Antivirals are oral pills that keep the hepatitis B virus from replicating or making copies of itself.1 This means that the amount of virus in the blood (viral load) is decreased.2 Keeping the viral load to the lowest possible level is the best way to control the hepatitis B virus and keep it from leading to a serious liver disease, such as liver cirrhosis and liver cancer.2
A few people with hepatitis B taking antivirals feel side effects. Common side effects of antivirals are headache, fever and nausea.3 You should always tell your doctor if you have any of these side effects.
Some patients may not benefit from antivirals after a while because the virus develops ways to protect itself against the action of the drug. This is called resistance. You should ask your doctor about the benefits of hepatitis B drugs that are available in your country.
1 World Health Organization. Available at http://www.who.int/csr/disease/hepatitis/HepatitisB_whocdscsrlyo2002_2.pdf. Accessed 30 July 2007.
2 Wright TL. Am J Gastroenterol 2006;10: S4-S6.
3 Terrence Higgins Trust. Available at http://www.tht.org.uk/informationresources/otherstis/hepatitis/hepb/. Accessed 6 February 2008.
