Telbivudine is an antiviral drug used in the treatment of hepatitis b infection. telbivudine is a synthetic thymidine beta-l-nucleoside analogue- it is the l-isomer of thymidine. telbivudine impairs hepatitis b virus (hbv) dna replication by leading to chain termination. it differs from the natural nucleotide only with respect to the location of the sugar and base moieties, taking on an levorotatory configuration versus a dextrorotatory configuration as do the natural deoxynucleosides. it is taken orally in a dose of 600 mg once daily with or without food.