Which medications are commonly used to treat active, chronic Hepatitis B?

The choices include various antiviral medications, but the correct answer focuses on those specifically indicated for the management of chronic Hepatitis B. Tenofovir and entecavir are first-line antiviral agents in treating active chronic Hepatitis B due to their efficacy in suppressing viral replication and reducing inflammation and liver damage.

Tenofovir is a nucleotide analog that inhibits the viral reverse transcriptase enzyme, effectively decreasing viral load in patients. It is available in two formulations: tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) and tenofovir alafenamide (TAF), both of which have shown effectiveness in managing chronic Hepatitis B. On the other hand, entecavir is a guanosine nucleoside analog that also serves as a potent inhibitor of Hepatitis B virus replication. Both medications are preferred due to their favorable safety profiles and lower rates of developing drug resistance.

While other medications mentioned—like lopinavir or ritonavir, acyclovir or valacyclovir, and ribavirin or simeprevir—are used for different viral infections or conditions, they are not effective treatments for chronic Hepatitis B. Lopinavir or ritonavir are primarily used in the treatment of HIV, acyclovir and valacycl