From the Disaster Taskforce NASW-NC is a member of:
Anti-flu drugs Tamiflu and Relenza are equally effective, Stanford analysis finds
By Lisa M. Krieger
Posted: 08/03/2009 03:27:44 PM PDT
Updated: 08/04/2009 05:39:08 AM PDT
The two medicines that have been used to combat swine flu are equally effective in fending off the miserable symptoms of fever, nausea and muscle aches, according to an analysis by Stanford researchers.
Yet there is no good data on the effectiveness of the drugs among different racial groups, or in the two groups most at risk of death from swine flu: the very young and those with weakened immune systems.
The two prescription drugs, Tamiflu and Relenza, "prevent symptoms equally, so you don't get sick with the flu," said Stanford pulmonologist and critical care specialist Nayer Khazeni, who led the team. "But there are a lot of groups that have not been studied.
"We need to know more," she said. "Our study identified the gaps in data and helped show those groups who might benefit from further study."
The drugs are regularly used to combat many strains of flu, from seasonal to the recent outbreak of swine flu, also known as H1N1. More than 65 nations have stockpiled millions of doses of the drugs for use during a flu pandemic. Such drugs are important weapons in physicians' defensive arsenal, especially since vaccines are not always developed in time to prevent infection, as was the case with swine flu.
complete article: http://www.mercurynews.com/health/ci_12984421?nclick_check=1
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