Enter a term or phrase to begin searching > Register for Updates FUZEON FAQs Please choose from the following categories to view frequently asked questions about FUZEON: General FUZEON FAQs Q. What is FUZEON and how does it work? A. FUZEON is a medicine called an HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) fusion inhibitor. FUZEON is always used with other anti-HIV medicines to treat adults and children ages 6 years and older with HIV infection. FUZEON blocks HIV's ability to infect healthy T cells (CD4). When used with other anti-HIV medicines, FUZEON can reduce the amount of HIV in the blood and increase the number of T cells. This may keep your immune system healthy, so it can help fight infection. FUZEON does not cure HIV infection or AIDS. People taking FUZEON may still get opportunistic infections or other conditions that can happen with HIV infection. For these reasons it is very important that you remain under the care of your healthcare provider while taking FUZEON. Q. How is FUZEON different from other HIV treatments? A. Like other viruses, HIV makes new copies of itself (or replicates) inside the cells it infects. Combination therapy with HIV drugs stops HIV from making copies of itself at different stages of the replication cycle. There are currently four classes of HIV drugs. Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTI), non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTI), and protease inhibitors (PI) work inside the T cell to keep HIV from replicating once it has entered the cell. FUZEON is the only fusion inhibitor (FI) and it works outside the T cell to block HIV from entering it. Learn more about How FUZEON Works. Q. Why is FUZEON an injection? A. FUZEON is the first anti-HIV drug that is taken as an injection under the skin. FUZEON needs to be injected because if taken by mouth, it would be digested in your stomach and would not work. Your doctor or nurse will teach you how to find the correct sites for injecting FUZEON. The sites for injection are the abdomen, upper thighs or upper arms because there is enough fatty tissue under the skin to allow you to pinch enough skin to give the injection correctly. FUZEON comes in a 30-day kit with everything you need for your injections. Q. Who is FUZEON for? A. FUZEON is always used in combination with other anti-HIV medicines to treat HIV infection in treatment-experienced adults and children ages 6 years and older. FUZEON does not cure HIV infection or AIDS.  People taking FUZEON may still get opportunistic infections or other conditions that can happen with HIV infection. For these reasons it is very important that you remain under the care of your healthcare provider while taking FUZEON. Q. Is FUZEON right for a patient who hasn't been on anti-HIV treatment? A. No. FUZEON has not been studied in patients who have never been on anti-HIV treatment. Please contact your healthcare provider for more information. Q. Is FUZEON appropriate for children of all ages? A. FUZEON is approved for use in children 6 years old and older. Contact your healthcare provider to discuss treatment options. Q. Is FUZEON only for patients with documented resistance? A. FUZEON in combination with other antiretroviral agents is indicated for the treatment of HIV-1 infection in treatment-experienced patients with evidence of HIV-1 replication despite ongoing antiretroviral therapy. Please contact your healthcare provider for more information. Q. Is resistance testing mandatory? A. That choice should remain with healthcare providers as they and their patients make treatment decisions based upon each individual case. Please contact your healthcare provider for more information. Q. Who should not take FUZEON? A. Do not use FUZEON if you are allergic to any of the ingredients in FUZEON (active ingredient: enfuvirtide; inactive ingredients: mannitol, sodium carbonate, sodium hydroxide, and hydrochloric acid). Before taking FUZEON, tell your healthcare provider: If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. We do not know if FUZEON can harm your unborn child. You and your healthcare provider will need to decide if FUZEON is right for you. If you use FUZEON while you are pregnant, talk to your healthcare provider about how you can be in the Antiviral Pregnancy Registry If you are breastfeeding. You should not breastfeed if you are HIV-positive because of the chance of passing the HIV virus to your baby. Also, it is not known if FUZEON can pass into your breast milk and if it can harm your baby About all your medical conditions About all the medicines you use, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. FUZEON has not been tested with all medicines FUZEON does not affect other anti-HIV medicines or the medicine rifampin (also known as rifampicin, Rifadin® or Rimactane®). You can take FUZEON at the same times or at different times than your other anti-HIV medicines. Q. Can I take FUZEON and stop my other anti-HIV medications? A. None of the anti-HIV medicines, including FUZEON, are effective as monotherapy. FUZEON must be taken as