Indicated for treatment of chronic hepatitis B in adults with evidence of viral replication and evidence of persistent elevations in liver function tests or histologically active disease.
Acute exacerbations of hepatitis B may occur after the drug has been discontinued.
My be associated with myopathy.
Pimarily excreted by the kidneys and dose adjustments need to be made for creatinine clearance less than 50 mL/min.
Mot common side effects are fatigue and malaise, abdominal pain, nasopharyngitis, headache, elevated CPH level, cough, nausea and vomiting, upper respiratory infections, influenza like symptoms and diarrhea.
A monotherapy associated with peripheral neuropathy 0.3% of the time, but when combined with pegylated interferon alfa-2a there is a marked increase in the risk.