What we know about Tamiflu

Tamiflu is a medication for the treatment of flu infection - infectious disease caused by viruses.

Tamiflu belongs to a group of neuraminidase. Preparations of this group act directly to viruses and prevent their replication and spread in the organism. In this way Tamiflu acts on the cause of flu and not simply relives its symptoms. Each Tamiflu capsule contains 75mg of active ingredient and is taken orally.

Who should not take Tamiflu?

Tamiflu is contraindicated for patients with known allergic reactions to oseltamivir. Before beginning the therapy make sure to inform your doctor if you have kidney diseases and hepatic failure.

How does the medication works?

The medication works by attacking the flu virus inside the body, thus preventing it from spreading. This is different from other flu medicines, which just treat symptoms of the flu.

Tamiflu is part of a class of drugs called neuraminidase inhibitors. Neuraminidase (an enzyme found on the flu virus) allows the flu virus to spread. By blocking this enzyme, Tamiflu limits the virus's ability to spread.

Who can take Tamiflu?

Tamiflu can be taken by adults over 18 years of age infected by flu viruses with flu symptoms not more than 3 days. The most common flu infection symptoms include fever, cough, headache, weakness, muscle pains, sore throat.

How effective is Tamiflu?

The clinical studies showed that those patients receiving Tamiflu recovered much faster than other patients not taking Oseltamivir.

Can Tamiflu be taken with other medication?

Tamiflu possesses a high safety profile and minimal risk of interaction with other medical preparations. Along with Tamiflu, a health care provider may recommend some medicines which helps to relieve the symptomatic of flu infections such as antitussives, Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. If you take any medicines while Tamiflu is indicated make sure to consult your doctor.

How and when can I take Tamiflu?

Tamiflu should be taken 2 times daily during meal within 5 days. Meal with a small amount of milk may help to prevent possible stomach discomfort. You should finish the prescribed course of treatment till the end even if you start feeling better.

Which are Tamiflu side effects?

As with any medicine, side effects are possible with Tamiflu (oseltamivir phosphate). However, not everyone who takes the drug will have problems. In fact, most people tolerate it quite well. If side effects do occur, they are usually minor. Often, they require no treatment or are easily treated by you or your healthcare provider. In previous research studies, less than 1 percent of people taking Tamiflu stopped their medicine because of side effects.

If you develop an allergic reaction or severe skin rash, stop taking Tamiflu and call your healthcare provider. Tamiflu has been studied extensively in clinical trials. In these studies, the side effects that occur in a group of people taking the drug are documented and are then compared to those that occur in another group of people not taking the medicine. As a result, it is possible to see what side effects occur, how often they appear, and how they compare to the group not taking the medicine.

For adults, the most common side effects thought to be related to the medicine were:

• Nausea - in up to 10 percent of people
• Vomiting - up to 9 percent

In children, the most common problem was vomiting. Up to 15 percent of children experienced this side effect. Nausea and vomiting usually happen during the first couple days of treatment and are usually mild to moderate. Taking Tamiflu with food may help decrease the chances of experiencing nausea or vomiting.

In adults, other common side effects with Tamiflu included but were not limited to:

• Abdominal pain
• Diarrhea
• Bronchitis