| Also Known As | Relenza®. |
| Obligatory | Must not donate if: a) Taking zanamivir (Relenza®) as treatment for influenza. b) At any time in the seven days prior to, or while taking zanamivir, the donor has had symptoms of influenza, (a temperature of more than 38 degrees centigrade, or a history of fever and two or more of the following symptoms: cough, headache, runny nose, diarrhoea or vomiting). |
| Discretionary | If the potential donor is taking zanamivir as prophylaxis, they have not been advised to be confined to home, and have not had any symptoms of influenza, accept. |
| See if Relevant | Infection - Acute |
| Additional Information | Zanamivir is a viral neuraminidase inhibitor (neuraminidase is an enzyme that helps the virus spread from cell to cell). It is used to treat influenza and for post-exposure prophylaxis of influenza. It appears to be a very safe drug with little evidence for teratogenic (potential to cause birth defects) or mutagenic (potential to cause malignancy) effect. |
| Information | Part of this entry is a requirement of the Blood Safety and Quality Regulations 2005. |
| Donor Information | If you wish to obtain more information regarding a personal medical issue please contact your National Help Line. Please do not contact this web site for personal medical queries, as we are not in a position to provide individual answers. |