The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 276 No 7384 p63
21 January 2006

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Antivirals may not always be appropriate to treat influenza

Use of M2 ion channel-blocking drugs (amantadine and rimantadine) to treat influenza should be discouraged, say the authors of a systematic review published online on 19 January (www.thelancet.com). The drugs can cause adverse reactions and antiviral resistance and their effects are mainly symptomatic.

The review also suggests that neuraminidase inhibitors (oseltamivir and zanamivir) should not be used in seasonal influenza, and should only be used in a pandemic with adequate public-health mechanisms. Furthermore, the authors found no reliable data on the effects of oseltamivir (Tamiflu) on avian influenza.