Hi Jo,
I’m delighted that your therapy is keeping your ALT low and your DNA levels undetectable!
Baraclude (= Entecavir) is very well tolerated by most people. As with any powerful drug, there are some side effects. I’m a bench scientist so I am not super familiar with the specific issues, but overall Baraclude is very well tolerated by the large majority of patients for a long time. Your physician will know the details, and ongoing clinical monitoring (as you are doing) is important. Long-term side effects are possible with extended administration of any drug (I have 2 chronic conditions requiring daily medication, so I worry a bit too), but to the best of my knowledge long-term surveillance for serious issues with Baraclude is not turning up things to be concerned about. Your physician will know the details.
As to a cure in your lifetime: I am very optimistic. It is impossible to predict the rate of scientific advances, but the entire HBV drug discovery field is excited about obtaining a cure relatively soon. I anticipate retiring in <10 years, and I feel that treatments with significantly higher cure rates will be available before then.
I wish you the very best,
John Tavis, PhD