When can I stop Baraclude treatment?

[qor]

I am female, 28 y.o. I have known being the carrier for about 10 years (probably since birth).
I first started treatment since Jan 08, due to very high load of DNA (almost 600m copies) and high AST, ALT (200, 600 respectively). Echographie abdominale shows Liver were functioning well (all following tests showed same result).
As prescribed by doctor, I have been using Baraclude since. After 6 months treatment (Jul 08), ALT, AST were back in normal range. Virus count dropped to less than 30K copies . Anti-Hbe tested Pos. I was told that the treatment objectives were achieved but advised to continue with the medicine to bring back DNA to lower level.
6 months later (1 year after treatment), my DNA test was done again and showed the undetectable level of the virus (<500copies/ml). I expected then the treatment might be able to stop. However I was advised to continue to taking the medicine being afraid that the resistance to the medicine might develop if I stop using. I have since continued the treatment and all follow-up check-up shows very good result.
Most recently, test in Dec 2009 shows AST 16.2, AKT 11.2. HbeAg Neg. Non-detectable virus count (<500copies/ml).
It looks like it is advisable for me to use Baraclude for life, which is although not too much a problem on the finance aspect, but is extremely inconvinient for other aspects of life. This is because I would like to use contraceptive pills for birth control but it is advisable that anyone taking treatment for Hep B shouldn't use pills.
My questions are therefore, in my case, when can I stop Baraclude? My second question followed, if I have to continue w the medicine, what are the options I can use for birth control (beside usage of condom everytime, which is not a prefered choice)?
Thank you very much for helping with my case.

[stef2011]

I ve been taking vit D pills for one month during august

take d3 5000 to 10.00iu daily to make vitd25oh around 100ng/ml and keep taking until you get those serum levels, then slowly find your maintenance dose which should be around 5000iu

[samarium]

Hi all, here are my new analyses (30th month)...

At the beginning of the treatment fibrosis level F3, november 2012 , 7.9Kpa

After 12 months of entecavir therapy:
ALT 29
HBsAg 1178
HBeAg 1.80
HBV-DNA negative

After 24 months of entecavir therapy:
ALT 24
HBsAg 916
HBeAg negative
HBV-DNA negative
antiHBe negative

After 30 months of entecavir monotherapy:
ALT 28
HBsAg 593 UI/mL
HBeAg negative
HBV-DNA negative
antiHBe negative

Doctor is still very positive about my evolution. I have asked him about add-on pegasys and he told me that ETV is working so fast with me and he does not recommend add-on INF. He gave told me congratulations. He is sure I will get HBsAg negative some day no so far...(fingers crossed)

Any recommendation? I ve been taking vit D pills for one month during august... I will buy milk thistle too... anything else?

[Engr_JDelacruz]

For info: Just recieved a call from my diagnostics center (Hi-Precision Diagnostics Philippines). The hbsag w/ titer with a cut of value of 1 which I monitor is a quantitative measure. The machine used is Abott Architect same as the one mentioned by stef and it uses CMIA method. This answers the question that hbsag wich are unitless (iu/ml) is irrelevant. The screening type of hbsag test with no units is only referred as "hbsag test" and it's result will only reflect either "reactive" or "non-reactive" but they do not indicate any values at all. God Bless everyone!

[mustthinkpositive]

Thanks EJD. Keep us update on your treatment and result.

Every individual is different. There is no one treatment for this disease.

Poor DavidEurope had to quit this forum due to information overload and different opinion.

[ggtm]

Actually we need both of such approaches - scientific and hollistic ones. I believe hollistic treatments help, while have not been proven to cure hbv, but thats because of the difficulty to conduct trials and patents as they come fr plants. But every plant also contains chemical compounds (not modified) which may work on our body in a positive way too. Its just that no one knows what is the correct dosage to apply, therefore its best we take natural medicines in moderation and not reply solely on it. So stef and engr_JD, keep up your contributions on this forum! You guys have been a treasure.

[Engr_JDelacruz]

Ok sorry if you think I waste your time. This is a forum, we are not doctors and I just want to share to others some researches and personal history which is all backed up by the numbers and lab test and a succesfully cured chronic hbv infected person and then learn some from you and others research and personal experience also. Every approach differs from the other even doctors contraindicated each other based from their chosen field of study. You probably focus on the antivirals, interferon, the virus itself and stats from clinical trials while I focus more on immunology, molecular and naturaphatic medicine. Our approach may be different but I pray we both get to the same goal which is total cure from hbv.