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In this Article

• What is telbivudine (Tyzeka)?
• What are the possible side effects of telbivudine (Tyzeka)?
• What is the most important information I should know about telbivudine (Tyzeka)?
• What should I discuss with my health care provider before taking telbivudine (Tyzeka)?
• How should I take telbivudine (Tyzeka)?
• What happens if I miss a dose (Tyzeka)?
• What happens if I overdose (Tyzeka)?
• What should I avoid while taking telbivudine (Tyzeka)?
• What other drugs will affect telbivudine (Tyzeka)?
• Where can I get more information?

What should I discuss with my health care provider before taking telbivudine (Tyzeka)?

You should not use this medication if you are allergic to telbivudine.

If you have any of these other conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely use this medication:

• 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.

This medication may cause lactic acidosis (the build up of lactic acid in the body, which can be fatal). You may be more likely to develop lactic acidosis if you are overweight, if you are a woman, or if you have taken certain HIV or AIDS medications for a long time. Talk with your doctor about your individual risk. Early signs of lactic acidosis generally get worse over time and this condition can be fatal.

It is not known whether this medication is safe to use while you are pregnant. Telbivudine 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 telbivudine.

Your name may need to be listed on a pregnancy registry if you become pregnant while you are taking telbivudine. The purpose of this registry is to track the outcome of the pregnancy and delivery to evaluate whether the medication had any effect on the baby.

It is not known whether telbivudine passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Do not give telbivudine to a child younger than 16 years old without the advice of a doctor.

How should I take telbivudine (Tyzeka)?

Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

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

It is important to use telbivudine regularly to get the most benefit. Get your prescription refilled before you run out of medicine completely. Do not stop taking this medication without talking to your doctor.

While taking telbivudine, you should remain under the care of a doctor. Your blood will need to be checked on a regular basis.

Your liver symptoms may become severe after you stop taking this medication, even months after stopping. Your doctor may want to check your liver function at regular visits for several months after you stop taking telbivudine. Do not miss any scheduled visits.

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

Store telbivudine at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

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