enfuvirtide Health Article

Generic name(s):

enfuvirtide

Brand name(s):

Fuzeon

What is the most important information I should know about enfuvirtide?

Before using enfuvirtide, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, if you take a blood thinner such as Coumadin, or if you have a bleeding or blood clotting disorder, such as hemophilia. You may not be able to use enfuvirtide, or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during treatment.

Enfuvirtide may increase your risk of developing pneumonia, especially if you have a high viral load, a history of lung disease, or if you smoke. Call your doctor at once if you have symptoms of pneumonia, such as cough, fever, rapid breathing, or shortness of breath.

Do not use enfuvirtide as your only HIV medication. HIV/AIDS is usually treated with a combination of different drugs. Your disease may become resistant to enfuvirtide if you do not use it in combination with other HIV medicines your doctor has prescribed.

To best treat your condition, use all of your medications as directed by your doctor. Do not change your doses or medication schedule without advice from your doctor. Every person with HIV or AIDS should remain under the care of a doctor.

To be sure this medication is helping your condition, your blood will need to be tested on a regular basis. Do not miss any scheduled visits to your doctor.

Stop using enfuvirtide and call your doctor at once if you have serious side effects such as a signs of a new infection, such as fever or chills, cough, or flu symptoms; or severe pain, irritation, or skin changes where you injected the medicine.

What is enfuvirtide?

Enfuvirtide is an antiviral medication in a group of HIV medicines called fusion inhibitors. Enfuvirtide prevents human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) from entering and taking over the cells in your body.

Enfuvirtide is used to treat HIV, which causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Enfuvirtide is not a cure for HIV or AIDS.

Enfuvirtide is usually given after other medications have been tried without successful treatment of HIV.

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

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before using enfuvirtide?

Do not use this medication if you are allergic to enfuvirtide.

Before using enfuvirtide, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have a bleeding or blood clotting disorder, such as hemophilia. You may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely use enfuvirtide.

FDA pregnancy category B. This medication is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby, but HIV can be passed to the baby if the mother is not properly treated during pregnancy. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. Take all of your HIV medicines as directed to control your infection while you are pregnant. You should not breast-feed while you are using enfuvirtide. Women with HIV or AIDS should not breast-feed at all. Even if your baby is born without HIV, you may still pass the virus to the baby in your breast milk.

Enfuvirtide may increase your risk of developing pneumonia, especially if you have a high viral load, a history of lung disease, or if you smoke. Call your doctor at once if you have symptoms of pneumonia, such as cough, fever, rapid breathing, or shortness of breath.