part of a combination HIV regimen. Use of FUZEON alone may lead to rapid development of virus resistant to FUZEON and possibly other drugs of the same class. Please contact your healthcare provider for more information. Do not use FUZEON as your only anti-HIV medicine. Q. Can FUZEON be taken with other medicines? A. FUZEON does not affect other anti-HIV medicines, or the medicine rifampin (also known as rifampacin and manufactured under the brand names Rifadin® and Rimactane®). You can take FUZEON at the same times or at different times than your other anti-HIV medicines. Q. How can I get FUZEON? A. FUZEON is available by prescription only and is now available through retail and specialty pharmacies nationwide. Q. How do I take FUZEON? A. FUZEON is taken by injection under the skin twice daily. Download complete, step-by-step FUZEON Injection Instructions, or get them from the FUZEON Convenience Kit. Your healthcare provider will walk you through the steps of FUZEON injection before you start using it. If you need a little extra support to become comfortable incorporating FUZEON into your daily life or to continue with FUZEON — after you receive training from your healthcare provider — Nurse-to-Patient Connections™ can help. This free program connects you with an experienced Nurse Educator who will come to your home to help you gain confidence in your ability to prepare and inject FUZEON. Learn more about Nurse Connections. Q. Why isn't FUZEON offered as a pill? A. The active ingredient contained in FUZEON, enfuvirtide, is a protein. Proteins are ineffective when taken orally because they are destroyed by the high acidity of the stomach. FUZEON has to be injected because if taken by mouth, it would be digested in your stomach and would not work. Q. Why isn't FUZEON available in a pre-mixed solution so reconstitution wouldn't be needed? A. The current FUZEON formulation does not allow for storage in solution for more than 24 hours. If you plan to store FUZEON in solution for 24 hours, it must be refrigerated in the vial. Q. Does FUZEON cure HIV infection or AIDS? A. FUZEON does not cure HIV infection or AIDS. Individuals taking FUZEON may still develop opportunistic infections or other conditions associated with HIV infection. For these reasons it is very important that you remain under the care of your healthcare provider while taking FUZEON. Q. Does FUZEON prevent the transmission of HIV to others? A. FUZEON does not lower your chance of passing HIV to other people through unprotected sex, sharing needles, or being exposed to your blood. For your own health and the health of others, it is important to continue to practice safer sex. Use a latex or polyurethane condom or other barrier method to lower the chance of sexual contact with semen, vaginal secretions, or blood. Never use or share dirty needles. Ask your healthcare provider if you have any questions about safer sex or how to prevent passing HIV to other people. Q. What results have been seen with FUZEON? A. FUZEON in combination with other anti-HIV medicines has lowered the amount of HIV in the blood (viral load) and increased T-cell counts in clinical studies. Results at 48 weeks showed that treatment-experienced patients who took FUZEON plus other anti-HIV medicines: Were twice as likely to achieve undetectable viral loads compared with patients taking anti-HIV medicines without FUZEON Had twice the increase in T-cell counts compared with patients taking anti-HIV medicines without FUZEON FUZEON does not cure HIV infection or AIDS. Individuals taking FUZEON may still develop opportunistic infections or other conditions associated with HIV infection. It is also possible that you may have a higher chance of getting bacterial pneumonia than before you started FUZEON. For these reasons it is very important that you remain under the care of your healthcare provider while taking FUZEON. Q. Is FUZEON effective if I have a virus that is resistant to all other anti-HIV medications? A. FUZEON in combination with other antiretroviral agents is indicated for the treatment of HIV-1 infection in treatment-experienced patients with evidence of HIV-1 replication despite ongoing antiretroviral therapy. Please contact your healthcare provider for more information. As with other HIV medications, it is possible to develop resistance to FUZEON. FUZEON does not cure HIV infection or AIDS. Individuals taking FUZEON may still develop opportunistic infections or other conditions associated with HIV infection. It is also possible that you may have a higher chance of getting bacterial pneumonia than before you started FUZEON. For these reasons it is very important that you remain under the care of your healthcare provider while taking FUZEON. Q. What should I do if I miss a dose of FUZEON? A. If you miss a dose of FUZEON, take the missed dose as soon as you can and then take your next dose as scheduled. If you have missed a dose of FUZEON and it is close to the time when you are supposed to take your next dose, wait and take the next dose as regularly scheduled. Do not take two