What it is and what it is used for

for

Relenza contains zanamivir, which belongs to a group of medicines called antivirals. Relenza is used to treat flu (influenza virus infection). It reduces the symptoms of flu, and helps you recover more quickly. Relenza is also used to help prevent you from getting flu, during a flu outbreak. Adults and children aged 5 years or more can be treated with Relenza. Relenza needs to be inhaled (breathed in) into the lungs, because it is poorly absorbed into the body if it is swallowed. The flu virus infects the lungs, and when you inhale Relenza it works directly on the virus inside your lungs. Relenza is not a substitute for flu vaccination. You still need to talk to your doctor about whether you need to be vaccinated against flu. 2

What you need to know before you take it

e Relenza

Do not use Relenza •

•

if you are allergic to zanamivir or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6). if you have a milk protein allergy (see 'Relenza contains lactose and milk protein' and section 6)

Do not give Relenza to children under 5 years old.

Take special care with Relenza If you feel tightness in your throat or chest when you use Relenza In very rare cases, Relenza can cause a reaction including:

• tightness of the throat and chest
• difficulty breathing. If you get any of these symptoms when you use Relenza: → Stop using Relenza and get medical help immediately. Contact your doctor or the nearest hospital emergency department. If you have asthma, or other problems with your lungs or your breathing Your doctor needs to know if you have:
• asthma
• other lung disease that causes breathing problems – for example, emphysema, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or chronic bronchitis. → Tell your doctor before you use Relenza, so that he or she can supervise you more closely to check that your condition is being controlled. If you use inhaled medication for your asthma or other breathing problem, read the next part of this leaflet – Using Relenza with inhaled medication for breathing problems – carefully, before you use Relenza. Using Relenza with inhaled medication for breathing problems If you use inhaled medication for asthma or any other breathing problem, carry on using your inhaler(s) at the usual times.
• If you have been advised to use Relenza at the same time of day as your other inhaled medication, use the other medication a few minutes before you use Relenza.
• Make sure you have your fast-acting 'reliever' inhaler (such as salbutamol) to hand when you use Relenza.

Other medicines and Relenza Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription. If you use inhaled medication for asthma or other breathing problems, make sure you have read the advice above. If you have been advised to have a flu vaccination You can be vaccinated at any time, even if you are using Relenza to help prevent you from getting flu. Pregnancy, breast-feeding and fertility If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask → your doctor for advice before taking this medicine. There is only limited information about the safety of Relenza for pregnant women. Although there is no evidence so far that Relenza harms unborn babies, you should not use it during pregnancy unless your doctor has advised you to.

The active ingredient (zanamivir) could get into breast milk, therefore you should not breast-feed while taking Relenza. You should discuss with your doctor whether you should stop or abstain from taking Relenza or stop breast-feeding, depending on what is best for you and your baby. Driving and using machines Relenza should not affect your ability to drive or use machines. Relenza contains lactose and milk protein Relenza contains a sugar called lactose, and contains milk protein. If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicinal product.

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How to take it

Relenza

Always use this medicine exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you to. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure. Relenza is a powdered medicine, which you inhale into your lungs through your mouth, using the Diskhaler device. The powder is contained in blisters on a Rotadisk

• a foil disk which you load into the Diskhaler. The medicine in the Rotadisks must only be inhaled using the Diskhaler device. Do not give Relenza to children under 5 years old. When to start using Relenza If you have flu, for maximum benefit, you should start using Relenza as soon as possible when you get flu symptoms:
• for adults, within 48 hours after the first symptoms
• for children, within 36 hours after the first symptoms. To help prevent flu If someone in your household has flu, to help prevent you getting it, you should start using Relenza as soon as possible after you have come into contact with them:
• For adults and children, within 36 hours of contact with the infected person. If there is a flu outbreak in your local community, follow your doctor's advice on when to start using Relenza. How much Relenza to use The amount of Relenza you use depends on whether you already have flu, or you are using Relenza to help prevent flu. If you have flu:
• Adults and children (aged 5 years or more): the usual dose is 2 inhalations (2 blisters) twice a day for 5 days. To help prevent flu:
• If someone in your household has flu: Adults and children (aged 5 years or more): the usual dose is 2 inhalations (2 blisters) once a day for 10 days.

