Fuzeon

Generic name: Enfuvirtide
Drug class: Miscellaneous antivirals

Usage of Fuzeon

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

Fuzeon is used together with other medications to treat HIV, the virus that can cause acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).

Fuzeon is not a cure for HIV or AIDS.

Fuzeon side effects

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

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 this medicine). 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 Fuzeon side effects 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 Fuzeon

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

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 Fuzeon 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.

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.

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

Relate drugs

How to use Fuzeon

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 thigh Maximum dose: 90 mg subcutaneously twice daily 17 years or older: 90 mg subcutaneously twice daily administered into the upper arm, abdomen, or anterior thigh

Warnings

Some people using Fuzeon 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.

Before using Fuzeon, tell your doctor if you have a bleeding or blood clotting disorder (such as hemophilia), or a history of breathing problems.

Do not use Fuzeon as your only medication to treat HIV. Fuzeon must be used in combination with other HIV medications. Your disease may become resistant to enfuvirtide if you do not use it in combination with other medicines your doctor has prescribed. Most people using this medication have a skin reaction (itching, redness, swelling, pain, bruising, tenderness) where the medicine is injected. Call your doctor if these symptoms get worse or last longer than 7 days.

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

To best treat your condition, use all of your medications as directed by your doctor. Do not change your doses or medication schedule without your doctor's advice. Every person with HIV or AIDS should remain under the care of a doctor. Your blood will need to be tested often. Visit your doctor regularly.

Stop using Fuzeon and call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as fever, cough with yellow or green mucus, stabbing chest pain, wheezing, trouble breathing, sore throat, flu symptoms, swollen glands, easy bruising or bleeding, mouth sores, severe pain in your upper stomach, ongoing nerve pain or tingly feeling, signs of infection such as swelling or oozing where an injection was given.

What other drugs will affect Fuzeon

Tell your doctor about all your other medicines, especially:

a blood thinner - warfarin, Coumadin, Jantoven.

This list is not complete. Other drugs may interact with 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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