doses of FUZEON at the same time. Q. What should I do if I take too much FUZEON? A. We have not studied this scenario, so we do not know what can happen if you take too much FUZEON. You will be watched very carefully if you take too much FUZEON. If you take too much FUZEON, call your healthcare provider right away. Q. Does food affect FUZEON? A. Food does not affect FUZEON. You can take your FUZEON injection whether you have eaten recently or not. However, you must keep taking your other medicines the way you did before. Q. What else should I discuss with my doctor about FUZEON? A. Tell your doctor: If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. We do not know if FUZEON can harm your unborn child. You and your healthcare provider will need to decide if FUZEON is right for you. If you use FUZEON while you are pregnant, talk to your healthcare provider about how you can be in the Antiviral Pregnancy Registry If you are breastfeeding. You should not breastfeed if you are HIV-positive because of the chance of passing the HIV virus to your baby. Also, it is not known if FUZEON can pass into your breast milk and if it can harm your baby About all your medical conditions About all the medicines you use, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. FUZEON has not been tested with all medicines Q. How should I store FUZEON? A. FUZEON vials not mixed with sterile water can be stored at room temperature (59° to 86° F). FUZEON should be refrigerated if it cannot be stored at room temperature. The Sterile Water for Injection (diluent) may be stored at room temperature (59° to 86° F). After FUZEON has been mixed with sterile water, the vial can be stored in a refrigerator for up to 24 hours. Do not use FUZEON or sterile water after the expiration date on the vials. Do not keep FUZEON that is out of date or that you no longer need. Q. Can I travel with FUZEON? A. It's easy to take FUZEON with you when you travel. To make your trip through the airport easier, make sure that your medications are in the original bottles with pharmacy labels intact. A FUZEON Certificate of Medical Need (travel card) is included in your FUZEON Patient Starter Kit. You need to have your doctor fill it out. If you don't have the travel card, get a letter from your doctor explaining that the needles and medication are for a medical purpose. Although not required, it's a good idea to carry along a copy of your prescription and insurance card (in case your meds are lost or stolen.) It's also helpful to tell the security screener that you have a sharps container in your bag. Be sure to talk with your doctor before traveling with FUZEON. Q. How and where is FUZEON manufactured? A. FUZEON is one of the most complex molecules ever chemically produced at such a large scale. FUZEON requires a complex chemical synthetic manufacturing process, involving 100 production steps. FUZEON is manufactured by Hoffmann-La Roche Inc. ("Roche"), based in Nutley, NJ. Q. Can I take FUZEON while I am pregnant? A. It is not known if FUZEON can harm your unborn child. You and you healthcare provider will need to decide if FUZEON is right for you. If you use FUZEON while you are pregnant, talk to your healthcare provider about participating in the Antiretroviral Pregnancy Registry. Q. Can I breastfeed while on FUZEON? A. You should not breastfeed if you are HIV-positive because of the chance of passing the HIV virus to your baby. Also, it is not known if FUZEON can pass into your breast milk and if it can harm your baby. FUZEON Preparation FAQs Q. How long does it take to reconstitute FUZEON? A. After reconstitution, FUZEON should be stored in a refrigerator at 36° to 46° for up to 24 hours. Before injection, it should be allowed to return to room temperature. However, we do not have information available for how long FUZEON can be left unrefrigerated. If you have further questions, contact your healthcare provider. Q. Is there a way that I can make FUZEON dissolve faster? A. It is difficult to speed up the mixing of FUZEON. To begin dissolving FUZEON, gently tap the vial with your fingertip. You can also try gently rolling the FUZEON vial in your hands. Never shake the vial or turn it upside down to mix. Note: it is OK to turn the FUZEON vial upside down after FUZEON is completely dissolved. Q. What should I do if I see bubbles, foam or gelling in my FUZEON? A. FUZEON can take up to 45 minutes to fully reconstitute. Don’t shake your FUZEON, it might take even longer to dissolve. If you have waited the appropriate amount of time and still see bubbles, foam or gel in your FUZEON, put the vial in the refrigerator and mix another vial. When you are ready to give your next dose, if you still see bubbles contact the FUZEON Connections™ Center at 877-4FUZEON (877-438-9366). Q. What does FUZEON look like when it is completely mixed? A. FUZEON should be clear when it is completely mixed. Always check to make sure that there aren't any particles floating in the vial before injecting. If you notice particles in the FUZEON solution, contact the pharmacy that provided