Is anyone on Bariclude?

[shawzam]

What kind of side effects have you had and how intense are they on Bariclude?

[zellyf]

I'm with Steven on this one.  I know that the effects of long term use of entecavir are not clearly understood but here's what we know: entecavir is useful in suppressing viral replication.  There is a strong correlation between prolonged high viral replication and cirrhosis and/or HCC.  This is a case where the devil you know is probably not better than the devil you don't.  

[stevenNYer]

Yes, if your kidney function is already compromised, you may not want to use Adefovir.  If I remember correctly, Adefovir was initially in trial at a higher dosage as a HIV med.  A significant number of participants developed kidney problems.  Thus, it was scratched as an HIV med and it dosage was reduced and still worked well as a HepB med.  Those whom I know uses it for HepB are fine without kidney problems.

"Entecavir at high doses in rodents was associated with a variety of tumors"
I don't worry about this too much.  Entecavir works well to reduce HBV DNA, which is important since there is a strong correlation between high HBV DNA and HCC (primary liver cancer).  It's a matter of balance.  Can't predict the future but I still feel more comfortable with an UND DNA then the slightly possibility that a said med is associated with tumors in rodents.  Plus, we are far from rodents.  Saccharin has a warning label that it may cause cancer in rodents.  Last time I check they still sell that in the supermarkets for baking cakes, coffee, tea, etc.  Or look at it this way, many many drugs work in rodent and does nothing in human trials.

I wanted to comment on this issue because I don't want people who should be treating to be scared away from these type of info.  Remember, I am not anti or pro anything...just pro-health.

[Ann8]

Adefovir is > associated with a small risk for
nephrotoxicity. Entecavir at high > doses in rodents was associated with a
variety of tumors, prompting > the manufacturer to pledge a 10-year follow-up
study to establish its > long-term safety in humans. Furthermore, currently
available > hepatitis B treatments are very expensive, and their efficacy in >
maintaining viral suppression is diminished by the selection of >
drug-resistant mutations during long-term therapy. - Just found this in HBV research!

[stevenNYer]

I updated our HepB health page to include more treatment on antivirals.  You should read it.  

I am on Entecavir (Baraclude) / Tenofovir combo-therapy.  Most will tolerate it very well (incuding me) without noticeable side-effects.  But do keep in mind everyone is different.  But chance are you won't feel anything...hopefully :)