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Relenza: Influenza
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Relenza is a medicine to treat flu — an infection that is caused by an influenza virus. It belongs to a group of medicines called neuraminidase (noor-uh-MIN-ih-dase) inhibitors. These medications attack the influenza virus and prevent it from spreading inside your body. Relenza treats flu at its source by attacking the virus that causes the flu, rather than simply masking symptoms. A prescription can be filled for Relenza at your local pharmacy.
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You should be seeing a good deal of demand for two new antiviral treatments for influenza; GlaxoWellcome’s Relenza and Roche’s Tamiflu recently were approved by the FDA. Unfortunately, the demand may not reflect the value of either of these new antivirals. At best, both drugs provide about a 1-day reduction in influenza symptom duration.
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Relenza contains zanamivir and Tamiflu contains oseltamivir. These anti-viral medicines work against an enzyme on the surface of the influenza virus, called neuraminidase (new-ram-in-ee-daze). This enzyme helps new pieces of virus leave the cells of the body that are already infected by the virus, therefore these medicines reduce the amount of virus in the breathing passages (e.g. throat).
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The recommended dose of Relenza for prevention of influenza, following close contact with an individual, is two inhalations (2 x 5 mg) once daily for 10 days. Therapy should begin as soon as possible and within 36 hours of exposure to an infected person.
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Relenza can be used to prevent symptoms and illness due to influenza infection. However, vaccination remains the primary method of preventing and controlling influenza. Relenza may be given to prevent infection due to influenza in certain circumstances where prophylaxis is justified (eg as when no suitable vaccine is available for the circulating influenza or when there is a pandemic). It is not recommended for routine prophylaxis against influenza infection.
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The effectiveness of Relenza in preventing seasonal influenza has been demonstrated in four large-scale studies comparing the drug with placebo. In two of these trials, the use of the drug substantially reduced the spread of influenza in the participating households where participants were five years of age or greater. In both of these trials, the proportion of households that developed symptoms confirmed to be flu was 19.0% for the placebo group and 4.1% for the Relenza group.
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Influenza