Entecavir sides....

[SphereAj]

Dear all
I am been taking entecavir 0.5 mg for 2 months 10 days.  I am experiencing nausea in the morning,  weakness,  sleepy in the day time,,  tired.
I am scared to continue this drug,  but,  do I have a choice? . I am a cyclists,  now if I go cycling then next day I feel totally drained.

On Engr-delacruz suggestion I consulted another hepatologist and he said there was no need for any treatment (as of now)  for me,  but he said since I have started I should continue.

My blood pressure has also dropped from 130/80 to 110/70, my GP has asked me to stop BP medication. Is this due to entecavir

My blood test results as on 1 February 2016 (before medication)
HBsAg positive
HbeAg negative
HBcAB positive
Viral load 6250 iu /ml
HBsAg quantitative 1666.10 IU /ml
SGPT 140 (came down to 69 in 10 days without medication)
SGOT 80 (came down to 65 without medication)
Vitamin D deficiency

I take Solgar 10000IU capsule one perday.

Since my viral load and HBsAg quantitative are low and I am HBsAg negative,  discovering I actually need treatment?

These side effects are real pain in the a..

What may happen if I stop taking entecavir,?

[SphereAj]

Thanks a lot Aduiski
That is reassuring. I need to do something to ward off weakness and fatigue,  I simply love cycling. You have any suggestions for Natural supplements (I am vegetarian)

[Aduiski]

In that case starting with treatment at this point was probably a good choice IMO due your ALT, DNA results, your age and male sex...as without treatment your risks for HCC would be significantly higher considering the mentioned factors. Treatment shall reduce your risks of HCC starting in about 3-4 years from now...you would be advised to undergo 6-monthly HCC screening.

In the case you can't tolerate entecavir in the future you could think of switching to TDF (and consequently TAF when it is available), provided your kidneys are ok.
For kidneys...you could check:
- eGFR
- cystatin C
- creatinine clearance
- 24 hour microalbumin or albumin/creatinine ration (both are urine tests)
- fasting glucose
- blood pressure
If your kidneys are ok you can switch to tenofovir

[SphereAj]

BTW I am male,  my profile shows female, don't know how to change that.

My latest SGPT 34
SGOT 45

[SphereAj]

Hi Aduiski
Yes,  now I am in a kind of a catch 22 situation. I don't mind continuing if not for these bothersome sides

[Aduiski]

Your viral load was not high but also it wasn't low. If viral load stays permanently above 2000 chances for HCC increase significantly compared to levels lower then 2000. ALT of 69 is still very high for females (normal ALT < 19), but yes it did to drop a lot in 10 days....

HBsAg can be considered to be low when it falls under 1000, everything above 1000 is not low IMO

If you didn't start the antivirals you could have followed your virus closely like every 1-2 months...and see whether your DNA and ALT are coming down..but now that you started with treatment situation has slightly changed....

...I don't have suggestions on your next move.

[SphereAj]

Correction in fourth last line, it should read "HbeAg negative" and not "HBsAg negative"

[SphereAj]

Correction in fourth last line it should read "HbeAg negative"  and not "HBsAg negative "