Unorthodox use of antiviral drug saved swine-flu victim's life

[HonestRN]

Interesting development

Doctors saved the life of a 22-year-old woman critically ill with swine flu by experimentally giving her a high dose of an antiviral drug directly into her bloodstream, they report today.

Relenza is licensed for use only through an inhaler, but attempts to treat the woman with the oral drug Tamiflu and Relenza in the usual way had little effect. In the case study, published online by the Lancet medical journal, Dr Michael Kidd and Dr Mervyn Singer from University College London Hospitals call for studies to find out whether Relenza given intravenously could save more lives.

The patient, whose immune system had been compromised by chemotherapy to treat Hodgkin's disease, was taken into intensive care on 8 July. Tamiflu and antimicrobials failed to help her, and she was put on a ventilator. Eight days of Relenza through a nebuliser did not work so doctors were given permission by her relatives and the hospital to put the drug in an intravenous drip. They also gave her a corticosteroid to reduce lung inflammation.

Within 48 hours she had improved, with no drug-related side-effects. Just over three weeks after her arrival in intensive care, she was discharged.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/sep/04/swine-flu-woman-saved-relenza

[oramar]

Interesting development

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/sep/04/swine-flu-woman-saved-relenza

Fasinating, only acceptable in cases that otherwise look hopeless. I think under the circumstances the FDA would OK this experiementally.

[MedSurgeMess]

I think if the H1N1 affects us the way that has been predicted, there will be many experiments with meds to save lives when everything else fails.....I just hope the system is wrong!

[RuRnurse?]

Hey, whatever works for an individual patient...And, never mind the FDA...they DON'T have your best interests at heart. If your situation is critical, and you want to try something that isn't proven to work, then God bless you...What can the FDA say? "Oh, you can't do the inhalation of cranberry juice, (or whatever stupid thing) because it MIGHT be harmful", but, they can't tell you what WORKS?

If you are at the end of the rope, so to speak, then you should have the right to try what you will. It will be a last-shot effort, but everyone is entitled to that at least. In my opinion, anyway...