What is the most important information I should know about adefovir?
This medication may cause
lactic acidosis (the build up of lactic acid in the body).
Lactic acidosis can start slowly and gradually get worse. Symptoms include unusual
muscle pain
and weakness, trouble breathing, fast or uneven heart rate, nausea, vomiting,
stomach pain, and
numbness or cold feeling in your arms or legs. Contact your doctor at once if you have any of
these symptoms, even if they are only mild. Early signs of lactic acidosis generally get worse
over time and this condition can be fatal.
Adefovir can also cause serious kidney problems, especially if you have kidney disease or
take certain medications.
Your liver symptoms may become severe after you stop taking adefovir, even months
after stopping. Your doctor may want to check your liver function on a regular basis for several
months after you stop taking adefovir. Do not miss any scheduled appointments.
Avoid having unprotected sex or sharing needles, razors, or toothbrushes. Taking
adefovir will not prevent you from passing hepatitis B to other people. Talk with your doctor
about safe methods of preventing hepatitis transmission during sex, such as using a condom and
spermicide. Sharing drug or medicine needles is never safe, even for a healthy person.
Tell your doctor if you have been exposed to HIV, or if you have untreated HIV or
AIDS. Taking medicines to treat chronic hepatitis B can cause
HIV infection to become resistant
to the standard HIV and AIDS medications. You may need to be tested for HIV before you start
taking adefovir.
What is adefovir?
Adefovir is an antiviral medication. It works by preventing viral cells from multiplying in
the body and infecting new liver cells.
Adefovir is used to treat chronic hepatitis B in adults. This medicine will not cure
hepatitis.
Adefovir may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking adefovir?
Do not use this medication if you are allergic to adefovir.
Before taking adefovir, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have
kidney or liver disease.
Tell your doctor if you have been exposed to HIV, or if you have untreated HIV or
AIDS. Taking medicines to treat chronic hepatitis B can cause HIV infection to become resistant
to the standard HIV and AIDS medications. You may need to be tested for HIV before you start
taking adefovir.
This medication may cause lactic acidosis (the build up of lactic acid in the body).
Lactic acidosis can start slowly and gradually get worse. Symptoms include unusual muscle pain
and weakness, trouble breathing, fast or uneven heart rate, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, and
numbness or cold feeling in your arms or legs. Contact your doctor at once if you have any of
these symptoms, even if they are only mild. Early signs of lactic acidosis generally get worse
over time and this condition can be fatal.
FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell
your doctor if you are
pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.
Your name may need to be listed on an antiviral pregnancy registry if you are pregnant
while using this medication. The purpose of this registry is to track the outcome of the
pregnancy and delivery to evaluate whether adefovir had any effect on the baby.
It is not known whether adefovir 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.
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