Fusion inhibitors for HIV

Examples

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Brand Name	Chemical Name
Fuzeon	enfuvirtide

Enfuvirtide is available only as an injection. It is taken 2 times each day—once in the morning and then again 12 hours later.

How It Works

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When HIV invades your body, it attaches to the outside of a CD4+ cell (a type of white blood cell) where it joins (fuses) with the cell and then multiplies. Fusion inhibitors prevent fusion between the virus and the cell from occurring. Therefore, HIV is unable to infect the cell and multiply.

Why It Is Used

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Enfuvirtide is used in combination with other antiretroviral medications for the treatment of HIV to prevent the virus from spreading in the body and to reduce the amount of virus in your blood (viral load). Enfuvirtide may be effective for people who have taken other anti-HIV drugs without success.

How Well It Works

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Enfuvirtide strengthens the immune system by reducing the amount of virus in the blood.¹

Side Effects

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Common side effects of enfuvirtide include skin itchiness, swelling, and pain at the site of the injection. Other side effects may include fatigue, numbness in feet or legs, dizziness, and insomnia.

See Drug Reference for a full list of side effects. (Drug Reference is not available in all systems.)

What To Think About

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Enfuvirtide must be used in combination with other anti-HIV drugs.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved enfuvirtide for people who have already been taking other anti-HIV medications; it is not intended for use by people who are just starting drug treatment for HIV infection.

Enfuvirtide is available only as an injection. It is taken 2 times each day—once in the morning and then again 12 hours later. To prepare each dose, you will need to mix the powdered medication and sterile water, both of which come with the injector.

HIV can become resistant to enfuvirtide, so your viral load and CD4+ cell counts will be closely monitored while you are taking this medication.

This medication is not yet recommended for pregnant or nursing women.

Enfuvirtide is expensive, and insurance coverage may be limited.

Complete the new medication information form (PDF) (What is a PDF document?) to help you understand this medication.

References

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Citations

1. Lalezari JP, et al. (2003). Enfuvirtide, an HIV-1 fusion inhibitor, for drug-resistant HIV infection in North and South America. New England Journal of Medicine, 348(22): 2175–2185.

Credits

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Author	Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS
Editor	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA
Associate Editor	Pat Truman
Primary Medical Reviewer	Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer	Peter Shalit, MD, PhD - Internal Medicine
Last Updated	June 6, 2007