RELENZA ® Zanamivir

RELENZA ® is a Zanamivir based drug

THERAPEUTIC GROUP: Antivirals for systemic use - neuroaminidase inhibitor

IndicationsAction mechanismStudies and clinical effectiveness Usage and dosage instructionsWarnings Pregnancy and lactationInteractionsContraindicationsUndesirable effects

Indications RELENZA ® Zanamivir

RELENZA ® is indicated for the treatment and post-exposure prevention of influenza in high-risk patients in communities where the virus is circulating.

Mechanism of action RELENZA ® Zanamivir

RELENZA ® is a medicinal product used in the treatment and post-exposure prevention of influenza in high-risk patients, based on Zanamivir, an active ingredient classified as a neuroaminidase inhibitor and therefore able to bind and block the spread of the virus in the mucosa and between the epithelial cells of the host.

More precisely, once taken by oral inhalation, the drug is distributed mainly in the upper respiratory tract, the primary site of infection by binding one of the virus's external antigens and preventing it from taking root in the respiratory mucosa and spreading along the respiratory tract.

All this results in a significant reduction in the severity of the symptoms and in a shortening of illness times with a relatively early recovery of work and social activities and above all with greater control over the spread of the virus itself.

After its activity, Zanamivir, still as it is, is mostly eliminated through the urine, following glomerular filtration.

Studies carried out and clinical efficacy

ZANAMIVIR BY ENDOVENOUS ROUTE

J Infect Dis. 2013 Jan 1; 207 (1): 196-8.

Interesting work that evaluates the responsive capacities to intravenous treatment with Zanamivir for particularly critical patients suffering from pandemic influenza supported by H1N1 virus

EFFECTIVENESS AND SCIURE OF ANTI-INFLUENCIAL THERAPY WITH ZANAMIVIR

Indian J Pharmacol. 2012 Nov-Dec; 44 (6): 780-3.

Work conducted on over 130 patients demonstrating how Zanamivir therapy can be as safe as that with other antivirals, while still guaranteeing faster remission of symptoms and in particular fever. However, this therapy should be supervised by medical personnel especially for the risk of respiratory distress.

INFLUENCE AND RESISTANCE TO ZANAMIVIR

Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2013 Jan 28.

Experimental study that shows how even influenza viruses can develop mutations capable of conferring a natural resistance to neuroaminidase inhibitors, such as Zanamivir, thus causing an aggravation of the current clinical picture.

Method of use and dosage

RELENZA ®

Powder for oral inhalation in a 5 mg Zanamivir single-dose container.

The dosing schedule useful for the treatment and prevention of viral flu should be defined by your doctor based on the patient's physiopathological and clinical characteristics.

In order to guarantee the maximum therapeutic efficacy of the drug it would be advisable to inhale the drug orally through the specific device supplied with the medicine.

Warnings RELENZA ® Zanamivir

Therapy with RELENZA must necessarily be preceded by a careful medical examination aimed at assessing the prescriptive appropriateness of the drug and the possible presence of conditions such as to compromise the health of the patient undergoing therapy with Zanamivir.

For this reason maximum caution should be reserved in patients suffering from bronchopneumopathy, hepatic and renal pathologies contextually subjected to drug therapy with RELENZA ®, known the pharmacokinetic variations responsible for side effects.

It should also be remembered that RELENZA in no way replaces vaccination, which represents a preventive strategy with different indications, such as the seasonal prevention of flu illness.

RELENZA ® contains lactose, therefore its intake is contraindicated in patients with lactase enzyme deficiency, glucose-galactose malabsorption syndrome and lactose intolerance.

PREGNANCY AND BREASTFEEDING

The absence of clinical trials able to fully characterize the safety profile of Zanamivir for fetal health, require the extension of the contraindications to the use of RELENZA ® also during pregnancy and in the subsequent period of breastfeeding.

Interactions

The low metabolism that RELENZA ® faces significantly reduces the risk of clinically relevant drug interactions.

Contraindications RELENZA ® Zanamivir

RELENZA ® is contraindicated in patients who are hypersensitive to the active substance or to any of its excipients.

Undesirable effects - Side effects

The use of RELENZA ®, especially when it lasts a long time, could determine the onset of dermatological manifestations of hypersensitivity to the active principle, neurological and psychiatric symptoms such as behavioral alterations, hallucinations, delirium and alterations of the state of consciousness.

Only rarely did adverse respiratory reactions such as bronchospasm and asthma occur.