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Tamiflu FAQ

Information about the current swine flu outbreak

30/04/09: The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised the level of the swine flu alert from Phase Four to Phase Five, the second highest.
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Listed below are common questions and answers designed to provide first time guidance regarding the number 1 doctor-prescribed antiviral flu medicine.

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What is Tamiflu?

How well does Tamiflu work?

What is the correct dosage?

What is Tamiflu Oral Suspension?

What are the side effects of Tamiflu?

What are the precautions with Tamiflu?

What should I tell my doctor or healthcare provider?

Can I get Tamiflu on the NHS?

Where can I buy Tamiflu?
 

 

What is Tamiflu?

Tamiflu (Oseltamivir) is a neuraminidase inhibitor, marketed by Hoffmann-La Roche, designed specifically to target the influenza virus. It works by stopping the virus sticking onto cells in the upper respiratory tract. Normally the virus then reproduces, but neuraminidase inhibitors stop that happening. Tamiflu is available by prescription only.

Tamiflu is for treating adults and children of 1year of age and older with the flu whose flu symptoms started within the last day or two. Tamiflu is also used to reduce the chance of getting the flu in people aged 1 year and older Tamiflu can reduce the chance of getting the flu if there is a flu outbreak in the community.

 

How well does Tamiflu work?

Research has shown that Tamiflu works both as prevention and as a treatment of the flu.

Tamiflu is effective in preventing people around a flu sufferer developing the disease themselves. It was effective in over 80% of cases.

Research has indicated Tamiflu can cut the severity of flu symptoms by around 40% and their duration by 30%.

Tamiflu was also shown to cut the number chest infections linked to flu needing antibiotics by 50% and hospitalisations by 61%.

In children, the drug reduced the incidence of middle ear infections in those affected by flu by 44%.

 

What is the correct dosage?

Tamiflu is available in capsules and a liquid form for young children and mature populations who may have difficulty swallowing a capsule.

Dosing instructions vary for adults and children, and for taking Tamiflu for prevention or treatment.

Dosage Instructions for Adults and Adolescents 13 Years of Age and Older

For treatment of the flu, Tamiflu capsules should be taken twice daily (once in the morning and once in the evening) for five days. Tamiflu can be taken with or without food. As with many medicines, if you take Tamiflu with a light snack, milk, or a meal, the potential for an upset stomach may be reduced.

It is important to begin treatment with Tamiflu within 12 to 48 hours from the first appearance of flu symptoms.

For prevention of flu, Tamiflu capsules should be taken once daily for at least 10 days. Tamiflu can be taken with or without food. As with many medicines, if you take Tamiflu with a light snack, milk, or a meal, the potential for an upset stomach may be reduced. In cases of community outbreaks, Tamiflu has been demonstrated to be a safe and effective preventative therapy for up to 6 weeks.

If you have any type of kidney disease, talk to your doctor before starting Tamiflu therapy. There is a special dosing schedule, as follows for those with renal impairment:

• Treatment Dosing - 75 mg once daily for 5 days
• Prevention Dosing - 75 mg every other day or 30 mg oral suspension once daily

TAMIFLU ORAL SUSPENSION

Dosage Instructions for Children 1 Year of Age and Older

In addition to the capsule form, Tamiflu is also available in a fruit-flavored liquid form with a dosing dispenser for children 1 year and older, and for adults who have difficulty swallowing the capsule. It is recommended that patients use the oral dosing dispenser that is supplied with prescription Tamiflu.

The recommended dosing for treating children 1 year and older is twice daily for 5 days according to the following body weight guide:

 

Body Weight (kg)	Body Weight (lbs.)	Recommended Dose for 5 Days	Number of Bottles Needed for Recommended Dose
≤ 15 kg	≤ 33 lbs.	30 mg twice daily	1
> 15 kg to 23 kg	> 33 lbs to 51 lbs	45 mg twice daily	2
> 23 kg to 40 kg	> 51 lbs to 88 lbs	60 mg twice daily	2
> 40 kg	> 88 lbs	75 mg twice daily	>3

 

To help prevent the flu in children 1 year and older, it is important to begin therapy within 12 to 48 hours of exposure.

The recommended dosing for preventing flu in children 1 year and older following close contact with someone who is infected with the flu is once daily for 10 days according to the following body weight guide:

 

Body Weight (kg)	Body Weight (lbs.)	Recommended Dose for 10 Days*	Number of Bottles Needed for Recommended Dose
≤ 15 kg	≤ 33 lbs.	30 mg once daily	1
> 15 kg to 23 kg	> 33 lbs to 51 lbs	45 mg once daily	2
> 23 kg to 40 kg	> 51 lbs to 88 lbs	60 mg once daily	2
> 40 kg	> 88 lbs	75 mg once daily	3

 

* Tamiflu for flu prevention in children 1 year and older has not been evaluated for a duration of therapy of longer than 10 days.

Please read prescribing information for instructions on preparing Tamiflu liquid.

 

What are the side effects of Tamiflu?

All drugs have side effects, and Tamiflu is no exception. However, Tamiflu is generally well tolerated. The most common side effects are nausea and vomiting. Taking Tamiflu with food may reduce the potential of these side effects. Inform your doctor if you have concerns about the side effects you are experiencing. As with any medication, be sure to discuss with your doctor any over-the-counter or prescription medicines you are currently taking before beginning Tamiflu therapy.

Some of the possible side effects of Tamiflu

• nausea
• vomiting
• diarrhea
• bronchitis
• stomach pain
• dizziness
• headache

For more detailed information about Tamiflu, ask your healthcare provider.

 

What are the precautions with Tamiflu?

Special Warnings Concerning Tamiflu:

• Tamiflu's safety and effectiveness have not been determined in people with chronic heart or lung disease, kidney failure, or in people with high-risk underlying medical conditions.
• There have been reports (mostly from Japan) since Tamiflu became available of patients causing self-injury or experiencing delirium (confusion, hallucinations, speech problems) while using Tamiflu.  The reports were mostly in children.  It is not known whether the cause of these reports is due to Tamiflu use.  Patients should be monitored for signs of abnormal behavior while taking Tamiflu.

General Precautions with Tamiflu: 

• Tamiflu has not been shown to treat flu-like illnesses caused by any virus other than influenza A and B (e.g., stomach flu, common cold, or other respiratory illnesses not caused by influenza).
• Other kinds of infections can appear like influenza or occur along with influenza, and need different types of treatment.  Contact your healthcare provider if you feel worse or develop new symptoms during or after treatment, or if your influenza symptoms do not start to get better.
• Taking Tamiflu should not affect your decision to have an annual influenza vaccination.
• The safety and efficacy of repeated courses of treatment have not been established.
• Tamiflu is not indicated for treatment or prevention of the flu in patients less than 1 year of age.

 

What should I tell my doctor or healthcare provider?

Tell your doctor or healthcare provider if you:

• are taking any other medications
• have any type of kidney disease
• are trying to become pregnant, are already pregnant, or are breast-feeding

 

Can I get Tamiflu on the NHS?

Tamiflu is available on the NHS to people aged 65 and over, and younger patients with serious health problems.

 

Where can I buy Tamiflu?

Tamiflu can be prescribed by our doctor following an online consultation. Simply complete our online registration form which will then be reviewed by a Firstmed doctor. Once you have been cleared for treatment you can then log into our secure treatments area, from there you can buy Tamiflu.

Orders placed before 3pm Monday to Friday will normally be dispatched the same day via Royal Mail Recorded Delivery. We can only guarantee same day dispatch for orders placed before 11am.

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