Antiviral Drugs for Seasonal Flu: Additional Links and Resources
Neuraminidase Inhibitors
The majority of currently circulating influenza viruses are susceptible to the neuraminidase inhibitor antiviral medications oseltamivir and zanamivir; however, rare sporadic cases of oseltamivir resistant 2009 influenza A (H1N1) and A (H3N2) viruses have been detected worldwide in recent years. Antiviral treatment with oseltamivir or zanamivir is recommended as early as possible for patients with confirmed or suspected influenza who have severe, complicated, or progressive illness; who require hospitalization; or who are at greater risk for influenza-related complications.
- Oseltamivir (brand name Tamiflu® [294 KB, 26 pages]) is approved to both treat and prevent flu in people one year of age and older.
- Zanamivir (brand name Relenza® [449 KB, 29 pages]) is approved to treat flu in people 7 years and older and to prevent flu in people 5 years and older.
Adamantanes
In recent years, widespread adamantane resistance among influenza A (H3N2) virus strains has made this class of medications less useful clinically. In addition, circulating 2009 H1N1 virus strains are resistant to adamantanes. Therefore, amantadine and rimantadine are not recommended for antiviral treatment or chemoprophylaxis of currently circulating influenza A virus strains. (These medications are active against influenza A viruses but not influenza B viruses.)
- Amantadine (generic) is approved to treat and prevent only influenza A viruses in people older than 1 year.
- Rimantadine (Flumadine® [68 KB, 10 pages], generic) is approved to prevent only influenza A virus infection among people older than 1 year. It is approved to treat only influenza A virus infections in people 17 and older.
The CDC’s weekly FluView provides the latest information on antiviral drug resistant isolates collected via routine surveillance in the United States.
Find labels and label updates for approved drug products at Drugs@FDA.
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