Generic Name: lamivudine

Pronunciation: EP-i-veer

Abbreviation: N/A

Other Market Name: N/A

Drug Class: Nucleoside/Nucleotide Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NRTIs)

Company: GlaxoSmithKline

Approval Status: Approved

Generic Version Available: No

Experimental Code: N/A

Drug Indication

FDA-approved for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B infection in adults and children at least 2 years old with evidence of hepatitis B viral replication and active liver inflammation or damage.

General Info

  • Epivir-HBV was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use by adults with chronic hepatitis B in 1995.
  • In clinical studies, 55 to 56 percent of participants showed improved liver biopsy results after 52 weeks of therapy.

Dosage

Adult Dose:

Age 18 years and older: 100 mg once daily, with or without food. For those with decompensated liver disease: 1 mg once daily. Dosage adjustment is recommended for people with kidney disease.

Pediatric Dose: Children 2 to 17 years: 3 mg per kg once daily, up to 100 mg once daily in oral solution for children requiring less than 100 mg daily. Take with or without food

Dosing Info: Treatment length is indefinite and depends on clinical outcomes. Do not change your dose or stop taking Epivir-HBV without talking to your medical provider.

Side Effects

  • The most common side effects are ear, nose and throat infections, sore throat and diarrhea.
  • Epivir-HBV may cause severe liver problems or a serious condition called lactic acidosis (buildup of acid in the blood).
  • Risk of HIV-1 resistance in people with unknown HIV-1 infection or in people with untreated HIV-1 infection.

Drug Interactions

  • For a review of drug interactions, including prescription and over-the-counter medications and supplements that should not be taken with Epivir or may require dose adjustments, consult the Epivir package insert. 

Other Info

  • HIV testing is recommended prior to taking Epivir-HBV.
  • There are no adequate, well-controlled studies in pregnant women who have taken Epivir-HBV. Epivir-HBV should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus.
  • The safety of breast feeding while taking Epivir-HBV has not been established, and it is recommended that Epivir-HBV be discontinued if breast-feeding.
  • A generic version of lamivudine used to treat HIV is also available, but the drugs are not interchangeable.

For More Info: https://www.gsksource.com/pharma/content/dam/GlaxoSmithKline/US/en/Prescribing_Information/Epivir-HBV/pdf/EPIVIR-HBV-PI-PIL.PDF

Co-Pay Program Info: https://www.hepmag.com/basics/hepatitis-b-basics/paying-hepatitis-b-treatment

Patient Assistance Program Info: https://www.hepmag.com/basics/hepatitis-b-basics/paying-hepatitis-b-treatment

Last Reviewed: December 22, 2021