If there is a flu outbreak in your local community:

• Adults and children (aged 5 years or more): the recommended dose is 2 inhalations (2 blisters) once a day for up to 28 days If you use more Relenza than you should If you accidentally use too much Relenza, it is unlikely to cause you problems. But if you are worried or feel unwell, especially if you have asthma or other lung problems: → Ask your doctor for advice. If you forget to use Relenza If you forget a dose of Relenza, take your usual dose as soon as you remember, then carry on as before. Do not use a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose. If you stop using Relenza For treating flu, it is important that you complete the full course of treatment (normally 5 days), even if you are feeling better. Otherwise, the flu symptoms may come back. If you think you may want to stop your Relenza treatment early: → Ask your doctor for advice. There is a step-by-step guide on the other side of this leaflet, showing you how to use the Relenza Diskhaler. Read it carefully before you use your first dose. If you are still not sure how to use the Diskhaler, ask your pharmacist to go through the instructions with you. 4

Possible side effects

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. Conditions you need to look out for: Severe allergic reactions These are rare and affect less than 1 in 1,000 people using Relenza. Signs include: Raised and itchy rash (hives). Swelling, sometimes of the face, mouth or throat, causing difficulty in breathing. Collapse. If you get any of these symptoms: • Contact your doctor immediately. Serious skin reactions These side effects are rare and may affect less than 1 in 1,000 people using Relenza: Skin rash, which may blister, and looks like small targets (central dark spots surrounded by a paler area, with a dark ring around the edge – erythema multiforme), a widespread rash with blisters and peeling skin, particularly around the mouth, nose, eyes and genitals (Stevens-Johnson Syndrome),

extensive peeling of the skin on much of the body surface – (toxic epidermal necrolysis). If you notice any of these symptoms contact a doctor immediately. Stop using Relenza. Other common side effects These affect less than 1 in 10 people using Relenza: Skin rash Other uncommon side effects These affect less than 1 in 100 people using Relenza: Tightness of the throat or chest, feeling short of breath, or sudden difficulty in breathing. If you have lung disease (such as asthma or COPD), you may need to be monitored while you are using Relenza in case you get this side effect. Swelling of the face, mouth or throat Hives (itchy bumps on your skin). Fainting and feeling lightheaded If you are feeling unwell when you take Relenza you may faint or become lightheaded after inhaling Relenza. You must sit down in a relaxed position before inhaling the dose of Relenza, and you must only hold your breath for as long as is comfortable after inhaling the dose. If you are feeling unwell, you are advised to have someone with you while you are inhaling the dose of Relenza. If you get any of these effects: → Stop using Relenza and get medical help immediately. Contact your doctor or the nearest hospital emergency department. Sudden changes in behaviour, hallucinations and fits During treatment with Relenza, changes in behaviour such as confusion and unresponsiveness have occurred. Some people may also have hallucinations (seeing, hearing, or feeling things not there) or fits (seizures) which can lead to loss of consciousness. Parents should be especially careful to watch out for these symptoms if their child or teenager has flu. These symptoms have been seen in people with flu who were not taking Relenza. Therefore it is not known if Relenza played a part in causing them. If you get any of these symptoms: → Contact your doctor immediately. Reporting of side effects If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any

Possible side effects

not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

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How to store it

Relenza

Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children. Do not use Relenza or the Diskhaler after the expiry date (EXP) which is stated on the pack. Do not store Relenza above 30°C. Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away the Diskhaler you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment. 6

Contents of the pack and other information

What Relenza contains The active substance is zanamivir (5mg per dose). The other ingredient is lactose monohydrate (which contains milk protein). What Relenza looks like and contents of the pack Relenza powder is contained in the four blisters on the silver-coloured aluminium foil disk, called a Rotadisk. Each blister contains 5mg of zanamivir. The medicine is inhaled through the mouth from the Rotadisk using a plastic device called a Diskhaler. Relenza is supplied in two types of pack:

