If a pregnant woman contracts swine flu, are the antiviral treatments Relenza and Tamiflu safe?
Both Relenza (zanamivir) and Tamiflu (oseltamivir) are classified as Category C medications, which means if the mother’s life is at stake or her health is severely compromised, the benefit of using the medications outweighs the risk. However, no clinical studies have been conducted to determine the safety of these flu medications for pregnant women. In a few studies using pregnant rats, no maternal toxicity or malformations were observed. The most reported side effects of Relenza are headaches, throat and tonsil discomfort, and pain. The animal studies for Tamiflu revealed increased fetal toxicity at 100 times the exposure of humans. The most common side effects for humans are diarrhea and nausea. Because Relenza is an inhaled medication and has fewer generalized side effects, some experts prefer its use. 2) Does swine flu pose extra risk for pregnant women? The most serious side effect of the swine flu for pregnant women is hyperthermia, an extremely elevated temperature, which double
