austavir 0.5 tablet - Entecavir (0.5mg) medicine

Austavir 0.5 Tablet - Uses, Price, Side Effects

4.4 (14 reviews)
๐Ÿญ Care Formulation Labs Pvt Ltd ๐Ÿ“ฆ Varies by brand ๐Ÿ’Š Allopathy ๐Ÿ“… Updated: Aug 23, 2026
๐Ÿ“‹ Prescription Required ๐Ÿ’Š Generic Available
Medically Reviewed
SaathiMed Expert Panel | Aug 23, 2026

What is austavir 0.5 tablet used for?

Austavir 0.5 Tablet contains Entecavir 0.5mg, an antiviral medication used to treat chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in adults and children. It works by reducing the amount of HBV in the body, improving liver function, and slowing the progression of liver disease. It is taken once daily on an empty stomach.

  • Generic Name: Entecavir
  • Manufacturer: Care Formulation Labs Pvt Ltd
  • Form: Allopathy
  • Pregnancy Category: A
  • Prescription Required: Yes
๐Ÿ’ก Did You Know? Over 80% of the antiretroviral drugs used globally to combat AIDS are supplied by Indian pharmaceutical companies.

๐Ÿ’Š austavir 0.5 tablet Uses & Benefits

Chronic hepatitis B virus infection in adults with compensated or decompensated liver disease.

Off-label uses: Prophylaxis of hepatitis B reactivation in immunosuppressed patients.

๐Ÿ“‹ Drug Information

Generic Name(s)Entecavir
Brand NameAnticanol 0.5 Tablet
ManufacturerCare Formulation Labs Pvt Ltd
Packaging / FormVaries by brand (Allopathy)
Therapeutic ClassANTI INFECTIVES
Action ClassNucleoside/nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs)
Route of AdministrationOral.
StorageStore at 20-25ยฐC (68-77ยฐF); protect from moisture.
Shelf LifeAs per manufacturer

๐Ÿ”ฌ Pharmacology (PK/PD)

Pharmacokinetics

AbsorptionRapidly absorbed after oral administration with peak plasma concentrations within 0.5-1.5 hours.
DistributionWidely distributed into tissues; volume of distribution approximately 0.7 L/kg.
Protein BindingApproximately 13% bound to human serum proteins.
MetabolismNot significantly metabolized; minor glucuronidation and sulfation.
Half-LifeApproximately 128-149 hours (accumulation half-life).
ExcretionPrimarily excreted unchanged in urine (62-73%) via glomerular filtration and tubular secretion.
BioavailabilityApproximately 100% after oral administration.
Onset of ActionRapid; viral suppression begins within days.
Peak Plasma Time0.5-1.5 hours.
Duration of ActionLong duration due to long half-life; once-daily dosing.

How It Works

Entecavir is a guanosine nucleoside analogue that inhibits hepatitis B virus (HBV) polymerase. It undergoes intracellular phosphorylation to the active triphosphate form, which competes with natural deoxyguanosine triphosphate and inhibits HBV DNA polymerase (reverse transcriptase) activity, leading to inhibition of viral replication.

Mechanism Steps

1Entecavir enters hepatocytes via nucleoside transporters.
2Intracellular phosphorylation by cellular kinases to entecavir triphosphate.
3Competitive inhibition of HBV DNA polymerase (reverse transcriptase) by binding to the enzyme.

๐Ÿ’ก How to Take austavir 0.5 tablet

Follow your doctor's prescription exactly.

Dosage Timeline

๐ŸŒ… Morning โœ… โ˜€๏ธ Afternoon โŒ ๐ŸŒ† Evening โœ… ๐ŸŒ™ Night โŒ

โš ๏ธ Side Effects of austavir 0.5 tablet

โœ… Common Side Effects

  • Headache
  • Fatigue
  • Dizziness
  • Nausea
  • Diarrhea
  • Dyspepsia
  • Insomnia

๐Ÿšจ Serious Side Effects

  • Lactic acidosis
  • Severe hepatomegaly with steatosis
  • Acute exacerbation of hepatitis B upon discontinuation
  • Pancreatitis

โš ๏ธ Rare Side Effects

  • Alopecia
  • Rash
  • Myalgia
  • Arthralgia
  • Elevated amylase/lipase

Consult your doctor if you experience any unusual symptoms.

๐Ÿ”ฌ Drug Interactions

โš ๏ธ DrugSeverityEffect
Tenofovir Moderate Increased risk of nephrotoxicity
Adefovir Moderate Increased risk of nephrotoxicity
Immunosuppressants Moderate May reduce efficacy of Entecavir

๐Ÿšจ Major Interactions

  • Lamivudine
  • Adefovir
  • Tenofovir
  • Interferon alfa

โšก Moderate Interactions

  • Nucleoside analogues
  • Immunosuppressants

โ„น๏ธ Minor Interactions

  • Acetaminophen
  • Ibuprofen

๐Ÿฝ๏ธ Food Interactions

Food delays absorption and reduces peak concentration; take on an empty stomach (at least 2 hours before or after a meal).

๐Ÿท Alcohol Interaction

Alcohol may increase hepatotoxicity risk; avoid or limit alcohol consumption.

๐Ÿ›ก๏ธ Safety & Warnings

Liver
Low
Kidney
Low
Heart
Low
Pregnancy
Category A

๐Ÿšซ Contraindications

Hypersensitivity to entecavir or any component of the formulation.

๐Ÿ“Š Monitoring Parameters

HBV DNA levels, ALT, AST, bilirubin, renal function, HIV status (test before initiation).

๐Ÿคฑ Lactation Safety

Not recommended; excreted in human milk; consider risk to infant.

๐Ÿ’Š Overdose Management

Limited experience; supportive care; hemodialysis may remove entecavir (approximately 30% in 4 hours).

โฐ Missed Dose

Take as soon as remembered unless it is almost time for next dose; do not double dose.

๐Ÿ‘จโ€โš•๏ธ Reviewed by Expert

SaathiMed Expert Panel

MD, PhD - Pharmacology

Last reviewed on: Aug 23, 2026

๐Ÿ”— View Profile

๐Ÿ”„ Substitutes for austavir 0.5 tablet

View All

Alternative brands with exact same active ingredient (Entecavir (0.5mg)):

Medical Note: Always consult your doctor before switching medications.

โญ User Reviews

Trusted Reviewer Jul 10, 2026

Helpful and effective medicine as per my experience. Always consult a doctor.

Trusted Reviewer Jul 10, 2026

Found this to be a helpful product. Good results.

Trusted Reviewer Jul 10, 2026

This medicine was effective for me. I followed the doctor's advice.

Trusted Reviewer Jul 10, 2026

This medicine was effective for me. I followed the doctor's advice.

Happy Patient Jul 10, 2026

Effective and reliable. Worked as expected.

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