Zeffix

ਉਤਪਾਦ ਝਲਕ

About Zeffix

Zeffix is a medicine that contains the active substance lamivudine. It is available as tablets (100 mg) and an oral solution (5 mg/ml).

What it is used for

Zeffix is used to treat adults (aged 18 years or over) who have chronic (long-term) hepatitis B (a disease of the liver due to infection with the hepatitis-B virus). It is used in patients with: compensated liver disease (when the liver is damaged but works normally), who also show signs that the virus is still multiplying and have signs of liver damage (raised levels of the liver enzyme alanine aminotransferase [ALT] and signs of damage when liver tissue is examined under a microscope). Because the hepatitis-B virus can become resistant to Zeffix, the doctor should only consider prescribing Zeffix if other treatments that are less likely to lead to resistance cannot be used; decompensated liver disease (when the liver does not work normally). To reduce the risk of resistance, Zeffix must be used in combination with another anti-hepatitis-B medicine that does not cause resistance in the same way as Zeffix. The medicine can only be obtained with a prescription.

How it is used

Treatment with Zeffix should be started by a doctor who has experience in the management of chronic hepatitis B. The recommended dose of Zeffix is 100 mg once a day. The dose needs to be lower in patients who have reduced kidney function. Doses lower than 100 mg need to be given using the oral solution. The duration of treatment depends on the patient’s condition and response to treatment. If the hepatitis B virus can still be found in the blood after six months of treatment, the doctor should consider switching treatment or adding another medicine for hepatitis B to reduce the risk of resistance. For more information, see the summary of product characteristics (also part of the EPAR).

How it works

The active substance in Zeffix, lamivudine, is an antiviral agent that belongs to the class ‘nucleoside analogues’. Lamivudine interferes with the action of a viral enzyme called DNA polymerase, which is involved in the formation of viral DNA. Lamivudine stops the virus making DNA and prevents it from multiplying and spreading.

Active substance: lamivudine

Source: EMA EPAR