Are Tamiflu® and Relenza® effective in treating or preventing human cases of avian influenza?
Although we don’t know how effective antiviral medications such as Tamiflu® (oseltamivir) and Relenza® (zanamivir) would be in treating a pandemic influenza virus, both of these medications are approved for preventing and treating acute uncomplicated seasonal influenza. Approved doses, and dosing instructions for children, are different for each drug, so the individual package inserts should be checked for this information. Evidence indicates that the sooner these antivirals are administered, the better the outcome. You should be aware that antiviral drugs are not a substitute for vaccines. The U.S Department of Health and Human Services/Food and Drug Administration’s (HHS/FDA) web site has more information on antiviral medications at http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/antivirals/influenza/default.htm.
