Fuzeon & Me Meet Laura, 34 Pos Since 1991

Mother of a 3-month-old girl Former program director for Women at Risk, a California AIDS organization On Fuzeon since 2000 Her advice: "Make taking Fuzeon as routine as possible. The more you make it a part of your life, the less likely you'll be to forget."

Fuzeon is not only revolutionary in the way it stops HIV from getting inside your cells and multiplying, it is also the first HIV medication that must be injected. This is because its active ingredients would be destroyed in your stomach if you took it orally.

For some people who are tired of taking all those pills, an injectable HIV med is not a problem. But many people are intimidated by the idea of needles. It helps to keep in mind that lots of other people with life-threatening diseases have to inject their medications. This includes some people with hepatitis C, most people with diabetes and lots of people with serious anemia. However, it usually takes some time for most people to get over the fear and anxiety of sticking themselves with a needle.

The good news is that Fuzeon injections are not deep. In fact, the needle is only a half-inch long. You inject the drug under your skin (subcutaneously), into the fatty layer just beneath the surface.

Fuzeon is not injected directly into veins (intravenously) or into muscle (intramuscularly) like some other injectable drugs. Subcutaneous injections are easier and less painful than those kinds of injections.

If you are considering taking Fuzeon, it may help to read through the injection tips and the personal stories in this booklet, where you'll find many suggestions that will help you adjust to injecting.

Tips & Tricks for Injecting Fuzeon should never be injected in exactly the same part of your body twice in a row. Get your partner, family or friends into the act. Some people can't inject themselves but will let others inject them. Ask your doctor or nurse to instruct your injection helper on safe injecting and needle handling. Make sure you avoid injecting yourself where you have moles, scars, cuts or bruises. Good places to inject: upper arms, stomach (but avoid your belly button) and upper thighs. Some people say that they have fewer skin reactions to the injections in areas where there is more fat, like in their "love-handles." Taking a hot bath or shower just before injecting may make your skin more supple and easier to inject into. Try other needles besides those supplied to you by the pharmacist. Ask your doctor about insulin or tuberculin syringes. Some people find these needles easier to work with. Vigorously massage the area where you are going to inject the Fuzeon for 3-5 minutes both before and after injecting, with the emphasis on "vigorous." You could even use a hand-held massager as a tool!

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