ADEFOVIR What should you do if you FORGET a and decreases in kidney function. Blood dose? tests must be done regularly to look for these adverse effects.  Other NAMES: Hepsera If you miss a dose of adefovir, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is time Kidney failure has occurred with WHY is this drug prescribed? for your next dose, do not double the patients who have received very high dose, just carry on with your regular doses of adefovir (ten times the dose Adefovir is an antiviral drug that is part schedule. that you will be receiving). of the nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitor family. It is used to treat Why should you not forget to take Rarely, some people can develop a skin hepatitis B infection (a type of liver this drug? rash and itchiness. Please consult with disease caused by the hepatitis B virus). a doctor if this occurs. It acts by decreasing hepatitis B virus If you miss doses of adefovir, the replication. This then decreases amount of hepatitis B virus in your blood It is important that you keep your damage to the liver. (known as the HBV viral load) will start doctor appointments and come for increasing again and your liver can be your laboratory tests so that your Adefovir was previously used at much further damaged. Missing doses can progress can be followed. higher doses to manage HIV. It is no stop adefovir from being active. A longer suggested for the treatment of phenomenon known as resistance . As What other PRECAUTIONS should HIV as the high doses necessary can be much as possible, try to take all the you follow while using this drug? toxic to the kidneys. doses of adefovir. Please do not stop

adefovir without talking to your doctor Before starting adefovir, please inform HOW should this drug be taken? first. your doctor if you have kidney problems

or if you are infected by HIV. For the treatment of hepatitis B, the What ADVERSE EFFECTS can this usual dose is 10 mg (1 tablet) once a drug cause? What should you do You must make sure that you are taking day. The dosage may need to be about them? the right dose. If you take higher doses adjusted if you have kidney problems. of adefovir than what is prescribed, you Adefovir can be taken with or without Most adverse effects reported with may increase the chance of having food. adefovir are mild and uncommon. adverse effects. If you take lower doses

These may include headache, fatigue, of adefovir than what is prescribed, the Your dosage is: diarrhea, intestinal gas, nausea and hepatitis B virus may become resistant

vomiting. If these effects occur and are to adefovir. 10 mg tablet bothersome, please discuss this with

your doctor or pharmacist. Adefovir should not be taken together ____ tablet (____mg) once a day with tenofovir (Viread ), or products Other adverse effects that have been that contain tenofovir including

observed are increases in liver enzymes Truvada  and Atripla .

As adefovir is eliminated by the kidneys, Write questions or concerns down to it is possible that it may interfere with ensure they are addressed. other drugs that are also eliminated by  the kidneys (eg. didanosine (Videx ), The following pharmacist is available to probenecid (Benuryl )). Inform your answer questions: doctor and pharmacist of all prescribed ADEFOVIR and non-prescribed drugs you are Pharmacist: ______taking. As well, you should inform them of natural products you are taking. If you Telephone: ______wish to start a new drug or natural product, please consult with your pharmacist before doing so.

The safety of adefovir during pregnancy MEDICATION or breastfeeding has not yet been established. Please discuss this with your doctor if this is a concern. FACT SHEET

How should this drug be STORED?

Adefovir tablets should be stored in their original container in a cool (15-30 °C) dry place, protected from light and well out of the reach of children. Ensure that the drug has not expired by checking the expiry date (“EXP”) shown on the outside of the package.

Do not store in your bathroom or kitchen, as heat and moisture may cause the drug to be less active.

If you have any questions or Reference: Adefovir (Hepsera ) Product Monograph. concerns about this drug or if you Gilead Sciences Canada Inc. Mississauga, ON, Canada, are experiencing adverse effects, 2009. Prepared by the Ontario HIV Pharmacy Professional Specialty Group, 2003. Reviewed 2009. please discuss them with your pharmacist, doctor or nurse. Additional medication fact sheets and updates may be found at: www.hivclinic.ca