Why Can't I Take Fuzeon by Itself? Like all HIV meds, Fuzeon works best when it's used in a regimen that combines more than one drug class. Each drug class attacks HIV differently, so the more ways you can fight HIV, the less chance there is for HIV to develop resistance. If you were to use Fuzeon by itself, resistance would be much more likely to develop.

In order for any HIV med to be approved for use, scientists must conduct studies, or "trials," showing the drug works well against the condition it was developed to fight. Once enough people have been recruited, the trial can begin. These trials often take many years in order to make sure that: (1) the medication keeps working as time goes by and (2) it doesn't cause any major side effects.

In the case of Fuzeon, researchers recruited HIV-positive people who were "treatment experienced" -- that is, they had taken all three of the other classes of HIV medications: NRTIs, NNRTIs and protease inhibitors. The researchers chose this group of people primarily because they are most in need of a new class of HIV meds.

The two major trials for Fuzeon were called the TORO studies. Each one enrolled about 500 HIV-positive people from different parts of the world, almost all of whom already had resistance to several HIV meds. The people were divided into two groups: One group was given a HAART regimen using older drugs, and the other was given a HAART regimen with Fuzeon added.

The Fuzeon Study Results

Fuzeon & Me Meet Joe Mangiaracina, 31 Pos Since 1991

Enrollment counselor and student at the University of Phoenix Teaches CPR, first aid, AIDS/STD education part-time Loves art, music, motorcycle riding On Fuzeon since early 2003 His advice: "If you can't communicate with your doctor then you need to look for another one. It's your life that's at stake. You need to educate yourself about HIV and know why you're taking what you're taking."

The results were impressive. After about one year, compared with those not taking Fuzeon, more than twice as many on the Fuzeon regimen saw their viral load drop by 90% or more, which many scientists use as the standard gauge of whether a drug is effective. Perhaps even more important, people on Fuzeon saw their CD4 counts increase by an average of 91 cells, almost twice the increase seen in people who took the regimen without Fuzeon.

These results are the main reason why Fuzeon is recommended for use in people who have already tried several different HAART regimens. Although it's a powerful drug that may work well in people who aren't resistant to many HIV meds, it's a potential lifesaver for people running out of options, so researchers have focused on its use in those people.

Of course, Fuzeon doesn't work for everybody. For some people, Fuzeon might seem like a miracle drug, while for others it might have little effect. That's why it's so important to talk things over in detail with your doctor before you start taking this med (or any med). It's also essential to make sure your condition is monitored closely while you're on Fuzeon to see how well it's working.

Fuzeon Side Effects

The most common side effect of Fuzeon is an injection site reaction. About nine out of 10 people have one, though it's rarely severe. An injection site reaction is usually a small, hard bump that shows up right where you injected. It may be a little itchy or painful. Vigorous massage of the site after you inject can help prevent this. The reaction shouldn't last for more than a few days or get worse over time; if it does, tell your doctor right away.

Other side effects, which are much less common, include:

• Allergic reactions (may be severe; symptoms include trouble breathing, fever, vomiting, skin rash, blood in urine, foot swelling)

• Pain and numbness in feet, legs

• Loss of sleep

• Depression

• Decreased appetite

• Loss of strength

• Muscle pain

• Constipation

• Pancreas problems

Studies have found that HIV-positive people taking Fuzeon tend to get bacterial pneumonia a little more often than those who take other meds, though scientists aren't sure why this happens.

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