Enfuvirtide

Generic name: Enfuvirtide
Brand names: Fuzeon
Dosage form: subcutaneous powder for injection (90 mg)
Drug class: Miscellaneous antivirals

Usage of Enfuvirtide

Enfuvirtide is an antiviral medication that prevents human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) from infecting healthy cells in your body.

Enfuvirtide is used together with other medications to treat HIV, the virus that can cause acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Enfuvirtide is not a cure for HIV or AIDS.

Enfuvirtide may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Enfuvirtide side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: skin rash or hives; fever with vomiting; blood in your urine; difficulty breathing; fainting; swelling of your feet, face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Enfuvirtide may cause serious side effects. Call your doctor at once if you have:

shortness of breath;

fever, chills, chest congestion, cough with yellow or green mucus, stabbing chest pain, wheezing;

fever with vomiting and skin rash;

severe pain in your upper stomach spreading to your back, nausea and vomiting;

blood in your urine;

swelling in your feet;

a skin reaction (itching, redness, swelling, pain, or a hard lump) where the medicine is injected; or

pain, warmth, oozing, or redness where an injection was given, especially if these symptoms get worse or last longer than 7 days.

Enfuvirtide affects your immune system, which may cause certain side effects (even weeks or months after you've taken enfuvirtide). Tell your doctor if you have:

signs of a new infection--fever, night sweats, swollen glands, cold sores, cough, wheezing, diarrhea, weight loss;

trouble speaking or swallowing, problems with balance or eye movement, weakness or prickly feeling; or

swelling in your neck or throat (enlarged thyroid), menstrual changes, impotence.

Common side effects of enfuvirtide may include:

nausea, loss of appetite, constipation, diarrhea;

numbness or pain in your legs or feet;

muscle pain or weakness;

depressed mood;

swollen glands, runny or stuffy nose;

weight loss;

tiredness, trouble sleeping, tired; or

pain, swelling, burning, or irritation where the medicine was injected.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before taking Enfuvirtide

You should not use enfuvirtide if you are allergic to it.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

breathing problems; or

a bleeding or blood clotting disorder such as hemophilia.

Having HIV makes it easier for you to get other infections. Some people using enfuvirtide have developed pneumonia. It is not clear whether enfuvirtide is the cause of pneumonia, but using enfuvirtide may increase your risk. You may also be more likely to have pneumonia if you smoke, if you've ever had lung disease, or if you have a history of intravenous (IV) drug use.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, and use your medications properly to control your infection. HIV can be passed to your baby if the virus is not controlled during pregnancy. Your name may be listed on a registry to track any effects of antiviral medicine on the baby.

Women with HIV or AIDS should not breast feed a baby. Even if your baby is born without HIV, the virus may be passed to the baby in your breast milk.

Enfuvirtide is not approved for use by anyone younger than 6 years old.

Relate drugs

How to use Enfuvirtide

Usual Adult Dose for HIV Infection:

90 mg suBCutaneously twice daily administered into the upper arm, abdomen, or anterior thigh

Usual Pediatric Dose for HIV Infection:

6 years through 16 years: 2 mg/kg subcutaneously twice daily administered into the upper arm, abdomen, or anterior thighMaximum dose: 90 mg subcutaneously twice daily17 years or older: 90 mg subcutaneously twice daily administered into the upper arm, abdomen, or anterior thigh

Warnings

Some people using enfuvirtide have developed pneumonia. It is not clear whether enfuvirtide is the cause of pneumonia, but using this medicine may increase your risk. You may also be more likely to have pneumonia if you smoke, if you've ever had lung disease, or if you have a history of intravenous (IV) drug use.

Call your doctor if you have a fever, chills, cough with mucus, chest pain, of shortness of breath.

What other drugs will affect Enfuvirtide

Tell your doctor about all your other medicines, especially:

a blood thinner--warfarin, Coumadin, Jantoven.

This list is not complete. Other drugs may affect enfuvirtide, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.

Disclaimer

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