it. Q. Can I mix FUZEON with my other injectable medications? A. Never mix FUZEON with anything other than the sterile water provided. Q. Can I mix two doses of FUZEON at once and store one for later? A. Yes you can. To save time, you can mix both your daily doses of FUZEON at the same time, but you will need to keep the second vial of mixed FUZEON in the refrigerator. If you want to mix two doses at the same time, be sure to use new alcohol pads, syringes, medicine and sterile water when injecting the second dose. Store FUZEON in the vial. Do not store mixed FUZEON in the syringe. Once sterile water has been added to the FUZEON, the vial can be placed in the refrigerator. The FUZEON will dissolve in time for your next dose Write the date and time on the vial when mixed if you are mixing the dose to be used later Before using the dose of refrigerated FUZEON, be sure it is clear and allow it to warm to room temperature Mixed FUZEON must be used within 24 hours Q. Can reconstituted FUZEON be stored in the syringe in the refrigerator? A. It is not recommended to store reconstituted FUZEON in the syringe in the refrigerator. Reconstituted FUZEON should be stored in the vial in the fridge for up to 24 hours. Q. My reconstituted FUZEON vial was mistakenly frozen. Can it still be used? A. Freezing can cause alteration of the physical and chemical properties of FUZEON. The effect of injecting FUZEON that has been frozen has not been studied and therefore cannot be recommended. If your FUZEON has been frozen, please discard the vial. Q. How long can I leave reconstituted FUZEON outside of the refrigerator? A. After reconstitution, FUZEON should be stored in a refrigerator at 36° to 46° for up to 24 hours. Before injection, it should be allowed to return to room temperature. However, we do not have information available for how long FUZEON can be left unrefrigerated. If you have further questions, contact your healthcare provider. Q. Can reconstituted FUZEON be safely used immediately after it is removed from refrigeration? A. It is recommended that you let reconstituted FUZEON reach room temperature before giving the injection. Injecting cold solutions beneath your skin (subcutaneously) could cause discomfort. You can warm it by holding it in your hand for about 5 minutes. Q. Can I microwave my FUZEON, put it in hot water, or in a steamer to heat it up? A. Doing any of those things can change the chemical properties of your FUZEON. You can warm it by holding it in your hand for about 5 minutes. If your FUZEON is heated in hot water, steam, or a microwave oven, please discard the vial. Q. Do I have to put the sterile water in the refrigerator? A. The sterile water vials may be stored at room temperature (59°F to 86°F). All vials of sterile water provided in your FUZEON kit are for single–use only. Never enter a sterile water vial provided in your FUZEON kit more than once. Q. My FUZEON has expired. What do I do with it? A. The expired FUZEON should be returned to the pharmacy that provided it. If you have unused syringes, be sure to safely dispose of them in a sharps container. Do not put either unused or used syringes into the trash. Q. What should I do if I lost the reconstituted drug? A. Start over again with a new vial of sterile water or FUZEON. We recommend that you call your pharmacy early to refill your FUZEON prescription. This will ensure that you don't run out of FUZEON. Q. Why can't I use the same syringe for preparing and injecting FUZEON? A. The larger (3-cc/mL) syringe is intended for mixing the sterile water for injection with FUZEON, while the Terumo Safety (1-cc/mL) syringe is for injecting FUZEON into the body. The smaller syringe is much shorter and narrower, reducing the amount of discomfort during injection. The smaller volume of the syringe also makes it easier to draw the right amount of FUZEON. Q. Should I wipe the syringes with the alcohol pads? A. No. The alcohol pads should be used to clean the tops of the vials and the area of the body where FUZEON will be injected. To keep the syringes sterile, avoid removing the protective cap covering the needle until you are ready to use the syringe. Q. What should I do with the syringes after I've used them? A. Using one hand, gently press the colored protective cover against a flat surface until you hear a click and the needle is re-covered. Never use your hand to re-cover the needle. Put the used syringes in the sharps container. Q. What should I do if I get bubbles in the big syringe (3cc/mL) when I draw the sterile water? A. If only a few small bubbles are in the syringe, tap the syringe gently to make the air bubbles rise to the top. If extra air gets into the syringe, gently press the plunger to force any air back into the vial and withdraw the sterile water again, making sure you have 1.1-cc/mL of sterile water in the syringe. Q. What should I do if I get bubbles in the small syringe (1cc/mL) when I draw FUZEON? A. If only a few small bubbles are in the syringe, tap the syringe gently to make the air bubbles rise to the top. If extra air gets into