• a 1-day starter pack containing one Relenza Rotadisk and one Diskhaler
• a 5 -day treatment pack containing five Relenza Rotadisks and one Diskhaler Not all pack sizes may be marketed. Marketing Authorisation Holder and Manufacturer Marketing Authorisation Holder: Glaxo Wellcome UK Ltd, GSK Medicines Research Centre, Gunnels Wood Road, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, SG1 2NY, UK Manufacturer: Glaxo Wellcome Production, Zone Industrielle No.2, 23 Rue Lavoisier, 27000 Evreux, France GlaxoSmithKline Trading Services Limited, 12 Riverwalk, Citywest Business Campus, Dublin 24, Ireland Glaxo Operations UK Limited (trading as Glaxo Wellcome Operations), Harmire Road, Barnard Castle, County Durham, DL12 8DT, United Kingdom Manufacturer for Diskhaler: GlaxoSmithKline Trading Services Limited, 12 Riverwalk, Citywest Business Campus, Dublin 24, Ireland Other formats: To listen to or request a copy of this leaflet in Braille, large print or audio please call, free of charge: 0800 198 5000 (UK Only)

Please be ready to give the following information: Product name: Reference number:

Relenza 5 mg 10949/0327

This is a service provided by the Royal National Institute of Blind People. This leaflet was last revised in: October 2023

Trade marks are owned by or licensed to the GSK group of companies. © 2023 GSK group of companies or its licensor

——————————————————————————————————-The Diskhaler has three parts: Do not take it apart until you have looked at the step-by-step guide.

Cover Sliding tray

Mouthpiece (with a small airhole on each side)

Main body

Wheel – The Rotadisk fits onto this. Finger grip Piercing needle – This pierces the blisters on the Rotadisk, to make the medicine ready to inhale.

Hinged lid

Refer to the stepby-step guide

The Rotadisk fits into the Diskhaler

The Rotadisk fits onto the wheel of the Diskhaler. The Rotadisk contains four blisters. Each blister contains 5 mg of zanamivir. A dose is normally two blisters (10 mg).

Important:  Do not pierce any of the blisters on the Rotadisk before you load it onto the Diskhaler.  You can keep a Rotadisk on the Diskhaler between doses, but do not pierce a blister until just before you inhale your dose.

 Keep the Diskhaler clean. Wipe the mouthpiece with a tissue after you use it, and replace the blue cover between uses. Tell your doctor or pharmacist of any malfunction or problems with the Diskhaler and Rotadisk.

Step-by-step guide to using your Relenza Diskhaler To load a Rotadisk into the Diskhaler: 1

Remove the blue cover.

Check that the mouthpiece is clean, inside and outside.

2

Hold the white sliding tray as shown and pull it out until it stops.

3

Gently squeeze the finger grips on the sides of the white tray. Remove the tray from the main body.

The white tray should come out easily.

4

Place a new Relenza Rotadisk on the wheel.

Make sure the printed side is up, with the blisters facing downwards. The blisters fit into the holes in the wheel.

5

Push the white tray back into the main body.

If you are not ready to inhale a dose of Relenza straight away, replace the blue cover.

To get your dose ready to inhale: Do not do this until just before you inhale a dose. 6

Hold the Diskhaler horizontally.

Keep the Diskhaler horizontal Flip the lid up as far as it will go. The lid must be fully vertical, to make sure that the blister is pierced at both the top and bottom. Push the lid back down. Your Diskhaler is now ready for use. Keep it horizontal until you have inhaled your dose.

If you use other inhaled medication, make sure you read 'Using Relenza with inhaled medication for breathing problems' in Section 2 of this leaflet.

To inhale the medication: 7

Do not put the Diskhaler into your mouth yet.

Breathe out as far as is comfortable, keeping the Diskhaler away from your mouth. Do not blow into the Diskhaler. If you do, you will blow the powder out of the Rotadisk.

Keep the Diskhaler horizontal Place the mouthpiece between your teeth. Close your lips firmly around the mouthpiece. Do not bite the mouthpiece. Do not block the airholes on the side of the mouthpiece. Take one quick, deep breath in through the mouthpiece. Hold this breath for a few seconds. Remove the Diskhaler from your mouth.

Carry on holding your breath for a few more seconds or as long as is comfortable.

To prepare the next blister (the second part of your dose):

8

Pull the white tray out as far as it will go (do not remove it completely), then push it back in again.

This will turn the wheel so the next blister will appear. Repeat if necessary until a full blister is positioned under the piercing needle. Repeat steps 6 and 7 to inhale the medicine.

9

After you have inhaled the full dose (normally two blisters): Wipe the mouthpiece with a tissue and replace the blue cover. It is important to keep the Diskhaler clean.

To replace the Rotadisk: 10

When all four blisters are empty, remove the Rotadisk from the Diskhaler and insert a new one, using steps 1 to 5.