Limited Coverage Drugs - Zanamivir

Generic Name

Form

Special Authority Criteria

Approval Period

A 5-day treatment course or up to a 28-day preventive course during the influenza season.

For the treatment of patients at high risk* of complications from influenza infection, who have either:

1. Laboratory-confirmed influenza A or B sensitive to zanamivir

OR

2. Signs and symptoms of influenza A or B only when influenza is confirmed to be circulating in the local community and sensitive to zanamivir, as per the British Columbia Centre for Disease Control influenza bulletin at www.bccdc.ca/dis-cond/DiseaseStatsReports/influSurveillanceReports.htm.

AND

Initiation of treatment should be within 48 hours of symptom onset to optimize the benefits of zanamivir.

Notes:

*Patients at high risk of complications from influenza are defined as follows:

• Adults ≥ 65 years of age, with or without chronic health conditions;
• Adults (including pregnant women) less than 65 years of age, and children and adolescents 6 months to 18 years with the following chronic health conditions:
  • Cardiac or pulmonary disorders (e.g., chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, cystic fibrosis, asthma);
  • Diabetes and other metabolic diseases;
  • Cancer, immunodeficiency (including human immunodeficiency virus [HIV] infection), immunosuppression due to underlying disease or therapy (e.g., severe rheumatoid arthritis requiring immunosuppressive therapies, transplant);
  • Chronic kidney disease;
  • Chronic liver disease, including hepatitis C;
  • Anemia and hemoglobinopathy;
  • Conditions that compromise the management of respiratory secretions and are associated with an increased risk of aspiration (e.g., cognitive dysfunction, spinal cord injury, seizure disorder, and neuromuscular disorders);
• Children and adolescents 6 months to 18 years with conditions treated for long periods with acetylsalicylic acid;
• Adults who are morbidly obese (BMI ≥ 40);
• Healthy children 6 months to 59 months of age;
• Pregnant women;
• Aboriginal peoples (on and off reserve).