Potential interactions between antiviral treatment for swine flu (H1N1) and anti-HIV therapy

It is important to consider the potential impact of emerging influenza A (swine flu, H1N1) virus infection and antiretroviral therapy. The H1N1 virus from Mexico is sensitive to the neuraminidase inhibitors oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza), but not to the M2 proton channel inhibitors amantadine and rimantadine.

Drug interactions between antiretroviral agents and oseltamivir or zanamivir have not been described to date. Based on their routes of metabolism and clearance, we have produced a chart of predicted interactions between the influenza antivirals and anti-HIV drugs. Since there may be patients who are given a combination of a neuraminidase inhibitor and a M2 proton channel inhibitor, we include information on both classes of drug.

The interactions have been added to web and PDA version of the online drug interaction charts.

These interactions as well as notes on the pharmacological profiles of the influenza antivirals have been summarised in the PDF format document linked below: