What condition does Enfuvirtide treat?
Enfuvirtide is used to help decrease the amount of HIV in your body. This medication is used along with other HIV prescriptions to helping control the infection. Controlling HIV infection may help your immune system work well.
This medication will lower your chance of getting HIV complications like cancer or new infection. This will also help improve the quality of your life. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has already approved this medication.
How does Enfuvirtide work?
Enfuvirtide is known as a fusion inhibitor that works by stopping HIV from entering CD4 cells. It binds to a protein on the outside of the virus that helps the virus attach to the CD4 cells. When this drug binds to this protein, the virus is prevented from fusing with the CD4 cell membrane. This stops it from injecting its genetic material into the cell. The virus can only reproduce and increase in numbers once its genetic material is inside CD4 cells. Therefore, this drug stops the virus from reproducing.
What is the recommended dosage for Enfuvirtide?
The dosage depends on your medical condition and response to the treatment. Remember to take it exactly as it is prescribed. Do not take it more than the prescription to avoid some complications.
It is usually taken twice a day to be injected under the skin or subcutaneously. Do not inject into the buttock or near the elbow. It must be into the upper arm, abdomen, or thigh. Rotate each injection site with each shot.
Use this medication for the full prescribed length, even if your symptoms quickly improve. Skipping dosages might increase the risk of your virus becoming resistant to the medicine.
Use all HIV medicines as directed and read all the guides you receive. Do not change your dosage or schedule without advice from your doctor. Each person with HIV must remain under the care of a doctor.
What are the side effects of Enfuvirtide?
- Irritation
- Pain
- Itching
- Redness
- Swelling
- Bruising
- Hardened skin
- Bumps at the injection site
- Constipation
- Stuffy or runny nose
- Muscle pain
- Sleep problems
- Tired feeling
- Loss of strength
What are the precautions in taking Enfuvirtide?
- Tell your doctor about the medical history that you have before using this drug.
- The dosage of this drug for children must be based on their weight.
- Do not use this in or near bumps from past injections. Do not also inject this into scars, moles, tattoos, burn areas, or your belly button.
- This prescription is not approved for use by anyone younger than 6 years old.
- Check this product visually for particles for discoloration before using it.
- You must have this medicine and your other antiretroviral treatment regularly. This will help to prevent HIV from becoming resistant to the medications you are taking. Even if you miss only a small number of dosages, the virus can become resistant to treatment.
- Even though treatment with antiretroviral medications can lessen the risk of you passing HIV to others through sexual contact, it does not stop it. You must use condoms.
