Xofluza
Xofluza (baloxavir marboxil) is an antiviral medication. It's used to treat and sometimes prevent the flu with a single dose. It's taken within 48 hours at the start of flu symptoms or exposure to someone who has the flu. Xofluza (baloxavir marboxil) comes as tablets and a liquid for people ages 5 years and older. Common side effects include sinusitis, diarrhea, and nausea. There's currently no generic version of this medication available.
What is Xofluza (baloxavir marboxil)?
What is Xofluza (baloxavir marboxil) used for?
- Flu treatment for people 5 years and older with flu symptoms for no more than 48 hours
- Flu prevention for people 5 years and older who've been in contact with someone who has the flu
How Xofluza (baloxavir marboxil) works
Xofluza (baloxavir marboxil) is an antiviral medication. It fights the flu by stopping the influenza virus from making copies of itself. This helps stop the infection from spreading in your body.
Drug facts
More on Xofluza (baloxavir marboxil) essentials
Side effects of Xofluza (baloxavir marboxil)
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
Adults and adolescents:
- Diarrhea (3%)
- Bronchitis (3%)
- Nausea (2%)
- Sinusitis (swelling in the sinuses, 2%)
Children 5 to 11 years old:
- Diarrhea (5%)
- Vomiting (5%)
Less Common Side Effects
- Headache
Xofluza (baloxavir marboxil) serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Serious allergic reaction: hives; trouble breathing; swelling of your lips, throat, tongue, or face
More on Xofluza (baloxavir marboxil) side effects
The following Xofluza (baloxavir marboxil) side effects have also been reported
Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:
- Allergic reactions—skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report these to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):
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Pros and cons of Xofluza (baloxavir marboxil)
Pros
- 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
Cons
- Must take within 48 hours of the start of flu symptoms or exposure
- Not approved for children younger than 5 years old
- Not the preferred treatment for people who are pregnant
Pharmacist tips for Xofluza (baloxavir marboxil)
- Xofluza (baloxavir marboxil) only works to treat the influenza virus. It doesn't work for any other infection, like bacterial or other viral ones (e.g., COVID-19, common cold). Sometimes, it can be hard to tell if you have the flu because symptoms can be a lot like other infections. Ask a healthcare professional if you're not sure if you have the flu and the best options for you.
- Once you get Xofluza (baloxavir marboxil) from the pharmacy, take it as soon as you can after your symptoms start or after being around someone with the flu. It can take a few days for you to start feeling better after you take it. So the sooner you take it, the sooner you'll start to feel better.
- You can take Xofluza (baloxavir marboxil) with or without food. If you're taking it with food, avoid things that are high in calcium (e.g., milk, yogurt, cheese, fortified drinks). These foods and beverages can make the medication work less well.
- For the liquid version of Xofluza (baloxavir marboxil): Take the medication within 10 hours after the pharmacy prepares it for you. If you're not taking it right away, keep it at room temperature. Use only the oral syringe the pharmacy gives you to measure the dose. After you take your dose, throw away any leftover medication in the bottle.
- You might need to take Xofluza (baloxavir marboxil) a few hours after taking certain medications. This includes antacids and supplements with calcium, iron, magnesium, selenium, or zinc. Taking them at the same time can make Xofluza (baloxavir marboxil) not work as well.
- If your symptoms don't get better or get worse after taking Xofluza (baloxavir marboxil), talk to your prescriber. You might have a different infection or need a different treatment.
- Xofluza (baloxavir marboxil) doesn't replace the annual flu shot. This medication helps you feel better sooner, but the flu can still be dangerous. It's especially risky for young children, older adults, and people with long-term health conditions. The best way to protect yourself is getting your flu shot each year by the end of October.
- Wait at least 17 days after taking Xofluza (baloxavir marboxil) before getting the nasal spray flu vaccine. Xofluza (baloxavir marboxil) might make this type of flu vaccine not work as well.
