tyzeka

Tyzeka (telbivudine) is an antiviral medication. It works by preventing viral cells from multiplying in the body and infecting new liver cells.

Tyzeka is used to treat chronic hepatitis B in adults. This medicine will not cure hepatitis.

Tyzeka may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Important information

Some people devlop lactic acidosis while taking Tyzeka. Early symptoms may get worse over time and this condition can be fatal. Get emergency medical help if you have even mild symptoms such as: muscle pain or weakness, numb or cold feeling in your arms and legs, trouble breathing, stomach pain, nausea with vomiting, fast or uneven heart rate, dizziness, or feeling very weak or tired.

Your liver symptoms may become severe after you stop taking Tyzeka, even months after stopping. Your doctor may want to check your liver function for several months after you stop taking Tyzeka. Visit your doctor regularly.

Taking Tyzeka will not prevent you from passing hepatitis B to other people. Avoid having unprotected sex or sharing razors or toothbrushes. Talk with your doctor about safe ways to prevent transmission during sex. Sharing drug or medicine needles is never safe, even for a healthy person.

Before taking this medicine

You should not take Tyzeka if you are allergic to telbivudine, or if you are also using peginterferon alfa-2b (PegIntron, PegIntron Redipen, Sylatron).

To make sure you can safely take Tyzeka, tell your doctor if you have any of these other conditions:

• kidney disease;
• other types of hepatitis (C or D);

• HIV or AIDS;

• if you have received a liver transplant; or

• if any hepatitis B medications you received in the past did not work well in treating your condition.

Some people develop a life-threatening condition called lactic acidosis while taking Tyzeka. You may be more likely to develop lactic acidosis if you are overweight or have liver disease, if you are a woman, or if you have taken HIV or AIDS medications for a long time. Talk with your doctor about your individual risk.

It is not known whether this medication is safe to use while you are pregnant. Tyzeka may not keep you from passing hepatitis B to your unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while you are taking Tyzeka.

If you are pregnant, your name may be listed on a pregnancy registry. This is to track the outcome of the pregnancy and to evaluate any effects of Tyzeka on the baby.

It is not known whether telbivudine passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use Tyzeka without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. Do not give Tyzeka to a child younger than 16 years old without the advice of a doctor.

How should I take Tyzeka?

Take Tyzeka exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

Tyzeka may be taken with or without food. Take the medicine at the same time each day.

Use Tyzeka regularly to get the most benefit. Get your prescription refilled before you run out of medicine completely.

While taking Tyzeka, you should remain under the care of a doctor. Your blood will need to be checked often.

Your liver symptoms may become severe after you stop taking Tyzeka, even months after stopping. Your doctor may want to check your liver function for several months after you stop taking Tyzeka. Visit your doctor regularly.

If your condition worsens after you stop taking Tyzeka, your doctor may recommend that you restart this medication or another treatment for hepatitis B.

Store Tyzeka at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

Throw away any unused or expired Tyzeka tablets in a closed container or sealed bag. You may also ask your pharmacist where to locate a community pharmaceutical take-back disposal program.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

What should I avoid?

Taking Tyzeka will not prevent you from passing hepatitis B to other people. Avoid having unprotected sex or sharing razors or toothbrushes. Talk with your doctor about safe ways to prevent transmission during sex. Sharing drug or medicine needles is never safe, even for a healthy person.

Tyzeka side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction to Tyzeka: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. This medication may cause lactic acidosis (a build-up of lactic acid in the body, which can be fatal). Lactic acidosis can start slowly and get worse over time.

Get emergency medical help if you have even mild symptoms of lactic acidosis, such as:

• muscle pain or weakness;

• numb or cold feeling in your arms and legs;

• trouble breathing;

• feeling dizzy, light-headed, tired, or very weak;

• stomach pain, nausea with vomiting; or

• fast or uneven heart rate.

Call your doctor at once if you have any other serious side effects, such as:

• muscle tenderness, or weakness (may occur several weeks or months after you start taking Tyzeka);

• fever or flu symptoms and dark colored urine;

• burning, pain or tingly feeling in your arms or legs; or

• liver symptoms - nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Less serious Tyzeka side effects may include:

• cough, sore throat;

• headache, tired feeling;

• dizziness;

• muscle aches;

• low fever;

• bloating, mild nausea, vomiting, diarrhea;

• itching or mild skin rash;

• joint pain, back pain; or

• sleep problems (insomnia).

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

See also: Side effects (in more detail)

What other drugs will affect Tyzeka?

Tell your doctor about all other medications you use, especially:

• cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune)

• erythromycin (E.E.S., EryPed, Ery-Tab, Erythrocin, Pediazole);

• penicillamine (Cuprimine, Depen);

• zidovudine (Retrovir);

• an antifungal medication such as fluconazole (Diflucan), itraconazole (Sporanox), ketoconazole (Nizoral), posaconazole (Noxafil), voriconazole (Vfend);

• anti-malaria drugs such as chloroquine (Aralen), hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil, Quineprox);

• cholesterol-lowering medicines such as atorvastatin (Lipitor, Caduet), clofibrate (Atromid), fenofibrate (Antara, Lofibra, TriCor), gemfibrozil (Lopid), niacin (Advicor, Niacor, Niaspan, Nicobid), simvastatin (Zocor, Simcor, Vytorin), and others;

• an interferon such as Actimmune, Alferon N, Avonex, Betaseron, Infergen, Intron A, Rebetron, Rebif, Roferon-A, or peginterferon alfa-2a (Pegasys); or

• steroids (prednisone and others).

This list is not complete and other drugs may interact with Tyzeka. Tell your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal products. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.