Patient information: uses, side effects, how to take - Relenza

What is RELENZA?

RELENZA is a prescription medicine used to:

treat the flu (influenza A and B virus) in people who are aged 7 years and older who have had flu symptoms for no more than 2 days.
help prevent the flu in people who are aged 5 years and older.

RELENZA is not recommended for the treatment or prevention of the flu in people with breathing problems, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

RELENZA does not treat or prevent illness that is caused by infections other than the influenza virus (A and B).

Using RELENZA for the treatment of the flu has not been shown to reduce the risk of spreading the flu to others.

It is not known if RELENZA is:

effective for the treatment of flu in people with breathing problems.
effective for the prevention of flu in people who live in nursing homes.
safe and effective for the treatment of flu in children younger than 7 years.
safe and effective for the prevention of flu in children younger than 5 years.

RELENZA does not take the place of receiving a flu vaccination. Talk to your healthcare provider about when you should receive an annual flu vaccination.

Do not take RELENZA if you are allergic to zanamivir or any other ingredient of RELENZA, including milk proteins. See the end of this Patient Information leaflet for a complete list of ingredients in RELENZA.

Before taking RELENZA, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:

have any breathing problems, such as asthma or COPD.
received live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) in your nose (intranasal) in the past 2 weeks.
are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if RELENZA passes into your breast milk.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

How should I take RELENZA?

Read the Instructions for Use at the end of this Patient Information for detailed information on how to take RELENZA.

Take RELENZA exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to.
RELENZA is taken by oral inhalation using a DISKHALER.
If you are scheduled to use an inhaled bronchodilator at the same time as RELENZA, use the inhaled bronchodilator before taking RELENZA.
Each dose of RELENZA requires 2 inhalations. Each inhalation requires 1 blister.

For the treatment of flu in people aged 7 years and older, take RELENZA as follows:

Take each dose of RELENZA as 2 inhalations (use 1 blister per inhalation) 2 times a day for 5 days.
On the first day, wait at least 2 hours between each dose.
Starting on the second day, wait at least 12 hours between each dose.

To help prevent the flu in people aged 5 years and older, take RELENZA as follows:

Take each dose of RELENZA as 2 inhalations (use 1 blister per inhalation) 1 time each day for 10 or 28 days as prescribed by your healthcare provider.
Take RELENZA at the same time each day.

If you miss a dose of RELENZA, take it as soon as you remember. If it is 2 hours or less before your next dose, do not take the missed dose. Take your next dose of RELENZA at your scheduled time. Do not take 2 doses at the same time.

What are the possible side effects of RELENZA?

RELENZA can cause serious side effects, including:

Bronchospasm (wheezing). Serious breathing problems, including death, have happened during treatment with RELENZA in people with and without a history of breathing problems. Stop taking RELENZA and get emergency medical help right away if you develop:

worsening breathing
shortness of breath

chest pain or tightness
cough

If you have breathing problems, such as asthma and COPD and your healthcare provider has prescribed RELENZA, you should have a fast‑acting, inhaled bronchodilator available for your use. See “How should I take RELENZA?”
Serious allergic reactions. RELENZA can cause serious allergic reactions. Stop taking RELENZA and get emergency medical help right away if you get any of the following symptoms:

skin rash or hives
your skin blisters and peels
blisters or sores in your mouth
itching

swelling of your face, eyes, lips, tongue, or throat
trouble breathing
chest pain or tightness

Change in behavior. People, especially children, who have the flu, can develop nervous system problems and abnormal behavior that can lead to death. During treatment with RELENZA, tell your healthcare provider right away if you or your child have confusion, speech problems, shaky movements, seizures, or start hearing voices or seeing things that are not really there (hallucinations).

The most common side effects of RELENZA include:

headaches
diarrhea
nausea
vomiting
irritation of the nose

airway irritation (bronchitis)
cough
sinusitis
ear, nose, and throat infections
dizziness

Other kinds of infections can appear like flu or happen along with flu, and may need different kinds of treatment. Call your healthcare provider if you feel worse or develop new symptoms during or after treatment with RELENZA, or if your flu symptoms do not start to get better.

These are not all of the possible side effects of RELENZA.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1‑800‑FDA‑1088.

How should I store RELENZA?

