Antiviral Drugs
Antiviral drugs directly target the viruses responsible for influenza infections. Generally, anti-viral drugs work optimally when taken within a few days of the onset of symptoms. Certain drugs are used prophylactically, that is they are used in uninfected individuals to guard against infection.
Four licensed influenza antiviral agents are available in the United States: amantadine, rimantadine, zanamivir, and oseltamivir. They are available through prescription only. These drugs fall into categories as either M2-inhibitors (admantane derivatives) or neuraminidase inhibitors as illustrated in the following table.
| Class | Effective Against | Drug Name (INN) | Brand Name | Year Approved | Manufacturer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M2 inhibitors (adamantane derivatives) |
Influenza A | Amantadine | Symmetrel | 1976 | Endo Pharmaceuticals |
| Rimantadine | Flumadine | 1994 | Forest Laboratories | ||
| Neuraminidase inhibitors | Influenza A & B | Zanamivir | Relenza | 1999 | GlaxoSmithKline |
| Oseltamivir | Tamiflu | 1999 | Hoffmann-La Roche | ||
| Note: Neuraminidase inhibitors are approved for prophylaxis use in children and adults. | |||||
In Russia and China a drug called arbidol is also used as a treatment. Testing of the drug has predominantly occurred in these countries and, although no clinical trials have been published demonstrating this is an effective drug, some data suggest that this could be a useful treatment for influenza.
Read more about this topic: Influenza Treatment
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