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Anti-viral drugs and influenza

Authoring team

According to the chemical properties and spectrum of activity against influenza viruses, the drugs can be divided into:

  • adamantane derivatives - amantadine (not currently recommended for treatment of, and rimantadine
  • neuraminidase (NA) inhibitors - zanamivir and oseltamivir (1)

In terms of chemoprophylaxis:

  • treatments likely to be beneficial include:
    • oral oseltamivir (prevention of symptoms in influenza A and B)
    • orally inhaled zanamivir (prevention of symptoms in influenza A and B)
  • treatments likely to be ineffective or harmful
    • oral amantadine
    • oral rimantadine

In terms of antiviral treatment for cases of influenza:

  • treatments likely to be beneficial
    • oral oseltamivir for early treatment of influenza A and B (evidence reveals that there is a reduction in duration of symptoms and incidence of complications)
    • orally inhaled zanamivir for early treatment of influenza A or B (reduction in duration of symptoms and incidence of complications)
  • treatments likely to be ineffective or harmful
    • oral amantadine for early treatment of influenza A
    • oral rimantadine for early treatment of influenza A

Reference:


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