What Is the Recommended Dosage of Relenza?
Relenza is a brand-name version of the prescription inhalant medication zanamivir. Doctors usually prescribe Relenza to shorten the duration of flu symptoms.
Other People Are Reading
-
Significance
-
Relenza typically shortens the duration of the flu by one to one and one-half days, according to the Mayo Clinic, provided that use of the drug begins within the first two days after developing symptoms.
Time Frame
-
For patients with compromised immune systems, doctors sometimes prescribe Relenza as a flu preventative when people in the patients' households or communities develop influenza. In such cases, the drug is typically used for 10 days in household outbreaks and 28 days in community outbreaks.
-
Dosage
-
The normal dosage of Relenza is 10 mg taken with a disc inhaler once every 12 hours for five days, according to RxList. On the first day of treatment, two doses are usually recommended, provided they can be taken a minimum of seven hours apart.
Risks
-
Risks of Relenza usage include constriction of the airways leading to shortness of breath, severe allergic reactions, seizures, hallucinations and delirium.
Considerations
-
Doctors normally do not prescribe Relenza for pregnant women or children under the age of seven. It may not be safe for those with a history of heart or lung disease to take Relenza, cautions the Mayo Clinic.
-
