivudine contains Telbivudine, which works by blocking the activity of the hepatitis B virus DNA Polymerase enzyme in the liver cells. This causes DNA termination and reduces the amount of hepatitis B virus in the body.
Stopping treatment with Telbivudine may worsen Hepatitis B infection. Close monitoring is necessary even after completion of the treatment course. Consult your doctor if you have concerns.
Telbivudine can be taken with or after food as prescribed by your doctor. Swallow it as a whole with a glass of water. Do not chew, break, or crush it.
Yes, Telbivudine is effective if used as per dose and duration advised by the doctor. Do not exceed the recommended dose. Continue using Telbivudine for the prescribed duration. Follow your doctor’s instructions.
Drug resistance is the reduction in effectiveness of a medication by disease-causing organisms, such as bacteria, viruses, or fungi. Telbivudine can cause drug resistance, but it's relatively uncommon. Resistance is more likely to occur if Telbivudine is not taken exactly as prescribed, such as missing doses or not completing the full course of treatment. To minimize the risk of developing resistance, follow your doctor's instructions carefully and take Telbivudine exactly as prescribed by your doctor.
The duration of treatment with Telbivudine can vary depending on individual and the patient's response to Telbivudine. Therefore, continue using Telbivudine as prescribed by your doctor. Do not skip any dose.
If you forget to take a dose of Telbivudine, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next scheduled dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular dose. Do not double the dose to make up for the missed one.
In HBV patients who are diagnosed with HIV, Telbivudine is not recommended until and unless these patients start taking medicines for HIV management. Therefore, please consult your doctor for effective treatment.
No, there is no cure for hepatitis B. Telbivudine does not cure hepatitis B but helps to improve liver condition. However, if you have any concerns, discuss with your doctor.
The common side effects of Telbivudine are headache, abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhoea, dizziness, vomiting, cough, abdominal pain, fever, myalgia (muscle pain or soreness), back pain and fatigue. If any of these side effects persist or worsen, please consult your doctor.
