Table of Contents
Medications
Medications for Chronic Hepatitis B
Seven drugs are currently approved in the United States for treatment of chronic hepatitis B:
- Peginterferon alfa-2a (Pegasys)
- Interferon-alfa-2b (Intron A)
- Lamivudine (Epivir-HBV)
- Entecavir (Baraclude)
- Telbivudine (Tyzeka)
- Adefovir (Hepsera)
- Tenofovir (Viread)
These drugs block the replication of hepatitis B in the body. They may also help prevent the development of progressive liver disease (cirrhosis and liver failure) and the development of liver cancer.
A doctor will decide which drug to prescribe based on a patient's age, disease severity, and other factors. A combination of drugs may also be prescribed. Peginterferon alfa-2a, entecavir, and tenofovir are the preferred drugs for first-line long-term treatment.
It is not always clear which patients with chronic hepatitis B should receive drug therapy and when drug therapy should be started. Therapy is generally indicated for patients who have experienced a rapid deterioration in liver function, or patients with cirrhosis complications such as ascites and hemorrhage. [For more information on complications of cirrhosis, see In-Depth Report #75: Cirrhosis.]
Patients who are receiving immunosuppressive therapy for other medical conditions or who have had reactivation of chronic hepatitis B are also appropriate candidates.
Peginterferon alfa-2a. Peginterferon alfa-2a (Pegasys) was approved in 2005 for treatment of chronic hepatitis B. (Peginterferon is also called pegylated interferon.) This drug prevents the hepatitis B virus from replicating and also helps boost the immune system. It is given as a weekly injection. Peginterferon is sometimes prescribed in combination with lamivudine (Epivir-HBV).
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Review Date: 09/29/2010
Reviewed By: Harvey Simon, MD, Editor-in-Chief, In-Depth Reports; Associate
Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Physician,
Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD,
MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
