What is Relenza used for?

Relenza is used to treat uncomplicated
illness due to influenza virus in people 7 years and older who have been symptomatic for
no more than 2 days.

Special Warnings with Relenza:

• Some patients have had bronchospasm (wheezing) or serious breathing problems
  when they used Relenza. Many but not all of these patients had previous asthma or chronic
  obstructive pulmonary disease. Relenza has not been shown to shorten the duration of
  influenza in people with these diseases. Because of the risk of side effects and because
  it has not been shown to help them, Relenza is not generally recommended for people with
  chronic respiratory disease such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
• If you have lung disease you should have a fast-acting inhaled bronchodilator
  available while being treated with Relenza. If your breathing worsens, stop using Relenza
  and call your health care provider.

General Precautions with Relenza:

• Relenza is not used to prevent the flu or to decrease the risk of transmitting
  the virus to others.
• Relenza has not been shown to treat flu-like illnesses caused by any virus other
  than influenza A and B (e.g., stomach flu, common cold, or other respiratory illnesses not
  caused by influenza).
• Stop taking Relenza and contact your health care provider if you experience signs
  or symptoms of an allergic reaction such as shortness of breath, swelling of eyelids,
  face, or lips or a skin rash.
• Other kinds of infections can appear like influenza or occur along with
  influenza, and need different types of treatment. Contact your health care provider if you
  feel worse or develop new symptoms during or after treatment, or if your influenza
  symptoms do not start to get better.
• Taking Relenza should not affect your decision to have an annual influenza
  vaccination.
• The safety and efficacy of repeated courses of treatment have not been
  established.
• If you use a bronchodilator and are scheduled to use it at the same time as
  Relenza, use your bronchodilator first before using Relenza.

What should I tell my doctor or health care provider?

Tell your health care provider if you:

• are taking any other medications
• have chronic lung disease such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary
  disease.
• are trying to become pregnant, are already pregnant, or are breast-feeding.

What are some possible side effects of Relenza? (This list is NOT
a complete list of side effects reported with Relenza. Your health care provider
can discuss with you a more complete list of side effects.)

See the "Warnings" and "Precautions" sections for
information about the risk of bronchospasm and allergic-like reactions.

Other side effects may include:

• headache
• diarrhea
• nausea
• vomiting
• nasal irritation
• bronchitis
• cough
• sinus inflammation
• ear, nose and throat infections
• dizziness

For more detailed information about Relenza, ask your health care provider.

http://www.fda.gov/cder/foi/label/1999/21036lbl.pdf    Link to Relenza’s approved label and patient information