Does EPIVIR-HBV increase blood Ferritin level? Any risk for high ferritin?

An interesting question for doctors who treat HBV patients, I appeciate your expert opinion to help me to live long enough so I can see my new born baby grow up.  
I am 43 year old male.  I have taken EPIVIR-HBV for about 2.5 years.  My SGOT and SGTP drop from 60 to 34, Virus counts drop from 6  (or 60) millions to below the detection limit except one test was shown at 400 (the test was done after 3 days interruption of taking Epivir).  There is no antibody yet and the surface antigen is positive.  I don't have significant side effect, except back muscle minor sore.  The resistence to cold virus apeare to be incresed (my friend who also take Epivir experience the same thing).  Ferrtin was included in the recent couple blood tests and these levels were at 550 (iron is normal).  Is this possible the side effect of the Epivir? Does Epivir kill the infected liver cell as well as the good one and that cause the ferritin level increased? Is there any risk at the level of 550?
My GI doctor said if the virus count below the dectection limit and won't come back after the termination of taking Epivir, I don't have to continue it.   This time he prescribed another type of medicne to prevent drug resistance developed, however, it's not covered by my HMO.  Shall I continue to take Epivir until the resistance happen?  When I can stop taking it?  Shall I increase the frequency of virus count once I terminate the use of Epivir?  When shall the first virus count needs to be done after the termination of Epivir?  Will I become more suceptable to cold virus after the termination of Epivir.

[Wasabi Pea]

I don't know much about Hepatitic B (I'm a Hep C patient), but I couldn't help but notice your complaint of high ferritin coupled with your handle.

Just wondered if perhaps you've ever been tested for thalassemia.  My mother is from Taiwan, and our whole family seems to be affected by it in some way.  Apparently, the thalassemia trait appears with more frequency among Asians and Mediterraneans.

This is not to give you something else to worry about.  It's just that I have similar ferritin levels (31 y.o. female), and they say it's due to thalassemia minor or thalassemia intermedia.

Anyway, I've had it all my life, and it doesn't seem to have too much effect on me...just feel more fatigued easier than the next person, I suppose.  But if this is a trait you carry, then your medication is probably not affecting your ferritin levels...it just might be a result of a trait you carry.

Anyway, I thought you might ask your doctor about it to set your mind at ease about your medication.

Good luck with everything.  I hope you clear with success.  Just the brief conversation I had with a hepatologist recently made it sound as though the success rates are so much higher in Hep B.  So I wish you all the best of health.

[calagold]

If you are concerned about the resistance from Epivir, you definitely should switch to another drug. If your HMO does not cover the drug, go to the drug company web site for patient assistance program for free supply of drug.