Baloxavir marboxil (oral route)
Available brands
Xofluza
About this medication
Baloxavir marboxil is used to treat the flu (influenza) in patients who have had flu symptoms (eg, cough, fever, runny nose, headache, joint or muscle pain) for not more than 48 hours. It is used in patients 5 years of age and older who are healthy or who are at high risk of developing flu-related complications. Baloxavir marboxil is also used to prevent flu in patients 5 years of age and older who have been exposed with the virus (post-exposure prophylaxis). This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription. This product is available in the following dosage forms:
Before using this medication
In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered: Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully. Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of baloxavir marboxil in children younger than 5 years of age. Safety and efficacy have not been established. Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of baloxavir marboxil in the elderly. There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding. Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive. Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines. Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco. The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
How to use this medication
Take this medicine only as directed by your doctor. Do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time than your doctor ordered. This medicine should come with a patient information leaflet. Read and follow these instructions carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions. Take this medicine with or without food. However, do not take this medicine with dairy products or drinks rich in calcium. Also, do not use this medicine together with antacids, laxatives, or oral supplements containing calcium, iron, magnesium, selenium, or zinc. Do not use this medicine if you have received the nasal flu vaccine (live attenuated influenza vaccine), unless your doctor says it is okay. This medicine works best if taken within 48 hours of having flu symptoms (eg, weakness, headache, fever, cough, runny or stuffy nose, sore throat).Keep using this medicine for the full time of treatment even if you begin to feel better after a few days. This will help clear up your infection completely. If you stop using this medicine too soon, your symptoms may return. If your child is unable to swallow the tablets whole, you may use theoral liquid. To use theoral liquid: The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so. The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine. If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses. Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing. Keep out of the reach of children. Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use. Throw away anyunused liquidwithin 10 hours of mixing.
Disclaimer: August is a health information platform and its responses don't constitute medical advise. Always consult with a licenced medical professional near you before making any changes.