the syringe, very gently press the plunger to force any air back into the vial and withdraw FUZEON again, making sure you have 1.0-cc/mL of FUZEON in the syringe. Make sure that foaming or bubbling has not occurred before re-drawing FUZEON. Q. How can I prevent air from getting into the syringes when I draw sterile water and/or FUZEON? A. The best way to prevent air from getting into the syringes is to turn the vial upside down when drawing the sterile water or FUZEON. When turning the FUZEON vial upside down, make sure to do it slowly to prevent foaming or bubbling from occurring. When you draw either the sterile water or FUZEON with the vial upside down, make sure to keep the needle below the surface of the liquid. It is also important to use a smooth, slow motion when drawing the sterile water or FUZEON. FUZEON Injection FAQs Q. How should I inject FUZEON? A. FUZEON should be injected under the skin into the fatty layer beneath the surface (subcutaneously) and never into a vein or muscle. Subcutaneous injection is not a deep injection. When you inject, you should pinch up a layer of skin at the chosen injection site. Read FUZEON Injection Instructions. Q. Where on my body should I inject FUZEON? A. The sites for injection are the abdomen, upper thighs and upper arms because there is enough fatty tissue under the skin to allow you to pinch enough skin to give the injection correctly. Injecting FUZEON in other locations has not been studied and therefore cannot be recommended. Remember, there are several injection areas within each site. For pictures of injection sites, click here. Do not inject into the same area as you did the time before. Do not inject in or near bumps or any other types of reactions from past injections. Also, do not inject into moles, scars, bruises, your belly button or areas that could be irritated by a belt or waistband. Even if you have a preference for one particular injection site, it is important that you change sites. Changing injection sites helps to decrease the intensity of injection site reactions. Read the Fuzeon Injection Instructions. Q. Does it make a difference where I inject if I'm fat or thin? A. If you are rotating your injection sites properly and have a choice of sites, you may find it easier to inject into an area where there is more subcutaneous fat. Remember, there are several injection sites within each area. Rotate between your upper arm, abdomen, and upper thigh. Use the FUZEON Planner to keep track of your injections and injection sites. If you are very thin, or have trouble finding areas for injection sites, talk to your healthcare provider. Q. I'm running out of places to inject. What should I do? A. The following sites are recommended for injection of your medicine: upper arms, abdomen and upper thighs. Remember that there are several injection areas within each site. For pictures of injection sites, please look at your FUZEON Planner. Remember not to inject into a spot with an injection site reaction, mole, scar, bruise, or your navel (belly button). If you still can't find an injection site, contact your healthcare provider. Read FUZEON Injection Instructions. Q. When should I change injection sites? A. Always change injection sites. Even if you find one particular site easier to use than others, it is important to give your injection at a different site each time. Be sure to rotate your injection sites, so that no one spot becomes too tender. This also helps you avoid developing ISRs that are too close to each other. To keep track of your injections and injection sites, use the FUZEON Planner. Q. Why do I have to pinch the skin? A. FUZEON should be injected under a pinched fold of skin into the fatty layer beneath the surface. The pinch helps gather the fatty tissue to ensure the injection into the fatty layer. The pinch also helps you avoid giving the injection too deep or into muscles or veins. Read FUZEON Injection Instructions. Q. How much skin do I have to pinch? A. Pinch as much as you can between thumb and middle/index fingers of one hand to get a good fold of skin. Your pinch should not be superficial. Read FUZEON Injection Instructions. Q. How do I know if I'm injecting at a 45° angle? A. If you are injecting into your stomach (and you are right handed) the plunger should be angled between 1 o'clock and 2 o'clock. If the plunger was pointing at 3 o'clock, it would be a 90° angle. Read FUZEON Injection Instructions. Q. How should I inject into the abdomen? A. The tissue below the skin of the abdomen absorbs medicine readily. When using this site, squeeze the skin between your fingers before the injection and release the skin once the needle is inserted. Be sure to avoid injecting FUZEON in the area closely surrounding the navel (belly button) or beltline, as well as any prior injection sites where any obvious reactions have occurred. Read FUZEON Injection Instructions. Q. How should I inject into the upper thigh? A. The front or outer thigh is another site that provides a fatty layer of tissue under the skin to absorb the medicine, as well as