Baloxavir Marboxil Tablet: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Baloxavir Marboxil Tablet (Xofluza) is a prescription antiviral medicine taken as a single dose. It is used to treat the flu in people who have had symptoms for 48 hours or less, and to help prevent the flu after being around someone who has it. It works by stopping the flu virus from making more copies of itself, helping symptoms improve faster.

What is Baloxavir Marboxil Tablet

Baloxavir Marboxil Tablet, generic name baloxavir marboxil, belongs to the antiviral drug class known as influenza virus polymerase acidic endonuclease inhibitors. Xofluza is a prescription antiviral medicine taken as a single dose. It is used to treat the flu in people who have had symptoms for 48 hours or less, and to help prevent the flu after being around someone who has it.

Baloxavir Marboxil Tablet uses

• Treatment of acute uncomplicated influenza (flu) in people 5 years of age and older who have had flu symptoms for no more than 48 hours and are otherwise healthy or at high risk of flu complications
• Post-exposure prevention of the flu in people 5 years of age and older following contact with someone who has the flu

Benefits of Baloxavir Marboxil Tablet

• Can help treat and prevent flu infection
• Can help you feel better from the flu in about 2 days
• Generally well-tolerated with few side effects
• Faster resolution of fever and shorter time to symptom improvement compared with placebo in clinical studies

How Baloxavir Marboxil Tablet works

Xofluza stops the flu virus from making more copies of itself in the body, which helps the infection clear and helps symptoms improve faster.

Baloxavir Marboxil Tablet dosage

Take this medicine as a single, one-time dose as soon as possible and within 48 hours of flu symptom onset, or as soon as possible after contact with someone who has the flu. It can be taken with or without food. Avoid taking it with dairy products, calcium-fortified beverages, or laxatives, antacids, or supplements containing calcium, iron, magnesium, selenium, or zinc, since these can make the medicine work less well.

The oral suspension (liquid) should be taken right away after it is mixed, and no later than 10 hours after it is prepared, since it has no preservative. It can be given through a feeding tube that is 4 French or larger, following your healthcare provider's instructions. This is a single-dose medicine; there is no additional dosing schedule. Talk to your healthcare provider before getting a live nasal spray flu vaccine after taking this medicine.

Available forms and strengths

• Tablets (40 mg, 80 mg)

Side effects of Baloxavir Marboxil Tablet

Common

• Diarrhea
• Bronchitis
• Nausea
• Sinusitis
• Headache
• Vomiting (more common in children 5 to under 12 years old)
• Cough, chest congestion
• Runny or stuffy nose

Serious

• Anaphylaxis (severe allergic reaction): difficulty swallowing or breathing, wheezing, drop in blood pressure, nausea and vomiting, hives or rash, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat
• Angioedema: swelling of tissue under the skin, difficulty breathing, swollen face, hands, feet, genitals, tongue, or throat, or swelling of the digestive tract causing diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting
• Urticaria (hives) and erythema multiforme (a skin reaction)
• Gastrointestinal bleeding: bloody diarrhea or dark, tarry stool
• Rare reports of abnormal behavior, delirium, or hallucinations

Warnings and precautions

• Serious allergic reactions have occurred with this medicine, including anaphylaxis, hives, and swelling of deeper tissue (angioedema). Do not use this medicine again if this happens to you.
• This medicine only works against influenza virus types A and B. It does not treat illnesses caused by other germs, and it won't prevent or treat bacterial infections that can occur along with or after the flu.
• This medicine hasn't been shown to work if started more than 48 hours after symptoms begin, and it isn't used to prevent the flu in general (only after known contact with an infected person).
• Serious bacterial infections can start with flu-like symptoms or happen along with the flu. This medicine does not treat or prevent bacterial infections.
• This medicine is not recommended for children younger than 5 years old, because resistance to the medicine was more common in this age group in studies.
• Pregnancy: It isn't known whether this medicine is safe during pregnancy. It should only be used if the potential benefit to the mother justifies the potential risk to the baby.
• Breastfeeding: It isn't known if this medicine passes into breast milk in humans. Your healthcare provider will help you weigh the benefits of treatment against any potential risk to your nursing baby.
• Kidney: No dose change is needed for people with kidney problems, though this medicine hasn't been specifically studied in severe kidney impairment.
• Liver: No dose change is needed for mild to moderate liver problems. This medicine hasn't been studied in people with severe liver impairment.
• Driving: No studies have looked at whether this medicine affects your ability to drive or use machines.

Storage

• Store tablets at 68°F to 77°F (20°C to 25°C) in the original blister package
• Store oral suspension packets at 68°F to 77°F (20°C to 25°C) in the original package; they contain no preservative
• Store oral suspension bottles at 68°F to 77°F (20°C to 25°C) in the original bottle; use before the expiration time/date written on the bottle label and discard if not used within 10 hours of mixing or if stored above 77°F (25°C)
• Keep out of the reach and sight of children
• This medicine should not be used after the expiry date shown on the pack
• Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater; dispose of any unused product according to local requirements

When to see a doctor

• Get emergency medical help right away if you have signs of a serious allergic reaction, such as trouble breathing, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat, hives, rash or blisters, or dizziness/lightheadedness.
• Tell your healthcare provider right away if you feel worse, develop new symptoms, get a new fever or chills, or your flu symptoms don't start to improve — these could be signs of another infection needing different treatment.
• If you think you or someone you are caring for has taken too much of this medicine, contact a healthcare professional or go to the nearest emergency room right away, even if there are no symptoms.

Alternatives

• Amantadine
• Zanamivir
• Oseltamivir