Flumadine (Rimantadine) Drug Overview and Uses for Patients and Caregivers at RxList

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May 27, 2012

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Bird Flu »

Bird flu facts

Bird flu refers to strains of influenza that primarily affect wild and domesticated birds.
Bird flu is also known as avian flu or avian influenza.
Although bird flu is contagious and spreads easily among birds, it is uncommon for it to be transmitted to humans.
In the late 1990s, a new strain of bird flu arose which was unusually severe ("highly pathogenic"), resulting in the deaths of hundreds of millions of birds, including poultry.
Control efforts, including culling infected flocks and vaccinating healthy birds, have limited the spread of highly pathogenic bird flu.
In 2011, a mutated strain of highly pathogenic bird flu appeared, which is concerning because the existing poultry vaccines are not very effective against the new strain.
Human infection with the highly pathogenic strain of bird flu is uncommon, with fewer than 600 cases reported since 1997.
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Flumadine Consumer

IMPORTANT: HOW TO USE THIS INFORMATION: This is a summary and does NOT have all possible information about this product. This information does not assure that this product is safe, effective, or appropriate for you. This information is not individual medical advice and does not substitute for the advice of your health care professional. Always ask your health care professional for complete information about this product and your specific health needs.

RIMANTADINE - ORAL

(ri-MAN-ta-deen)

COMMON BRAND NAME(S): Flumadine

USES: Rimantadine is used to prevent or treat a certain type of flu virus (influenza A). If you have been infected with the flu, this medication may help make your symptoms less severe and shorten the time it will take you to get better. Taking rimantadine if you have been or will be exposed to the flu may help to prevent you from getting the flu. This medication is an antiviral that is believed to work by stopping the growth of the flu virus. This medication is not a vaccine. To increase the chance that you will not get the flu, it is important to get a flu shot once a year at the beginning of every flu season, if possible.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that rimantadine should not be used for the treatment or prevention of influenza A during the 2010-11 flu season, because the current influenza A virus in the United States is resistant to this medication. For more details, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

HOW TO USE: Take this medication by mouth with or without food as directed by your doctor. When this medication is taken to prevent flu, children younger than 10 should usually take it once a day, and children older than 10 and adults should take it twice a day. When used to treat flu in adults, the medication is taken twice a day. Do not increase your dose or take rimantadine more often than prescribed.

Dosage is based on your medical condition and response to therapy. In children, the dosage is also based on body weight.

Begin taking rimantadine as soon as possible after being exposed to the flu or developing flu symptoms. Take this medication for the full time prescribed. Stopping this medication too soon may allow the virus to continue to grow, which can lead to severe flu infection.

If you are taking the syrup, measure the dose carefully with a medication spoon/cup.

Inform your doctor if your condition persists or worsens.