Patient information
Tamiflu is an FDA approved oral drug treating and uncomplicated influenza, generally known as flu, in patients over one year old in the first days of occurrence. Even though Tamiflu is approved for prevention and treatment of both type A and B of influenza, its most common use in the US is in treating influenza type A.
Tamiflu treats and prevents flu in all age categories, excepting new-born children under 1 year old, proving its efficiency during clinical trials. Therefore, taking Tamiflu decreases risk of influenza in case of generalized spread in up to 10 days in underage patients and 42 in adult patients. The active substance in Tamiflu is Oseltamivir phosphate.
Directions of using Tamiflu:
Tamiflu is available as 75mg capsules. Usually, Tamiflu dosage in adults is 75mg twice a day during a five day treatment span. Children are prescribed lower doses. Preventive use of Tamiflu for patients older than 13 is standardized to 75mg once a day for a maximum treatment span of 6 weeks. Tamiflu acts effectively in case of risky flu outbreaks and within first two days of flu symptoms for treatment.
Contraindications to Tamiflu:
Cautions regarding Tamiflu should be met by patients with high-risk medical disorders and suffering from severe heart conditions, chronic lung and kidney disease. The use of Tamiflu in these patient categories hasn’t been studied yet.
Furthermore, Tamiflu’s treatment spectrum does not cover other flu-related conditions such as common cold, respiratory illnesses or stomach flu, and is limited to the treatment of influenza type A and B.
Doctor’s advice is necessary to diagnose influenza correctly before treating it with Tamiflu. Also, Tamiflu does not substitute the annual influenza vaccination, which patients are recommended to have it done. Before deciding to take Tamiflu, patients are recommended to inform their healthcare provider on any additional medication taken, on their general health state and on pregnancy or breastfeeding intentions, if the case.
Tamiflu Side Effects:
Rarely, Tamiflu has been reported to cause hepatitis, irritation, anaphylaxis and Steven-Johnson syndrome.
Reported adverse reactions to Tamiflu include nausea, flushing, stomach pain, vomiting, lightheadedness and headache, as well as bronchitis.