Zanamivir is believed to work by inhibiting a viral enzyme called neuraminidase. By inhibiting this enzyme, the drug helps prevent the release of the virus from infected cells. Essentially, zanamivir does not directly help the cells that have already been infected; instead, it prevents other cells from being infected as well.
Zanamivir is active against both
influenza A and influenza B viruses.
Is Zanamivir Used in Children?
Zanamivir is approved to prevent the flu in children as young as five years old. For
flu treatment, it is approved for children as young as seven years old.
Is Zanamivir Used for Off-Label Reasons?
On occasion, your healthcare provider may recommend zanamivir for treating something other than the condition discussed in this article. This is called an "
off-label" use. At this time, there are no universally accepted off-label zanamivir uses.
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