Table: Recommended Daily Dosage of Seasonal Influenza Antiviral Medications for Treatment and Chemoprophylaxis for the 2008-09 Season—United States

NOTE: Zanamivir is manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline (Relenza — inhaled powder). Zanamivir is approved for treatment of persons aged 7 years and older and approved for chemoprophylaxis of persons aged 5 years and older. Oseltamivir is manufactured by Roche Pharmaceuticals (Tamiflu® — tablet) Oseltamivir is approved for treatment or chemoprophylaxis of persons aged 1 year and older. Amantadine manufacturers include Endo Pharmaceuticals (Symmetrel® — tablet and syrup); Geneva Pharms Tech (Amantadine HCL — capsule);
USL Pharma (Amantadine HCL — capsule and tablet); and Alpharma, Carolina Medical, Copley Pharmaceutical, HiTech Pharma, Mikart, Morton Grove, and Pharmaceutical Associates (Amantadine HCL — syrup), and Sandoz. Rimantadine is manufactured by Forest Laboratories (Flumadine® — tablet and syrup); Corepharma, Impax Labs (Rimantadine HCL — tablet), and Amide Pharmaceuticals (Rimantadine HCL — tablet). No antiviral medications are approved for treatment or chemoprophylaxis of influenza among children younger than 1 year of age. This information is based on data published by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

* Zanamivir is administered through oral inhalation by using a plastic device included in the medication package. Patients will benefit from instruction and demonstration of the correct use of the device. Zanamivir is not recommended for those persons with underlying airway disease.

† A reduction in the dose of oseltamivir is recommended for persons with creatinine clearance less than 30 mL/min.

§ The treatment dosing recommendation for children who weigh 15 kg or less is 30 mg twice a day. For children who weigh more than 15 kg and up to 23 kg, the dose is 45 mg twice a day. For children who weigh more than 23 kg and up to 40 kg, the dose is 60 mg twice a day. For children who weigh more than 40 kg, the dose is 75 mg twice a day.

¶ The chemoprophylaxis dosing recommendation for children who weigh less than 15 kg is 30 mg once a day. For who weigh more than 15 kg and up to 23 kg, the dose is 45 mg once a day. For children who weigh more than 23 kg and up to 40 kg, the dose is 60 mg once a day. For children who weigh more than 40 kg, the dose is 75 mg once a day.

** The drug package insert should be consulted for dosage recommendations for administering amantadine to persons with creatinine clearance less than or equal to 50 mL/ min/1.73m2.

†† 5 mg/kg body weight of amantadine or rimantadine syrup = 1 tsp/2.2 lbs.

§§ Children aged 10 years and older who weigh less than 40 kg should be administered amantadine or rimantadine at a dosage of 5 mg/kg body weight/day.

¶¶ A reduction in dosage to 100 mg/day of rimantadine is recommended for persons who have severe hepatic dysfunction or those with creatinine clearance less than 10 mL/min. Other persons with less severe hepatic or renal dysfunction taking 100 mg/day of rimantadine should be observed closely, and the dosage should be reduced or the drug discontinued, if necessary.

# Only approved by FDA for treatment among adults.

## Not applicable.

$ Rimantadine is approved by FDA for treatment among adults. However, certain specialists in the management of influenza consider rimantadine appropriate for treatment among children. Studies evaluating the efficacy of amantadine and rimantadine in children are limited, but they indicate that treatment with either drug diminishes the severity of influenza A infection when administered within 48 hours of illness onset.

$$ Older nursing-home residents should be administered only 100 mg/day of rimantadine. A reduction in dosage to 100 mg/day should be considered for all persons aged 65 years and older, if they experience possible side effects when taking 200 mg/day.