Thursday, December 9, 1982
Daily Nebraskan
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P LEFT 2
Page 8
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Side effects debated
New drug combats flu epidemic
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8:30-TILL CLOSE
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By Peggy Polacek
Winter winds whipping across campus may cause stu
dents to develop influenza symptoms such as severe
coughing, head and muscle aches or fever. These symp
toms could indicate the beginning of a flu epidemic.
Preventing a flu epidemic can be as simple as becom
ing health conscious, but flu epidemic prevention may
require the use of a drug called amantadine hydroclo
ride, more commonly known by its trade name, Sym
metrel. The drug is marketed by DuPont.
Dr. Gerald Fleischli, medical director of the Univer
sity Health Center, said he would not recommend the
drug for the ordinary student, but rather for individuals
not immunized that cannot afford to get sick. Those
essential to a community's functioning such as police
men, firemen and hospital personnel would fall in this
category.
People who suffer from a chronic illness like heart or
lung disease may find their illness complicated if they
develop the flu.
Epidemic proportions should be evident before Sym
metrel is prescribed.
The drug works only on influenza type A, which is
one of three types, Howard Vosika, a DuPont represen
tative, said. It has been proven effective in combating
more than 60 A-type strains. He added that Symmetrel
is effective in 75 percent to 80 percent of flu patients.
Proven effective in 1966 against an Asian flu, the
drug is now available in nearly every pharmacy, he said.
Dr. John Hansen, from the Downtown Health Clinic,
said he questions the use of Symmetrel since the side
effects may be worse than the actual flu symptoms. He
described nausea and vomiting as possible side effects.
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Vosika, however, said, there is a low incidence of side
effects, compared to vaccine side effects. He said there
is a 30 percent incidence rate of side effects with vac
cines, while there is only a 7 percent rate with Symmet
rel users. Side effect symptoms he described were dizzi
ness and lightheadedness.
High-risk patients such as the very young or old mav
be given Symmetrel to prevent further spreading of the
disease, Vosika said.
Hansen said Symmetrel is most often used for flu
outbreaks in nursing homes or other semi-closed institu
tions. If Symmetrel is taken within 24 to 48 hours of the
onset of flu symptoms, Vosika said, results should be
seen within 28 hours. Symmetrel taken as far as five
days into the illness helps the patient get over the post
flu weakness associated with recovery.
Symmetrel is prescribed in seven- to 10-day dosages,
Vosika said. He said Symmetrel, available in capsule or
syrup form, is usually less expensive than cough syrup.
"We don't have any evidence of an influenza-A epi
demic at this time," Fleischli said, "although a few flu
cases have been reported around Atlanta."
The flu season is November through March, Fleisch
li said, and the health center is working with the Lincoln
Lancaster County Health Department to prevent a
possible flu epidemic.
Reagan trip . . .
Continued from Page 2
The growth Brazil experienced in the 1970s may look
good in terms of Gross National Product measurement
but not in terms of income distribution over the whole
population, Avery said. The gap between the country's
rich and poor actually may be wider than in the past,
he said.
Brazil has concentrated on agricultural exports, urban
industrial production and foreign investment growth,
Avery said.
"There is a great compatibility between Reagan's
policies and the Brazilian growth model," he said.
The Latin American people tend to resent U.S. involve
ment in their countries because they believe that U.S.
manufacturing firms are edging out local industry. They
also fear the occurrence of "capital flight," which happens
when the the profits of a business are transferred com
pletely back to the United States rather than reinvested in
their own countries, Avery said.
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TAKE NOTE
Include A Stop At The "CoHege"
In Your Christmas Planning
STYLES
PERMS
HAIRCUTS
at student prices!
it's your last chance
before you go home
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tnt&n . 4744244
Appointment or Walk in
Hth&M (So. of Centrum)
"Lincoln's Corner on Hairstyling"
$1