enough skin to pinch for the injection. It is important to pinch the skin to avoid giving the injection into the muscle of the thigh. Squeeze the skin between your fingers before the injection and release the skin once the needle is inserted. Be sure to avoid injecting FUZEON in any prior injection sites where any obvious reactions have occurred. Read FUZEON Injection Instructions. Q. How do I give an injection in the back of my arm? A. The back of the arm can be a tricky injection site. A friend or caregiver may be helpful in reaching injection areas that are difficult for you to personally reach. That person will need to learn how to give the injections correctly to reduce the risk of reactions and infections at the injection site. Your caregiver will also need to know how to protect himself from contact with blood. Please have your caregiver read Your Guide to Taking FUZEON and the Caregiver's Guide. Your caregiver should meet with a healthcare provider to learn the safe way to give an injection. Read FUZEON Injection Instructions. Q. What if I see bleeding at the injection site following the injection? A. It is possible that the needle was inserted too deeply into the injection site. To properly inject FUZEON, pinch and hold the skin and insert the needle at a 45° angle. If using the syringes provided with your FUZEON, be certain to only insert the needle ¾ of the way into the injection site. After completion of the injection, cover the area with a small bandage. If you accidentally inject into a vein or muscle, cover the area with a bandage if any bleeding occurs. Light pressure might help to stop any bleeding. Keep watch over the area for any reactions, and contact your healthcare provider if a reaction becomes serious. Read FUZEON Injection Instructions. Q. How far do I push the needle in? A. If you are using the syringes provided in your FUZEON Convenience Kit, the needle should go ¾ of the way into your skin so that ¼ of the needle is still visible. If the barrel is touching your skin, you have gone too far. If you are very thin, or have trouble finding areas for injection sites, talk to your healthcare provider. Read FUZEON Injection Instructions. Q. What should I do if I accidentally inject FUZEON into a vein or a muscle? A. If you accidentally inject into a vein or muscle, cover the area with a bandage if any bleeding occurs. Light pressure might help to stop any bleeding. Also, contact your healthcare provider. Read FUZEON Injection Instructions. Q. Following the injection, why is the solution dripping from the injection site? A. It is possible that the needle was not properly inserted into the skin. When giving the FUZEON injection, it is recommended to pinch the skin and insert the needle at a 45° angle. The needle should be inserted ¾ of the way into the injection site. Read FUZEON Injection Instructions. Q. I am taking other injectable medications. Can I inject in the same place as FUZEON? A. It is recommended that you use different injection sites for FUZEON and your other injectable medications. Read FUZEON Injection Instructions. Q. What should I do if I miss a dose of FUZEON? A. If you miss a dose of FUZEON, take the missed dose as soon as you can and then take your next dose as scheduled. If you have missed a dose of FUZEON and it is close to the time when you are supposed to take your next dose, wait and take the next dose as regularly scheduled. Do not take two doses of FUZEON at the same time. Read FUZEON Injection Instructions. Q. Why is it important that I don't miss a dose of FUZEON? A. Missing or skipping doses can increase viral load and lead to treatment resistance, making HIV harder to treat. Do not change your dose schedule or stop taking FUZEON without talking to your healthcare provider. Read FUZEON Injection Instructions. Q. Can I give two 45 mg shots instead of one? A. For adults, the recommended dose of FUZEON is one 90 mg (1 mL) subcutaneous injection done twice daily into the abdomen, upper thigh, or upper arm. Read FUZEON Injection Instructions. Q. Can I take half my dose of FUZEON to make it last longer? A. For adults, the recommended dose of FUZEON is one 90 mg (1 mL) subcutaneous injection done twice daily into the abdomen, upper thigh, or upper arm based on clinical trials. Do not change your dose or stop taking FUZEON without first talking with your healthcare provider. Read FUZEON Injection Instructions. Q. Can I drink the dose of FUZEON? A. FUZEON must be injected. FUZEON does not work if the medicine is swallowed. Read FUZEON Injection Instructions. Q. Why can't I use the same syringe for preparing and injecting FUZEON? A. The larger (3-cc/mL) syringe is intended for mixing the sterile water for injection with FUZEON, while the safety (1-cc/mL) syringe is for injecting FUZEON into the body. The smaller safety syringe is much shorter and narrower, reducing the amount of discomfort during injection. The smaller volume of the syringe also makes it easier to draw the right amount of FUZEON. Read FUZEON Injection Instructions. Q. What should I do if I touched the