Adefovir (Systemic)
Brand Names : Hepsera
Before Using This MedicineIn deciding to use a medicine,
the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will
do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For adefovir, the following
should be considered:
Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual
or allergic reaction to adefovir. Also tell your doctor and pharmacist if
you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or
dyes.
Pregnancy - Adefovir has not been studied in pregnant women.
However, studies in animals have shown that adefovir may cause birth defects
or other problems. Before taking this medicine, make sure your doctor knows
if you are pregnant or if you may become pregnant.
Breast-feeding - It is not known whether adefovir passes into
breast milk. However, it should not be used by women who are breast-feeding
because it may cause unwanted effects in nursing babies.
Children - Studies on adefovir have been done only in adult
patients, and there is no specific information comparing the use of adefovir
in children with use in other age groups.
Older adults - Many medicines have not been studied specifically
in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly
the same way they do in younger adults. Older patients should use this medicine
with caution. Elderly people can be especially sensitive to the effects of
medicines.
Other medicines - Although certain medicines should not be used
together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together
even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to
change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking
adefovir, it is especially important that your doctor and pharmacist know
if you are taking any of the following:
-
Nephrotoxic medicines (medicines that can be harmful to your kidneys),
such as:
-
Aminoglycosides (medicines used to treat infection) or
-
Cyclosporine (e.g., Sandimmune or Neoral) or
-
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (medicines used to treat
pain and inflammation) or
-
Tacrolimus (e.g. Prograf) or
-
Vancomycin (medicine used to treat severe infections) - Using
these medicines with adefovir may cause you to have a higher chance of having
problems with your kidneys.
-
Nucleoside analog medicines (other antiviral medicines), such as:
-
Abacavir (e.g. Ziagen) or
-
Abacavir, Lamivudine, and Zidovudine (e.g. Trizivir) or
-
Didanosine (e.g. Videx) or
-
Lamivudine (e.g. Epivir) or
-
Lamivudine and Zidovudine (e.g. Combivir) or
-
Stavudine (e.g. Zerit) or
-
Tenofovir (e.g. Viread) or
-
Zalcitabine (e.g. Hivid) or
-
Zidovudine (e.g. Retrovir) - Using these medicines with adefovir
may cause you to have a higher chance of having problems with your liver or
developing lactic acidosis.
Other medical problems - The presence of other medical
problems may affect the use of adefovir. Make sure you tell your doctor if
you have any other medical problems, especially:
-
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) - It is important to talk
to your doctor about the HIV virus before starting this medicine. Adefovir
can make this condition worse.
-
Kidney problems - Adefovir can cause kidney problems and your
doctor may want to change your dose.
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