What should you know about TAF for hepatitis B?

TAF is a prescription antiviral medicine that can lower hepatitis B virus activity and help protect the liver when it is appropriate for your condition. TAF stands for tenofovir alafenamide. It is used for some people with chronic hepatitis B, based on factors such as liver health, blood test results and other medical conditions. A clinician decides whether it fits your treatment plan.

TAF blocks a hepatitis B virus enzyme needed for the virus to reproduce. This can reduce the amount of virus in the blood and may reduce ongoing stress on the liver. It controls infection rather than removing hepatitis B from the body, so treatment and follow-up may continue over a long period. Do not stop it suddenly unless the prescriber gives you a safe stopping plan, because hepatitis B can become more active after treatment is interrupted.

Some people have no symptoms even when hepatitis B is affecting the liver. Others may notice tiredness, nausea, abdominal discomfort, or dark urine. A symptom such as fatigue can have many causes; a clinician assesses it alongside examination and test results. Learn more about [Hepatitis B](/conditions/hepatitis-b/), [Fatigue](/symptoms/fatigue/), or [Dark Urine](/symptoms/dark-urine/).

Take TAF exactly as prescribed and tell the prescriber about every medicine, supplement and herbal product you use. If you miss a dose, follow the instructions supplied with your prescription rather than taking extra tablets without advice. Keep appointments for blood tests and liver reviews. Monitoring may include liver enzymes, hepatitis B viral activity, kidney-related tests and other checks selected for your circumstances. A [Liver Function Test](/treatments/diagnostics-and-screening/liver-function-test/) can help the care team assess how your liver is responding.

TAF does not remove the possibility of passing hepatitis B to another person. Ask about vaccination for household or sexual contacts, and use the prevention measures recommended by your clinician. Do not donate blood unless a healthcare professional confirms that it is allowed. [Hepatitis B Vaccination](/treatments/preventive-care-and-vaccination/hepatitis-b-vaccination/) helps prevent infection in people who are not already protected.

Contact your prescriber promptly if you develop new or worsening yellowing of the skin or eyes, marked vomiting, increasing abdominal swelling, confusion, unusual bleeding, or very dark urine. Seek urgent care for severe weakness, trouble staying awake, breathing difficulty, or sudden severe abdominal pain. These symptoms can have different causes, but they may signal a liver problem or another condition needing timely assessment.

Arrange a medication review if side effects persist, you cannot keep tablets down, you are planning pregnancy, or another clinician wants to start a new medicine. Never change or pause hepatitis B treatment on your own; the prescriber may need to check your liver and revise the plan safely.

Ask why TAF is being recommended for you, what your liver and kidney tests show, how long monitoring is expected to continue, and what to do if you miss a dose. You can also ask which medicines or supplements should be avoided, how treatment affects close contacts, and what symptoms should trigger an urgent call. Bringing an up-to-date medicine list can make this discussion more useful.