Has your doctor told you or someone in your family has Hepatitis B? If so, you may have been prescribed a medication called Tenofovir alafenamide as a treatment. It is available under the brand name Vemlidy. So today, let's talk in a very simple and friendly way about what this medication is, how exactly to use it, and what things to be careful about.
What is this medicine?
Simply put, tenofovir alafinamide is an antiviral drug . Its main function is to control the hepatitis B virus in your body. That is, this drug reduces the virus from multiplying in your body, thereby minimizing the damage to your liver. This is a treatment that controls the disease and protects the liver, rather than curing it completely.
Things to tell your doctor before starting medication
Before starting this medication, it is very important to discuss some things about your health with your doctor, as that information will determine whether this medication is right for you or not.
| Your health status | Why is that important? |
|---|---|
| If you have kidney disease. | Since this medicine is excreted from the body through the kidneys, care should be taken regarding kidney function. |
| If you have another liver disease. | If you have any other liver problems in addition to hepatitis B, your doctor should be aware of that. |
| If you have bone problems. | Since this medication can rarely affect bone density, it is important to be aware of this beforehand. |
| If you are pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or breastfeeding. | In these cases, it is important to consider the possible impact on the child, so it is important to talk to the doctor about this. |
| If you are an alcoholic. | Since alcohol is harmful to the liver, talk honestly with your doctor about alcohol use during treatment. |
| If you have an allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicine or food. | It is very important to inform about any allergies in advance. |
How should I use this medicine?
This is a pill that you take. It is very important to take it at the same time every day, exactly as your doctor prescribed.
- Take with food: Remember, this medicine should be taken with a meal . Do not take on an empty stomach.
- Take with a glass of water: Swallow the tablet whole with a glass of water.
- Do not skip doses: For the treatment to be successful, never skip a dose of the medicine. Doing so can cause the virus to become resistant to the medicine (drug resistance). Continue taking the medicine until your doctor tells you to stop.
- If given to children: This medicine is sometimes given to children over the age of 12. But only on medical advice.
What to do if you miss a dose of medication?
If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the scheduled time. Never take a double dose.
What if I take too much medicine?
If you think you have taken too much medicine, immediately call the National Poisons Information Centre at the Colombo National Hospital or go to the Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) of the nearest hospital.
This medicine has been prescribed for you only. Therefore, do not share your medicine with anyone else.
Interactions with other medications
It is imperative that you inform your doctor if you are taking other medications while taking this medicine. Some medications may interact with this medicine and cause side effects. Be especially careful with the following medications.
- Some types of antibiotics: For example, drugs like Rifampin and Rifabutin.
- Medicines for seizures : Medicines like Carbamazepine and Phenytoin.
- Medicines given for other viral infections: Medicines like Acyclovir, Ganciclovir.
- Painkillers (NSAIDs): Commonly used painkillers like Ibuprofen and Diclofenac.
- St. John's Wort: This is an herbal product.
This list is not complete, so tell your doctor about every medicine, herb, or vitamin you take.
Things to be careful about when taking medicine
- Regular medical tests: Your doctor will often ask you to have blood tests. They check whether the medicine is working and whether it is affecting your liver and kidneys. So don't skip those tests.
- Stopping the medication: Do not stop taking this medication suddenly for any reason without your doctor's advice. Doing so may cause your hepatitis B infection to suddenly become severe.
- HIV status: If you are also infected with HIV, you should tell your doctor. You will then need to start separate treatment for HIV along with this medicine.
- Preventing the spread of the disease: Hepatitis B is a disease that is spread through blood and sexual contact. So talk to your doctor about how to prevent spreading the disease to others.
Possible side effects of the medicine
Like any medication, this one can cause some side effects. Some of them can be serious, so it's important to be aware of them.
| Side effect | Description |
|---|---|
| Side effects that should be reported to your doctor immediately | |
| Allergic reactions | Skin rash, itching, swelling of the face, lips or tongue. |
| Symptoms of liver damage | Dark yellow or brown urine, yellowing of the eyes or skin, pain in the upper right part of the stomach, nausea, loss of appetite. |
| Symptoms of kidney damage | Difficulty urinating or a change in the amount of urine you pass. |
| Other serious symptoms | Bone pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, fast or irregular heartbeat, muscle pain. |
| Side effects that are usually not serious, but should be reported to the doctor if they persist | |
| Headache | General headache. |
| Cough | Slight cough. |
| Tiredness | Body fatigue. |
How to store the medicine?
- Keep away from children.
- Store at room temperature, below 30 degrees Celsius (30°C).
- Throw away expired medicine.
Take-Home Message
- Take the medicine exactly as prescribed by your doctor, at the right time, and in the right dosage.
- Always take this medicine with a meal.
- Tell your doctor about all other medications, vitamins, and herbal products you are taking.
- Do not stop taking the medication suddenly without your doctor's advice.
- If you notice any serious side effects, such as allergic reactions or signs of liver or kidney damage, seek medical advice immediately.
- Do not skip scheduled medical examinations and blood tests.
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