Dr. Ogbru received his Doctorate in Pharmacy from the University of the Pacific School of Pharmacy in 1995. He completed a Pharmacy Practice Residency at the University of Arizona/University Medical Center in 1996. He was a Professor of Pharmacy Practice and a Regional Clerkship Coordinator for the University of the Pacific School of Pharmacy from 1996-99.
Jay W. Marks, MD, is a board-certified internist and gastroenterologist. He graduated from Yale University School of Medicine and trained in internal medicine and gastroenterology at UCLA/Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
DRUG CLASS AND MECHANISM: Zanamivir is an inhaled medication used for treating and preventing influenza or the "flu." Zanamivir suppresses and decreases the spread of influenza A and B viruses, the viruses responsible for the flu. It does this by blocking the action of neuraminidase, an enzyme produced by the viruses that enables the viruses to spread from infected cells to healthy cells. By preventing the spread of virus from cell to cell, the symptoms and duration of influenza infection are reduced. On average, zanamivir reduces the duration of symptoms by one day if treatment is started within forty-eight hours after symptoms begin. The FDA approved zanamivir in July 1999.
GENERIC AVAILABLE: No
PRESCRIPTION: Yes
PREPARATIONS: Inhalation Powder: 5 mg
STORAGE: Zanamivir should be stored at room temperature, 15-30 C (59-86 F)
PRESCRIBED FOR: Zanamivir is used for the treatment of infection with the influenza viruses, including
H1N1, in individuals seven years of age or older with symptoms for no longer than two days. It also is used for preventing influenza in adults and children five years of age and older.
DOSING: Zanamivir is administered by oral inhalation. The recommended dose is
two inhalations (5 mg per inhalation) twice daily (approximately 12 hours apart)
for five days. Two doses (separated by at least two hours) should be
administered on the first day of treatment. For best results, treatment should
begin as soon as symptoms develop. The recommended dose for prevention of
influenza in a household setting is 10 mg once daily for 10 days. The
recommended dose for preventing influenza in a community setting is 10 mg once
daily for 28 days.
DRUG INTERACTIONS: Zanamivir potentially may interfere with the action of
injections of live attenuated flu vaccine because zanamivir prevents viral
replication. Therefore, live attenuated flu vaccine should not be administered
within 2 weeks before or 48 hours after administration of zanamivir.
PREGNANCY: The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) states that
pregnancy is not
a contraindication for use of zanamivir in pregnant women because the benefits
outweigh the risks.
NURSING MOTHERS: It is not known whether zanamivir is excreted in
breast
milk. However, the CDC recommends that women who develop flu after child birth
should be treated with antiviral drugs.
Patients with respiratory diseases may experience breathing problems when
treated with zanamivir due to irritation of the breathing tubes by the particles
from the inhaler. If breathing problems occur, zanamivir should be discontinued.
Patients who have asthma or other breathing problems that make them sensitive to
inhaled particles should have a fast acting, inhaled bronchodilator available to
treat any breathing problem that may occur when zanamivir is used.
REFERENCE:
Relenza FDA Prescribing Information
Centers for Disease Control. "H1N1flu recommendations." November 1, 2009.
Influenza (flu) is a respiratory illness caused by a virus. Flu symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, headache, fatigue, and muscle aches. The flu may be prevented with an annual influenza vaccination.
Bird flu (avian flu, avian influenza) infection in humans may result from contact with infected poultry. There is a vaccine to prevent human infection with the H5N1 strain of the avian flu virus.
Novel H1N1 influenza A virus infection (swine flu) is an infection that generally is transferred from an infected pig to a human, however there have been reported cases where infection has occured with no contact with infected pigs. Symptoms of swine flu are "flu-like" and include fever, cough, and sore throat. Treatment is generally with the antibiotics oseltamivir (Tamiflu) or zanamivir (Relenza).
Pregnant and women who are breastfeeding are encouraged to receive the seasonal flu shot as well as the 2009 H1N1 influenza (swine flu) vaccine. H1N1 flu is treated with the medications Tamiflu® (oseltamivir) or Relenza® (zanamivir). Pregnant women should not receive the H1N1 attenuated nasal spray vaccine. Possible side effects of the H1N1 flu vaccine include muscle aches, fever, nausea, tiredness, or headache.
What is swine flu (novel H1N1 influenza A swine flu)?
Swine flu (swine influenza) is a respiratory disease caused by viruses (influenza viruses) that infect the respiratory tract of pigs and result in nasal secretions, a barking-like cough, decreased appetite, and listless behavior. Swine flu produces most of the same symptoms in pigs as human flu produces in people. Swine flu can last about
one to two weeks in pigs that survive. Swine influenza virus was first isolated from pigs in 1930 in the U.S. and has been recognized by pork producers and veterinarians to cause infections in pigs worldwide. In a number of instances, people have developed the swine flu infection when they are closely associated with pigs (for
example, farmers, pork processors), and likewise, pig populations have occasionally been infected with the human flu infection. In most instances, the cross-species infections (swine virus to man; human flu virus to pigs) have remained in local areas and ha...
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