Tamiflu Side Effects

Tamiflu may cause rare, adverse side effects. Call your doctor immediately if you have any of the following symptoms:

Hives, rashes, blistering of the skin, swelling of the face, tongue or throat, or troubled breathing indicating a serious allergic reaction
Seizures
Neuropsychiatric effects: inability to concentrate, trouble sleeping or nightmares, confusion, and abnormal beavior
Changes in mood

Common side effects can include:

Nauseousness and stomach aches
Throbbing of the head
Vomiting
Change in bowel movements causing diarrhea
Feeling tired

If any of these symptoms continue, contact your healthcare provider at once.

Warnings & Recalls for Tamiflu

In 2009, questions arose concerning the safety of using Tamiflu when incidents of adverse reactions had nearly doubled in under a week. Studies revealed that over half of the children that had taken Tamiflu experienced side effects such as bad dreams, inability to sleep and an upset stomach. As of July 11, of 2011, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has made significant changes to the Tamiflu for oral suspension label. The concentration has been adjusted from 12mg/mL to 6mg/mL while changing the measurement from milligrams (mg) to milliliters (mL). In addition to these changes, the FDA revised the preparation instructions for pharmacies. If you are taking the blood-thinning medication warfarin, using Tamiflu concomitantly may put you at greater risk for a stroke and uncontrollable bleeding. In 2009, this dangerous mixture lead to the death of two patients in the UK. Before taking Tamiflu, tell your doctor if you:

Are pregnant or nursing
Have respiratory, kidney or heart disease
Are taking any blood-thinning medications
Have any severe health conditions
Have been given a nasal flu vaccine within the past two weeks before taking Tamiflu. Taking Tamiflu may cause the vaccine to be less effective.

Tamiflu Treatment and Use

Tamiflu | Oseltamivir Phosphate is a neuraminidase inhibitor class medication (antiviral drug) marketed by Genentech under the Swiss pharmaceutical company Roche as a treatment for influenza or flu-like symptoms. This drug may also be used as a treatment for other influenza viruses such as H1N1 (swine flu) or avian (bird) flu. Tamiflu remedies the effects of:

Congestion or runny nose
Sore throat and coughing
Stomach aches
Fever or feeling of coldness (shivering)
Drowsiness
Soreness of muscles or joints
Head pains

Tamiflu is not a vaccine for influenza.

How Does Tamiflu Work?

Tamiflu reduces the effects of influenza by preventing viral neuraminidase protein from functioning, which allows the virus to spread by using new cells as a host. By averting this interaction, symptoms may be lessened, typically shortening patient’s recuperation time by one or two days.

Tamiflu Dosage Information

Tamiflu is prescribed in two different forms: a capsule (for patients over the age of 13), or liquid (oral suspension). For treating flu-like symptoms, Tamiflu should be taken orally twice a day, at the beginning and end of the day, for 5 days. To prevent influenza, Tamiflu may be taken once by mouth each day for a minimum 10 days and up to 6 weeks during an local outbreak.

Doses for patients older than 13 are the 75 mg capsule, or 12.5 mL of the oral suspension
For children between the ages of 1 and 12, doses vary depending on weight, ask your doctor or visit http://www.tamiflu.com/children/treat.html for more details
Tamiflu does not need to be taken with food
For optimal results, begin taking Tamiflu within 2 days of experiencing symptoms of influenza or hearing of an outbreak near you
Patients should complete a full 10 doses before ending the treatment
Oral suspension measurements may be in mL or mg. Make sure you are taking the proper amount indicated.

Do not take Tamiflu if you are allergic to oseltamivir phosphate.

Other Names for Tamiflu

Brand name: Tamiflu

Generic name (Unavailable): Oseltamivir Phosphate