Hilfo-B Tablet

Hilfo-B Tablet is a phosphonamidite prodrug of tenofovir which inhibits hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication through incorporation into the viral DNA by HBV reverse transcriptase resulting to DNA chain termination.
Pharmacokinetics:
Absorption: Rapidly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. Time to peak plasma concentration: 0.48 hours.
Distribution: Crosses placenta, enters breast milk. Plasma protein binding: 80%.
Metabolism: Hydrolysed intracellularly into tenofovir then phosphorylated to the active form, tenofovir diphosphate; minimally metabolised by CYP3A4.
Excretion: Via urine (<1%); faeces (31.7%). Elimination half-life: 0.51 hours.

How to take Hilfo-B Tablet for hepatitis B infection

• Before you start the treatment, read the manufacturer’s printed information leaflet from inside your pack. It will give you more information about tenofovir, and it will also provide you with a full list of the side-effects which you could experience from taking it.
• Take tenofovir exactly as your doctor tells you to. The usual dose for an adult is one 245 mg tablet daily.
• Swallow the tablet whole with a drink of water. If you have difficulty swallowing tablets, please let your doctor know about this as it may be more suitable for you to be prescribed tenofovir as granules. In the meantime, if necessary, you can crush the tablet and add it to half a glass of water, orange juice or grape juice, providing you swallow it straightaway.
• If you (or your child) have been prescribed tenofovir granules, your doctor will advise you on how many scoopfuls of granules to take for each dose. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully to prepare each dose using the dosing scoop provided.Mix the granules into a soft food such as yoghurt or apple sauce. Mix each scoopful of granules with a tablespoon (15 ml) of food. Do not chew the granules/food mixture as you swallow it as it will taste bitter. Please note, the granules must not be mixed with liquids or drinks.
• Try to take tenofovir at the same time of day each day, as this will help you to remember to take it regularly. Take it with a meal or a snack.
• If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember, providing it is within the next 12 hours. If it is more than 12 hours later when you remember, leave out the missed dose but do remember to take your next dose when it is due. Do not take two doses together to make up for a forgotten dose.

Getting the most from your treatment

• Keep your regular appointments with your doctor so that your progress can be monitored. You will need to have some blood tests from time to time.
• It is important that you continue to take tenofovir regularly. Treatment for hepatitis B can be long-term. Continue to take tenofovir until you are advised otherwise by your doctor, even if you feel well.
• Most people with chronic hepatitis B will be advised to eat a normal healthy balanced diet. However, it is likely you will be advised not to drink alcohol. Alcohol will increase the risk and speed of you developing liver damage.
• Treatment with this medicine does not stop you from passing the infection on to others through sexual contact, sharing needles to inject drugs, or from mother to baby. A vaccine is available which protects against hepatitis B and can be offered to your sexual and household contacts who are at risk of being infected. Do not have sex with anyone (especially any sex without using a condom) until they have been fully immunised and have had their blood checked to see that the immunisation has worked.
• Tenofovir has been associated with a serious side-effect in some people who have taken it. This is known as lactic acidosis. It is a problem where there is too much lactic acid in the blood. The symptoms associated with it are listed in the next section ‘Can tenofovir cause problems?’. If you develop any of the symptoms listed below, you must let your doctor know straightaway, as they can worsen, and may even become life-threatening.
• If you are having an operation or dental treatment, tell the person carrying out the treatment which medicines you are taking.
• If you buy any medicines, supplements or herbal remedies ‘over the counter’, check with a pharmacist that they are suitable to take with tenofovir and your other medicines.