Store RELENZA at room temperature below 77°F (25°C).
Do not puncture any RELENZA ROTADISK blister until you are ready to take your dose using the DISKHALER.

Keep RELENZA and all medicines out of the reach of children.

General information about the safe and effective use of RELENZA.

Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those listed in a Patient Information leaflet. Do not use RELENZA for a condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not give RELENZA to other people, even if they have the same symptoms that you have. It may harm them. You can ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for information about RELENZA that is written for health professionals.

What are the ingredients in RELENZA?

Active ingredient: zanamivir

Inactive ingredients: lactose (which contains milk proteins)

GlaxoSmithKline

Durham, NC 27701

Trademarks are owned by or licensed to the GSK group of companies.

RLZ:9PIL

For more information call -1-888-825-5249.

This Patient Information has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Revised: 10/2023

INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE RELENZA (ruh-LENS-uh) (zanamivir inhalation powder) for oral inhalation use
Read the Patient Information and this Instructions for Use before you start using RELENZA. Important information: Be sure to take the dose of RELENZA your healthcare provider has prescribed. If RELENZA is prescribed for a child, the dose should be given or supervised by an adult who has been instructed on how to use the DISKHALER the right way by a healthcare provider and understands how to use it. Always check inside the mouthpiece to make sure it is clear before each use. If foreign objects are in the mouthpiece, they could be inhaled and cause serious harm. Always replace the cover after each use. Throw away the DISKHALER after treatment is completed. RELENZA is not in a child-proof container.
Step-by-step instructions for using the DISKHALER:
Step 1: Load the medicine into the DISKHALER.
Figure A	Start by pulling off the blue cover. See Figure A. Always check inside the mouthpiece to make sure it is clear before each use. If foreign objects are in the mouthpiece, they could be inhaled and cause serious harm.
Figure B	Pull the white mouthpiece by the edges to extend the white tray all the way. See Figure B.
Figure C	Once the white tray is extended all the way, find the raised ridges on each side of it. Press in these ridges, both sides at the same time, and pull the whole white tray out of the DISKHALER body. See Figure C.
Figure D	Place one silver medicine disk onto the dark brown wheel, flat side up. The four silver blisters on the underside of the medicine disk will drop neatly into the four holes in the wheel. See Figure D.
Figure E	Push in the white tray as far as it will go. Now the DISKHALER is loaded with medicine. See Figure E.
Step 2: Puncture the blister. The DISKHALER punctures 1 blister of medicine at a time so you can inhale the right amount. It does not matter which blister you start with. Check to make sure that the silver foil is not broken.
Figure F	Be sure to keep the DISKHALER level so the medicine does not spill out. See Figure F.
Figure G	Locate the half-circle flap with the name “RELENZA” on top of the DISKHALER. Lift this flap from the outer edge until it cannot go any farther. Flap must be straight up for the plastic needle to puncture both the top and bottom of the silver medicine disk inside. See Figure G.
Figure H	Keeping the DISKHALER level, click the flap down into place. See Figure H.
Step 3: Inhale.
Figure I	Before putting the white mouthpiece into your mouth, breathe all the way out (exhale). See Figure I. Then put the white mouthpiece into your mouth. Be sure to keep the DISKHALER level so the medicine does not spill out. Close your lips firmly around the mouthpiece. Be sure not to cover the small holes on either side of it. See Figure J. Breathe in through your mouth steadily and as deeply as you can. Your breath pulls the medicine into your airways and lungs. Hold your breath for a few seconds to help RELENZA stay in your lungs where it can work.
Figure J
To take another inhalation, move to the next blister by following Step 4 below. After you have inhaled the number of blisters prescribed by your healthcare provider, replace the cover until your next dose.
Step 4: Move the medicine disk to the next blister.
Figure K	Pull the mouthpiece to extend the white tray, without removing it. See Figure K.
Figure L	Then push it back until it clicks. This pull-push motion rotates the medicine disk to the next blister. See Figure L. To take your next inhalation, repeat Steps 2 and 3.
If all 4 blisters in the medicine disk have been used, you are ready to start a new medicine disk (see Step 1). Check to make sure that the silver foil is not broken each time you are ready to puncture the next blister.
Trademarks are owned by or licensed to the GSK group of companies. GlaxoSmithKline Durham, NC 27701 ©2023 GSK group of companies or its licensor. RLZ:2IFU