Flumadine
® (
rimantadine hydrochloride) is a prescription medication used to both treat and prevent certain types of
the flu (
influenza). When taken at the first signs of the flu, Flumadine shortens the duration of
flu symptoms. When taken before a person has the flu (such as during a
flu outbreak), Flumadine may not always prevent the flu, but it may help make the flu case more mild.
Brand-name Flumadine is manufactured by Forest Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Generic versions of Flumadine are made by various different manufacturers.
It is thought that Flumadine works by inhibiting the uncoating of the
flu virus, an important step in the replication (the "reproduction") of the virus. Specifically, Flumadine inhibits the activity of the
influenza virus M2 protein, which forms a channel in the virus membrane. As a result, the virus cannot replicate (make copies of itself) after it enters a human cell.
Flumadine is effective only for some influenza A viruses and is not effective against influenza B viruses. Since the "
bird flu" or "
avian flu" virus (
H5N1) is a type of influenza A, it is possible that Flumadine may work for some strains of this virus. However, many strains of H5N1 influenza are resistant to Flumadine.
For any given year, the predominant flu strain may or may not be susceptible to Flumadine. If the predominant flu strain is not susceptible to Flumadine, this medication should not be used to prevent or treat the flu.
