Relenza is a medicine used to treat and/or prevent both influenza A and B. It belongs to a group of medicines called neuraminidase inhibitors and works by targeting the influenza virus and preventing it from spreading inside the body. Rashes and allergic reactions were listed as rare side effects of the medication, but the new label specifically identifies more severe types of rashes, SJS and TEN.

SJS is a severe allergic reaction to medication. It has been linked to thousands of over-the-counter and prescription drugs including anti-inflammatory medications, antibiotics and antiviral drugs. SJS presents with a rash on the skin that blisters over, causing the skin to peel away. Blisters can also form on the eyes and internal organs leading to blindness and vision problems and even death. The most serious form of SJS is TEN.

SOURCE: Stevens Johnson Syndrome › Flu treatment and prevention drug linked to serious allergic reaction

Common side effects of Tamiflu and Relenza include dizziness, vomiting and diarrhea. Other, more serious adverse reactions are rare but can occur, including Stevens Johnson Syndrome, or SJS. SJS is a rare reaction to medication that begins with rashes on the skin that blister over, causing the skin to peel off in sheets. Blisters also can form on the eyes and mouth, which can lead to ocular problems, dehydration, infection and, in severe cases, death.

In Hong Kong in particular, pharmacists are urging the public not to stock up on the antiviral medications, as they say the Chinese government has plenty of the medicines in stock to combat a pandemic should one arise. The urgings come just six years after the deadly SARS virus struck that nation. About 400 Chinese pharmacies – or 95 percent of the market – have joined a campaign to keep residents’ fears at bay. There have been no swine flu cases reported in Hong Kong to date.

“The pharmacies will advise individuals whether the symptoms they have reflect a cold or something more serious such as flu,” head of Pharmacovigilance Kevin Cheung Kin-man told The Standard. “If the symptoms persist for days, people will be advised to consult a doctor. In the meantime, in the case of colds, pharmacists will be able to recommend appropriate over-the- counter medication.”

SOURCE: Stevens Johnson Syndrome › Pharmacists warn against use of anti-virals amid swine flu scare