Manufacturer: Wockhardt Ltd
Salt Composition : Entecavir(0.5mg)
Alentos 0.5mg Tablet is not a cure for HIV or AIDS and only helps to decrease the amount of HIV in your body. This helps to lower your risk of getting HIV-related complications and improves your lifespan. It is prescribed in combination with other HIV medicines. Your doctor will recommend the best medicines for you and will decide the doses that you need. Follow carefully the instructions for all the medicines that you are given. It can be taken with or without food. Taking all these medicines regularly at the right times greatly increases their effectiveness and reduces the chances of HIV becoming resistant to them. It is important not to miss doses and to keep taking them until your doctor tells you it is safe to stop.
Entecavir is a guanosine nucleoside analogue with selective activity against hepatitis B virus (HBV). It is designed to selectively inhibit the Hepatitis B virus, blocking all three steps in the replication process. Entecavir is more efficient than an older Hepatitis B drug, lamivudine.
Entecavir had a mean terminal half-life ranging from 128 to 149 hours and an effective half-life of approximately 24 hours. Elimination was predominantly through renal excretion, with mean urinary recovery ranging from 62% to 73%.
Most side effects do not require any medical attention and disappear as your body adjusts to the medicine. Consult your doctor if they persist or if you’re worried about them
Common side effects of Alentos
Headache
Nausea
Rash
Vomiting
Fatigue
Stomach pain
Diarrhea
increased blood acidity due to high levels of lactic acid.
enlarged fatty liver.
abnormal liver function tests.
moderate to severe kidney impairment.
drug resistance to anti-retroviral therapy.
Alentos 0.5mg Tablet may be unsafe to use during pregnancy. Although there are limited studies in humans, animal studies have shown harmful effects on the developing baby. Your doctor will weigh the benefits and any potential risks before prescribing it to you. Please consult your doctor.
It is not known whether it is safe to consume alcohol with Alentos 0.5mg Tablet. Please consult your doctor.
Alentos 0.5mg Tablet is probably unsafe to use during breastfeeding. Limited human data suggests that the drug may pass into the breastmilk and harm the baby.
Entavir 0.5mg Tablet is used in the treatment of HIV infection and chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. It prevents the multiplication of virus in human cells. This stops the virus from producing new viruses and clears up your infection.
Acetylsalicylic Acid (aspirin)
Aspir 81 (aspirin)
Calcium 600 D (calcium / vitamin d)
Ginkgo Biloba (ginkgo)
Metoprolol Succinate ER (metoprolol)
Paracetamol (acetaminophen)
Pomalyst (pomalidomide)
Prilosec (omeprazole)
Do not chew, crush or break it. Alentos 0.5mg Tablet is to be taken empty stomach.
Store below 30°C
If you miss a dose of Alentos 0.5mg Tablet, 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 schedule. Do not double the dose.
Consult a doctor before taking any medicines.
You have been prescribed Alentos 0.5mg Tablet for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.
Take it on an empty stomach, at least 2 hours after or before a meal.
Alentos 0.5mg Tablet may cause dizziness or sleepiness. Do not drive or do anything requiring concentration until you know how it affects you.
You may still develop infections or other illnesses associated with viral infection while taking this medication.
During treatment and for at least six months after stopping this medicine, regular blood tests are needed to monitor your liver function, level of hepatitis B virus and blood cells in your blood.
Take this medicine in the dose and duration as advised by your doctor. Swallow it as a whole. Do not chew, crush or break it. Alentos 0.5mg Tablet is to be taken empty stomach.
Q. How should Alentos 0.5mg Tablet be taken?
You should take Alentos 0.5mg Tablet exactly as prescribed by your doctor and continue taking it till your doctor tells you to stop. It is usually taken once a day on an empty stomach, at least 2 hours after a meal and at least 2 hours before the next meal. It is advised to take it around the same time every day. If not sure, consult your doctor.
Q. Can Alentos 0.5mg Tablet cause liver problems?
Yes, Alentos 0.5mg Tablet can cause serious liver problems like hepatomegaly (enlargement of the liver) and steatosis (an increased build-up of fat in the liver). It is important to know that hepatomegaly along with steatosis is a serious medical emergency which requires immediate medical attention.
Q. What are the symptoms of serious liver problems?
The symptoms of liver problems include jaundice (a condition in which your skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow), dark-colored urine, light-colored stools, loss of appetite, nausea and stomach pain. These symptoms are more common in women, overweight patients, or if you have been on Alentos 0.5mg Tablet for a long time. Immediately contact your doctor if you experience any such symptoms.
Q. What is drug resistance? Can I develop drug resistance with Alentos 0.5mg Tablet?
Drug resistance is a state where the medicine which was once effective in treating an infection becomes ineffective. This mainly happens due to the ability acquired by the virus or bacteria to get modified inside the body which affects the overall working of the medicine. Hence, the medicine is no longer able to fight against the virus or bacteria. Generally, drug resistance with Alentos 0.5mg Tablet is more likely to happen if you take less dose than what is recommended.
Q. How long should I take Alentos 0.5mg Tablet?
Do not stop taking entecavir without consulting your doctor. Stopping entecavir before treatment may worsen your hepatitis. This can happen during the first several months after you stop taking entecavir. Take the medicine strictly as advised and do not miss any dose.
Q. What if HIV infection co-exists with HBV infection? Will this affect treatment with Alentos 0.5mg Tablet?
The use of Alentos 0.5mg Tablet is not recommended in HBV patients who are also diagnosed with HIV, until and unless these patients start taking medicines for HIV management. Starting Alentos 0.5mg Tablet in such patients may cause resistance to the prescribed HIV medicines. Therefore, doctors recommend tests for HIV in patients diagnosed with HBV infection before starting treatment with Alentos 0.5mg Tablet.
Q. Can Alentos 0.5mg Tablet cure hepatitis B?
No, Alentos 0.5mg Tablet does not cure hepatitis B but may improve the condition of the liver. The medicine may help decrease the amount of hepatitis B virus (HBV) present in the body. This is done by limiting the ability of HBV to multiply and further infect new liver cells.