Common questions about Xofluza (baloxavir marboxil)
It's not clear how well Xofluza (baloxavir marboxil) works if you take it after the 48-hour window. That's because the medication wasn't studied in this situation. Xofluza (baloxavir marboxil) works best when taken early, within the first 2 days of your symptoms or of being around someone with the flu. Taking it later might not help you feel better faster or stop the flu from spreading. If you miss the 48-hour window, ask your prescriber about your options.
It takes a little over 2 weeks for Xofluza (baloxavir marboxil) to fully leave your system. This is based on the medication's half-life, which measures how long it takes your body to get rid of half the medication.
Xofluza (baloxavir marboxil) and oseltamivir (Tamiflu) are both antivirals that help treat and prevent the flu. But they work in different ways. Another difference is how many days you need to take the medication. You only need to take Xofluza one time to treat or prevent the flu. But for Tamiflu, you need to take it every day for 5 days to treat the flu and usually for 10 days to prevent it. Also, Tamiflu is approved for children in a younger age group than Xofluza. Ask a healthcare professional to help you compare between the two medications.
Your prescriber will probably tell you to just take one of the two medications. We don't know if it's safe to take oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and Xofluza (baloxavir marboxil) together. It's also not clear if taking both helps more for the flu than taking just one. Early studies show that taking both might not help too much more for severe flu that needs hospital care.
Xofluza (baloxavir marboxil) gets absorbed into your body and starts working to fight the flu within 4 hours. In studies, most adults and teens had no or mild flu symptoms about 1 to 2 days after taking Xofluza (baloxavir marboxil). For children ages 5 to 11, it took longer to be free of flu symptoms — about 5 days after taking the medication. Xofluza (baloxavir marboxil) works best when you take it within 48 hours of the start of your flu symptoms or being around someone with the flu. If you don't feel better after a couple days, talk to a healthcare professional. They can check what's going on.
Studies show that only about 7% of people still had infectious flu virus in their body 5 days after taking Xofluza (baloxavir marboxil). This means most people aren't likely to spread the flu to others 5 days after taking the medication. Without any treatment, people are usually contagious for up to 7 days after getting sick.
It's not recommended to crush Xofluza (baloxavir marboxil) tablets. There isn't enough information to know how well the tablets work if they're crushed. If you have trouble swallowing pills whole, tell your prescriber. They can prescribe the liquid version of Xofluza (baloxavir marboxil) for you.
No, Xofluza (baloxavir marboxil) isn't over the counter. You need a prescription for it from a healthcare professional.
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Risks and warnings for Xofluza (baloxavir marboxil)
Xofluza (baloxavir marboxil) can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Allergic reaction
Serious allergic reactions to Xofluza (baloxavir marboxil) are possible. Sometimes, they can be life-threatening. These reactions can include hives and anaphylaxis (closing of the throat and trouble breathing). They can also look like swelling of the face, lips, or tongue. Call for emergency help right away if this happens.
Risk of bacterial infections
Xofluza (baloxavir marboxil) is an antiviral medication. It only works against the flu virus, not bacterial infections. Some bacterial infections can start with flu-like symptoms or show up while you still have the flu.
Tell your care team right away if you feel sick again, get a new fever or chills, or start feeling worse. These could be signs of a new or different infection that needs other treatment.
Xofluza (baloxavir marboxil) dosage
Dose pack| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 tablet of 40mg | 1 dose pack | $164.74 | $164.74 |
| 1 tablet of 80mg | 1 dose pack | $168.65 | $168.65 |
Typical dosage for Xofluza (baloxavir marboxil)
The dose is based on your body weight.
- Weigh 176 lbs (80 kg) or more: The typical dose is 80 mg by mouth one time only.
- Weigh 44 lbs to 175 lbs (20 kg to 79.9 kg): The typical dose is 40 mg by mouth one time only.
- Weigh less than 44 lbs (20 kg): The typical dose is 2 mg/kg by mouth one time only. Only use the liquid form of the medication.
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How much does Xofluza (baloxavir marboxil) cost?
$164.74
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