Zanamivir
Also known as: Dectova · RELENZA
General information only. Anpheros does not diagnose and does not recommend treatment. Talk to a doctor or pharmacist about your situation. In an emergency, call 112 (or your local emergency number).
In short
In the European Union, zanamivir is indicated for the treatment of complicated and potentially life-threatening influenza A or B virus infection in adult and paediatric patients aged 6 months and older when the virus is known or suspected to be resistant to other anti-influenza products, or when other anti-viral products are not suitable. In the United States, zanamivir is indicated for the treatment of acute, uncomplicated influenza type A and B infections in patients aged 7 years and older who have been symptomatic for no more than 2 days, and for the prophylaxis of influenza in patients aged 5 years and older. In the United States, the product is not for use in individuals with underlying airways disease, is not proven effective for prophylaxis in nursing home residents, and is not a substitute for annual influenza vaccination.
From: Source: European Medicines Agency (EMA), Dectova — EPAR, 10/11/2025. © European Medicines Agency. · Data provided by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
AI-generated summary of the sources cited on this page, checked automatically against them. Not reviewed by a clinician; not medical advice.
Codes
- RxNorm
- 69722 zanamivir
- EMA
- EMEA/H/C/004102
Official indications
Quoted unchanged from official product information, in English. Listed alphabetically by product, not ranked.
EMA (EU) Dectova
Dectova is indicated for the treatment of complicated and potentially life-threatening influenza A or B virus infection in adult and paediatric patients (aged ?6 months) when: The patient’s influenza virus is known or suspected to be resistant to anti-influenza medicinal products other than zanamivir, and/or Other anti-viral medicinal products for treatment of influenza, including inhaled zanamivir, are not suitable for the individual patient. Dectova should be used in accordance with official guidance.
Source: European Medicines Agency (EMA), Dectova — EPAR, 10/11/2025. © European Medicines Agency.
Document date: 10/11/2025 · Official document →
FDA (USA) RELENZA
1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE RELENZA, an influenza virus neuraminidase inhibitor (NAI), is indicated for: Treatment of acute, uncomplicated influenza type A and B infections in patients aged 7 years and older who have been symptomatic for no more than 2 days. ( 1.1 ) Prophylaxis of influenza in patients aged 5 years and older. ( 1.2 ) Important Limitations of Use: Not recommended for treatment or prophylaxis of influenza in: • Individuals with underlying airways disease. ( 5.1 ) Not proven effective for: • Treatment in individuals with underlying airways disease. ( 1.3 ) • Prophylaxis in nursing home residents. ( 1.3 ) Not a substitute for annual influenza vaccination. ( 1.3 ) Consider available information on influenza drug susceptibility patterns and treatment effects when deciding whether to use RELENZA. ( 1.3 ) 1.1 Treatment of Influenza RELENZA (zanamivir) inhalation powder is indicated for treatment of uncomplicated acute illness due to influenza A and B virus in adults and pediatric patients aged 7 years and older who have been symptomatic for no more than 2 days. 1.2 Prophylaxis of Influenza RELENZA is indicated for prophylaxis of influenza in adults and pediatric patients aged 5 years and older. 1.3 Important Limitations of Use • RELENZA is not recommended for treatment or prophylaxis of influenza in individuals with underlying airways disease (such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) due to risk of serious bronchospasm [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )] . • RELENZA has not been proven effective for treatment of influenza in individuals with underlying airways disease. • RELENZA has not been proven effective for prophylaxis of influenza in the nursing home setting. • RELENZA is not a substitute for early influenza vaccination on an annual basis as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control's Immunization Practices Advisory Committee. • Influenza viruses change over time. Emergence of resistance mutations could decrease drug effectiveness. Other factors (for example, changes in viral virulence) might also diminish clinical benefit of antiviral drugs. Prescribers should consider available information on influenza drug susceptibility patterns and treatment effects when deciding whether to use RELENZA. • There is no evidence for efficacy of zanamivir in any illness caused by agents other than influenza virus A and B. • Patients should be advised that the use of RELENZA for treatment of influenza has not been shown to reduce the risk of transmission of influenza to others.
Data provided by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Document date: 20260723 · Official document →
Other treatments A–Z
What people report
Not enough data yet. Anonymous counts appear here only for groups of at least 20 people who agreed to share them.
External resources
Questions
What is Zanamivir approved for in the European Union?
Dectova is indicated for the treatment of complicated and potentially life-threatening influenza A or B virus infection in adult and paediatric patients (aged ?6 months) when: The patient’s influenza virus is known or suspected to be resistant to anti-influenza medicinal products other than zanamivir, and/or Other anti-viral medicinal products for treatment of influenza, including inhaled zanamivir, are not suitable for the individual patient. Dectova should be used in accordance with official guidance. (Source: European Medicines Agency (EMA), Dectova — EPAR, 10/11/2025. © European Medicines Agency.)
Sources and attribution
- Source: European Medicines Agency (EMA) — EPAR. © European Medicines Agency.
- Data provided by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
- Names other than the official source titles: Anpheros translations and plain-language names, made with AI assistance and checked automatically; the source names are in English.
- This product uses publicly available data from the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM), National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services; NLM is not responsible for the product and does not endorse or recommend this or any other product.
- Source: European Medicines Agency (EMA), Dectova — EPAR, 10/11/2025. © European Medicines Agency.
Anpheros Search catalog 2026.10.5, published 17 October 2026. About the data →
About this page. This page brings together public information from official sources, each cited where it is used. It is not medical advice, it is not a diagnosis, and it does not tell you which treatment to take.
Treatments. Indications are quoted unchanged from official product information (European Medicines Agency, U.S. Food and Drug Administration). They describe what a medicine is approved for, not whether it is right for you. Approved uses can differ between countries. Always read the package leaflet and follow your doctor's or pharmacist's advice.
What people report. Figures marked "reported by Anpheros users" are anonymous counts from at least 20 people who agreed to share them. They show what people report, not what works, and they are not clinical evidence.
Links between terms. "May be associated with" means the link appears in a cited source. It does not mean you have that condition.
In an emergency, call 112 (or your local emergency number). Do not delay seeking medical help because of something you read here.