Enfuvirtide (Subcutaneous)

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Apr 18, 2022.

Commonly used brand name(s)

In the U.S.

• Fuzeon

Available Dosage Forms:

• Powder for Solution

Therapeutic Class: Antiretroviral Agent

Pharmacologic Class: HIV Fusion Inhibitor

Uses for enfuvirtide

Enfuvirtide injection is used in combination with other antiviral medicines to treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. HIV is the virus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).

Enfuvirtide will not cure or prevent HIV infection or AIDS. It helps keep HIV from reproducing and appears to slow down the destruction of the immune system. This may help delay the development of problems usually result from AIDS or HIV disease. Enfuvirtide will not keep you from spreading HIV to other people. People who receive enfuvirtide may continue to have some of the problems usually related to AIDS or HIV disease.

Enfuvirtide is available only with your doctor's prescription.

Before using enfuvirtide

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For enfuvirtide, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to enfuvirtide or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated pediatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of enfuvirtide injection in children 6 years of age and older and weighing 11 kilograms (kg) or more. Safety and efficacy have been established.

Geriatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of enfuvirtide injection in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more likely to have age-related kidney, liver, or heart problems, which may require caution in patients receiving enfuvirtide.

Breastfeeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Interactions with medicines

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking enfuvirtide, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using enfuvirtide with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Cabotegravir

Using enfuvirtide with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of cert...