Comparative Pharmacology
Head-to-head clinical analysis: RIMANTADINE HYDROCHLORIDE versus ZOVIRAX.
Peer-Reviewed Evidence
Head-to-head clinical analysis: RIMANTADINE HYDROCHLORIDE versus ZOVIRAX.
RIMANTADINE HYDROCHLORIDE vs ZOVIRAX
Comparing the clinical profiles, pharmacokinetic behaviors, and safety indices of these two therapeutic agents.
Rimantadine is a tricyclic amine antiviral that inhibits influenza A virus replication by blocking the M2 proton ion channel, preventing viral uncoating and release of viral RNA into host cells.
After intracellular phosphorylation to acyclovir triphosphate, selectively inhibits viral DNA polymerase and incorporates into viral DNA, causing chain termination.
100 mg orally twice daily for 7 days; initiate within 48 hours of symptom onset.
Herpes simplex: 200 mg orally 5 times daily for 10 days; or 400 mg orally 3 times daily for 5-10 days. Herpes zoster: 800 mg orally 5 times daily for 7-10 days. IV: 5-10 mg/kg every 8 hours for immunocompromised patients with HSV/VZV.
None Documented
None Documented
25.4 hours (range 13–65 h); prolonged in elderly (38 h) and severe renal impairment (CrCl <10 mL/min: up to 130 h).
Terminal elimination half-life is 2.5-3.3 hours in adults with normal renal function; prolonged to 19.5 hours in anuria (creatinine clearance <10 mL/min).
Renal: 75% unchanged; fecal: <10%; biliary: minimal. Total clearance 2.5 mL/min/kg.
Renal excretion of unchanged drug via glomerular filtration and tubular secretion accounts for 76-82% of elimination; fecal excretion is less than 2%.
Category A/B
Category C
Antiviral
Antiviral