The drugs available for the swine flu include antiviral medications to help fight against the virus, and vaccinations to help prevent the virus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have helped to make determinations about which drugs work best in treating and helping stop the spread of the swine flu. These drugs and a summary of the established guidelines for their administration are listed below. Updates regarding the swine flu can be found at the CDC website.
Oseltamivir (Tamiflu)
Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) is an antiviral drug available in capsule or oral suspension that is FDA-approved for treating uncomplicated acute swine flu influenza patients who are at least one year in age and who have been symptomatic for no more than two days. It is also approved for the prophylaxis (preventative treatment) of swine flu in patients one year of age and older. Physicians are also authorized to use Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) in emergency situations involving children less than one-year-old and in patients who have had the swine flu for more than two days and are sick enough to require hospitalization. Although no clinical studies have been conducted to establish safety and effectiveness of antiviral drugs during pregnancy, oseltamivir (Tamiflu) is generally preferred in the treatment of swine flu in pregnant women.
Zanamivir (Relenza)
Zanamivir (Relenza) is an antiviral drug available in oral inhalation form that is FDA-approved for the treatment of uncomplicated acute swine flu in patients who have had symptoms for no more than two days and who are at least seven years of age. Zanamivir is also approved for preventative treatment of influenza in adults and pediatric patients who are at least five years of age. The drug is authorized for emergency use in patients who have been symptomatic for two days and who are sick enough to require hospitalization. Zanamivir (Relenza) is not recommended for individuals with underlying airway diseases, such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Peramivir
Peramivir is an antiviral drug formulated for intravenous (IV) administration. It has not yet been FDA-approved for treating swine flu as clinical trial investigations are still underway; however, it has been approved by the FDA for emergency use. Physicians may administer peramivir only in hospitalized patients with potentially life-threatening symptoms of suspected or laboratory-confirmed swine flu. Adult and pediatric patients may be treated with this drug only if they have not responded to either oral or inhaled antiviral therapy, or if it is not feasible or dependable to administer drugs orally or through inhalation. A physician may use clinical judgment to administer peramivir to adults only if there are other circumstances that indicate its appropriateness.
Vaccinations
Two types of H1N1 vaccinations--the H1N1 flu shot and the nasal spray flu vaccine--are available to help prevent people from getting and spreading the swine flu. The flu shot is an inactivated vaccine containing dead swine flu virus that is administered by a needle. It is approved for healthy people, those with chronic medical conditions, pregnant women, and children who are at least six months in age. The nasal spray, or "live attenuated influenza vaccine" (LAIV), is approved for healthy individuals ages two to 49 who are not pregnant. The latest information about H1N1 vaccinations and their availability may be found on the CDC website.
