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Zanamivir is used to treat some types of influenza (flu) in patients 12 years and older who have had symptoms of the flu for 2 days or less. Zanamivir is in a class of drugs called neuraminidase inhibitors. These drugs work by stopping the growth and spread of the flu virus in your body. Zanamivir helps shorten the time you have flu symptoms such as nasal congestion, sore throat, cough, muscle aches, tiredness, headache, fever, and chills.
Zanamivir comes as a powder to inhale by mouth. It is usually inhaled twice daily for 5 days. You should take the doses about 12 hours apart and at the same time each day. On the first day of treatment your doctor may tell you to take the doses closer together.Zanamivir comes with a plastic inhaler called a Diskhaler and five circular blister packs called Rotadisks. Each Rotadisk contains four doses of the medication. Your prescription will come with instructions on how to use the Diskhaler. You should read these instructions carefully before using zanamivir. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to show you how to use the Diskhaler. To put a Rotadisk in the Diskhaler, follow these steps: Remove the blue cap that covers the mouthpiece. Look inside to make sure there is no dirt or other objects inside the Diskhaler. Place your fingers on both sides of the white mouthpiece and pull on it. It should extend out from the body of the Diskhaler. After you pull the mouthpiece out, you should be able to feel ridges with bumps on both sides of it. Press both of these ridges in while pulling out on the mouthpiece. This will allow you to remove the entire mouthpiece from the body of the Diskhaler. Place one of the Rotadisks onto the brown wheel at the center of the Diskhaler. It should be placed with the flat side facing toward you. The circular pockets that hold the drug will fit into the holes of the brown wheel. Replace the white mouthpiece and push it in as far as it will go. Do not push too hard. Your Diskhaler is now ready to use. To use the Diskhaler, follow the steps described below, making sure that you are holding the Diskhaler level at all times. Find the flap with the word Relenza on it. This flap is connected to a device that will puncture the medication blister pocket. Hold the narrower edge of the flap and lift it up until it cannot be lifted any further. The flap must be straight up to work properly. Make sure that you hold the Diskhaler level, then snap the flap back into place. This will open the medication blister pocket. Breath out completely and then place the mouthpiece into your mouth. Remember to hold the Diskhaler level. Close your lips around the Diskhaler. Make sure your lips do not cover the holes on the sides of the mouthpiece. Breathe in through your mouth. Your breath should be deep and even. Hold your breath for a few seconds so that the medicine stays in your lungs. If your doctor has prescribed a second inhalation, you will need to rotate the Rotadisk to the next blister pocket. To rotate the Rotadisk, pull out the mouthpiece, but do not remove it completely. Push the mouthpiece back until it clicks. You are now ready to take the next inhalation. Repeat steps 1 through 7. Once you have taken the right number of inhalations, you should place the blue cap back on the Diskhaler until it is time for your next dose. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part that you do not understand. Take zanamivir exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor. Continue to take zanamivir even if you start to feel better. Do not stop taking zanamivir without talking to your doctor. |