Health and Medical Information

Ministry of Health recommended pregnant women to treat the new flu with Tamiflu and Relenza - and preferably in the first hours of the disease. At the same time, these medications belong to the C category, thus it is not known whether they are safe for pregnant women.

Pregnant and nursing women are in a swine flu risk group. Previously, they were suggested various types of interferons only for treatment.

Now, in accordance with WHO recommendations, pregnant and breastfeeding women are recommended to be given the drug Tamiflu or Relenza as soon as possible (within the first 48 hours) in a dose of 1 capsule (or two inhalations) per day for 5 days.

Since there are no reliable clinical tests regarding safety of Tamiflu for pregnant and breastfeeding women, the Ministry of Health notes: “The data available to assess the risks and benefits suggests that pregnant and lactating women with suspected or confirmed influenza need to start the nativiral therapy ASAP because possible benefits from use of Tamiflu or Relenza outweigh the potential risk to the fetus or infant. The necessity of prescribing these antivirals is solved by a consultation taking into consideration life indications. In case of Tamiflu treatment, the pregnant ot nursing patient should provide an acceptance of the treatment in written form”.

However, Tamiflu is not always efficient against swine flu. The first case of swine flu resistant to Tamiflu, was recorded in Denmark. For treatment of patients who are not helped with Tamiflu, doctors had to use another effective agent against swine flu - zanamivir.

National Bureau of Health, Denmark confirmed that the most common antiviral drug against swine flu Tamiflu was ineffective in the treatment of swine influenza (A/H1N1) in one patient.

According to the information available to physicians, the patient got infected with swine influenza virus from a man who had taken Tamiflu as a preventive measure. Based on these data, it is possible to speak about a strain resistant to antiviral drugs.

Nevertheless, there is no cause for concern. According to Danish physicians, the patient was helped by another drug - zanamivir, manufactured under the brand name Relenza. Its mechanism of action is similar to Tamiflu and it also blocks the viral protein neuraminidase. However, a different chemical structure of drugs does not allow the virus to acquire resistance simultaneously to two drugs. In addition, one case is not a reason to abandon previously well-proven Tamiflu.