sterile needle? A. If you touch the needle, start over with a new syringe. Read FUZEON Injection Instructions. Q. What should I do if I touched the sterile tops of the vials? A. If you touch the tops of the vials, clean them again with a new alcohol pad. Read FUZEON Injection Instructions. Q. What do I do if I touched the sterile injection area? A. If you touch the actual injection site, clean it again with a new alcohol pad. Read FUZEON Injection Instructions. Q. What should I do if I need to inject FUZEON in a public place? A. It is important to always find a clean, non-crowded area for injecting FUZEON to avoid contaminating the vials or the syringes and to prevent any accidental needlesticks. Use your best judgment when choosing a place to administer FUZEON. Read FUZEON Injection Instructions. Q. Can I have a friend or caregiver help me inject? A. Yes you can. For some people, having a caregiver help them inject makes injecting FUZEON much easier. If you do have a caregiver assist you, make sure that they are familiar with all of the steps of FUZEON preparation and injection. It is recommended that caregivers wear protective latex gloves when assisting with FUZEON injection. Your caregiver will also need to know how to protect himself from contact with blood. Please have your caregiver read the Caregiver's Guide. Your caregiver should meet with a healthcare provider to learn the safe way to give an injection. Read FUZEON Injection Instructions. Side Effects FAQs Q. What is an injection site reaction (ISR)? A. FUZEON causes reactions on the skin where it is injected. Reactions on the skin where FUZEON is injected include: itching, swelling, redness, pain or tenderness, hardened skin, and bumps. Almost all people get injection site reactions with FUZEON. Reactions are usually mild to moderate but occasionally may be severe. If the injection site reaction you are experiencing is severe, contact your healthcare provider immediately. View some Preparation and Injection Tips. Learn more about the potential Side Effects Of FUZEON. Q. Excluding injection site reactions (ISRs), what are the side effects of FUZEON? A. Patients with HIV get bacterial pneumonia more often than patients without HIV. Patients taking FUZEON with other HIV medicines may get bacterial pneumonia more often than patients not receiving FUZEON. It is unclear if this is related to the use of FUZEON. You should contact your healthcare provider right away if you have a cough, fever or trouble breathing. Patients are more likely to get bacterial pneumonia if they have a low number of CD4 cells, a high viral load, use intravenous (injected into the vein) drugs, smoke or have had lung disease in the past. It is unclear if pneumonia is related to FUZEON. Allergic reactions FUZEON can cause serious allergic reactions. Symptoms of a serious allergic reaction with FUZEON can include: trouble breathing fever with vomiting and a skin rash blood in your urine swelling of your feet Call your healthcare provider right away if you get any of these symptoms. Other side effects The following side effects were seen more often in patients using FUZEON with their other anti-HIV medicines than in patients not using FUZEON with their other anti-HIV medicines: pain and numbness in feet or legs loss of sleep depression decreased appetite sinus problems enlarged lymph nodes weight decrease weakness or loss of strength muscle pain constipation pancreas problems These are not all the side effects of FUZEON. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist. If you have questions about side effects, ask your healthcare provider. Report any new or continuing symptoms to your healthcare provider. Your healthcare provider will tell you what to do and may be able to help you with these side effects. Q. Will I get injection site reactions (ISRs)? A. Remember that reactions at injection sites are a common side effect of taking FUZEON. Almost all people get injection site reactions with FUZEON. Reactions are usually mild to moderate, and very few people stopped taking FUZEON because of them. If you experience reactions at an injection site, it is important not to stop taking FUZEON until you have talked with your healthcare provider about any concerns you may have. Q. What should I do if I have a severe injection site reaction (ISR)? A. If you experience an injection site reaction that seems to be more severe, contact your healthcare provider immediately for assistance. Q. How long will my injection site reaction (ISR) last? A. A reaction at one skin injection site usually lasts for less than 7 days, but may remain for more than 14 days. Q. Why might my injection site reaction (ISR) last more than seven days? A. Injection site reactions may be worse when injections are given again in the same place on the body or when the injection is given deeper than it should be. It might be a good idea to use your FUZEON Planner to keep track of where you are giving your injections. If you feel the injection site reaction you are having is severe, call you healthcare provider right away.