Adefovir: Uses, Side Effects & Brands in Pakistan

Adefovir is an antiviral medicine. It is a prescription medicine used for chronic hepatitis B. In Pakistan it is available as tablets, made by 9 different manufacturers. On this page you can read how it works, its common side effects and precautions, and compare the brands and prices available at Medimart.

How Adefovir works

Adefovir is converted in the body into an active form that blocks the hepatitis B polymerase enzyme. The virus needs this enzyme to copy its DNA, so blocking it stops new virus particles from being made and lets the liver recover.

What is Adefovir used for?

• Chronic hepatitis B

Adefovir is used to treat chronic hepatitis B in adults whose liver is affected, including some people whose virus has become resistant to lamivudine. It lowers the amount of hepatitis B virus in the blood and helps reduce liver inflammation and damage. Today it is used less often than newer antivirals, but some people still benefit from it.

Side effects of Adefovir

Side effects of Adefovir are usually mild. Those reported most often include:

• Weakness or tiredness
• Headache
• Stomach pain
• Nausea
• Diarrhoea or wind

Do not stop it suddenly, as hepatitis can flare. Report yellow skin or eyes, reduced urine, or unusual muscle pain, breathlessness and stomach pain with vomiting straight away.

Precautions and warnings

• Take it every day as prescribed and do not stop without your doctor's advice.
• Kidney function is checked regularly, as it can affect the kidneys, especially with long use.
• Tell your doctor about kidney disease and about other medicines that can affect the kidneys.
• You should be tested for HIV before starting, as it is not a treatment for HIV.
• Discuss pregnancy and breastfeeding with your doctor before starting treatment.

Frequently asked questions about Adefovir

What is the price of Adefovir in Pakistan?

At Medimart, Adefovir products currently in stock range from Rs 506 to Rs 3,840 per pack, depending on the brand, strength and pack size. The lowest-priced option right now is Hepbi 10mg Tablet at Rs 506. Prices are updated regularly, so the product list on this page always shows the latest price.

Which brands of Adefovir are available in Pakistan?

Adefovir is sold in Pakistan under brand names such as Adgen (Gene-tech), Hepsera (Glaxo Smithkline Ltd), Adeowin (Orta Laboratories Ltd), Hepiral (Pharmix), Hepovir (S.J. & G. Fazul Ellahie), Hepbi (Saffron Pharmaceutical Company), Adefo (Shrooq) and Vadefo (Valor Pharmaceuticals), along with 1 more brands listed below.

Do I need a prescription for Adefovir?

Yes. Adefovir is a prescription medicine in Pakistan. Use it only when a doctor has prescribed it, at the dose and for the time they advise.

Can Adefovir be used during pregnancy?

Discuss pregnancy and breastfeeding with your doctor before starting treatment.

Are all Adefovir brands the same?

Brands that contain the same amount of Adefovir in the same form are expected to work in the same way, although inactive ingredients, pack sizes and prices differ. Ask your doctor or pharmacist before switching from one brand to another.

Adefovir brands and prices in Pakistan

Medimart lists 9 products containing Adefovir from different manufacturers. Compare strengths, pack sizes and prices below and order online with cash on delivery.

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