Adefovir

Adefovir

Adefovir (/əˈdɛfəvɪr/) is an antiviral drug that is primarily used in the treatment of hepatitis B infection. It is a type of medication known as a nucleotide analogue, which works by stopping the virus from replicating and spreading in the body.

Etymology

The name "Adefovir" is derived from the chemical structure of the drug, which is an adenosine monophosphate analog. The "Ad" in Adefovir stands for adenosine, a component of DNA, and "efovir" is a modification of "fovir", a common suffix for antiviral drugs.

Usage

Adefovir is used to treat chronic hepatitis B in adults and children 12 years of age and older. It is not a cure for hepatitis B and may not prevent complications of the disease such as cirrhosis of the liver or liver cancer. Adefovir may not prevent the spread of hepatitis B to other people.

Side Effects

Common side effects of Adefovir include nausea, weakness, headache, stomach pain, and diarrhea. Serious side effects can include lactic acidosis and severe hepatomegaly with steatosis.

Related Terms

• Hepatitis B
• Antiviral drug
• Nucleotide analogue
• Adenosine
• DNA
• Cirrhosis
• Liver cancer
• Nausea
• Weakness
• Headache
• Stomach pain
• Diarrhea
• Lactic acidosis
• Hepatomegaly

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Adefovir
• Wikipedia's article - Adefovir

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