Tamiflu Capsules
What is Tamiflu.
This is a prescription medicine used to treat or prevent the onset of flu. This is particularly useful when faced with a severe or potentially life-threatening flu infection in the very vulnerable patients or extremely virulent strains such as Bird Flu (Avian Influenza) or Swine Flu.
It contains 75 mg in each capsule of a viral neuraminidase inhibitor called Oseltamivir. It also contains other non-medicinal ingredients: corn starch, croscarmellose sodium, gelatine, iron oxide, povidone K30, sodium stearyl fumarate, talc, titanium dioxide.
It works by inhibiting an enzyme necessary for the flu virus to spread through your body.
Who should take Tamiflu?
Tamiflu is not a substitute for the flu vaccine ( or a Bird flu / Swine flu vaccine when it is developed). If you are at high risk of developing complications, you should continue to get your flu vaccine as recommended by your doctor. You might be surprised to find that you are still susceptible to flu even though you got your annual jab.
- Treatment with Tamiflu (adults, adolescents and children [≥ 1 year]). Treatment with Tamiflu should begin no more than two days after flu symptoms have started to appear. Typical symptoms of flu include sudden onset of fever, headache, tiredness, muscular weakness, runny or stuffy nose, sore throat and cough.
- Prevention with Tamiflu: Tamiflu should be taken by an adult or adolescent patient (13 years and older) to prevent getting the flu. Therapy should begin within 2 days after coming into contact with someone with flu symptoms. Typically, about one in ten get the flu during an outbreak, although this varies.
If someone close to you (like someone living in your home) has the flu your chances of getting it yourself is higher (around one in five).
What can I expect if I take Tamiflu?
In two large clinical treatment trials, flu patients who took Tamiflu recovered 1.3 days (30%) faster than flu patients who did not take Tamiflu. Tamiflu should also alleviate your symptoms, and help you feel better soon.
In a large clinical trial for prevention of flu in families with children 13 years and older, Tamiflu started within 2 days of the first family member getting sick and taken for 7 days, prevented over 90% of the flu illnesses in the rest of the family.
What about Bird Flu or Swine Flu treatment?
Studies done in laboratories suggest that the prescription medicines approved for human influenza virus, such as Tamiflu should work in treating avian influenza infection in humans.
Experience from the Bird Flu epidemic has shown that Tamiflu is effective. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/15740.php
However, influenza viruses can become resistant to these drugs, so these medications may not always work.
What should you tell your doctor before you start taking Tamiflu?
Before starting treatment with Tamiflu, make sure ther doctor knows if:
- You ever had a bad reaction to oseltamivir phosphate (Tamiflu) or any of the inactive ingredients.
- You are allergic to other medicines, food and dyes.
- You are taking any other medicines, including those not prescribed by your doctor.
- You have any type of kidney disease.
- You are pregnant, plan on becoming pregnant, or are breast feeding.
This information will help the doctor and you decide whether you should use Tamiflu and what extra care may need to be taken while you are on the medicine.
How should Tamiflu be taken to treat the flu?
The doctor has prescribed Tamiflu after diagnosing your flu condition or in anticipation of suspected bird flu or Swine flu.
- Tamiflu should be taken twice daily, 75 mg per dose (once in the morning and once in the evening) for five days.
- It is important that you begin your treatment with Tamiflu as soon as possible from the first appearance of your flu symptoms. If flu symptoms, most notably fever, do not begin to improve in the first day or two after you start your treatment with Tamiflu, speak with your doctor.
- Tamiflu can be taken with food. As with many medicines, if taken with a light snack, milk, or a meal, possible stomach upset may be reduced.
- You must complete the entire treatment recommended by your doctor, even if you are feeling better.
- Take this medicine only as directed by your doctor. Do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time than prescribed by the doctor. Never share Tamiflu with anyone, even if they have the same symptoms.
- Children more than 1 year of age can also take Tamiflu. It is available as a suspension but the supply may be limited during outbreaks. The dose is: 30 mg if body weight less than 15 kg, 45 mg if body weight between 15 - 23 kg, 60 mg if body weight between 23 - 40 kg, adult dose if weight over 40 kg
How should Tamiflu be taken to prevent the flu?
Please call the clinic and check if you have been in contact with someone with flu ( or bird flu / swine flu) and wish to start preventive treatment.
- Tamiflu should be taken once daily for 7 days or longer as recommended by your doctor if you have contacted someone who has the flu. It is important that you begin your treatment with Tamiflu as soon as possible after you are exposed.
- Tamiflu can be taken with food. As with many medicines, if taken with a light snack, milk, or a meal, possible stomach upset may be reduced.
- The duration of dosing was tailored by your doctor. You must complete the entire course of therapy that your doctor has prescribed for you.
What should you do if you forget a dose of Tamiflu?
If you forget to take a dose of Tamiflu take it as soon as possible, then just carry on with the regular times you take your medication. Do not take double the amount if you miss one dose.
If you have missed several doses, inform your doctor and follow the advice given to you. Do not change your dose of Tamiflu unless instructed to do so by your doctor.
What are the possible unwanted effects of Tamiflu?
Unwanted effects are possible with all medicines. Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are taking Tamiflu.
Tamiflu is generally well tolerated. The most common/possible unwanted effects are:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
A comprehensive safety review revealed a number of rare adverse events associated with the use of Tamiflu in children 16 years of age or younger. These adverse event reports were primarily related to unusual neurologic or psychiatric events such as delirium, hallucinations, confusion, abnormal behavior, convulsions, and encephalitis. These events were reported almost entirely in children from Japan who received Tamiflu according to Japanese treatment guidelines (very similar but not identical to U.S. treatment guidelines). The review identified a total of 12 deaths in pediatric patients since Tamiflu's approval. All of the pediatric deaths were reported in Japanese children. In many of these cases, a relationship to Tamiflu was difficult to assess because of the use of other medications, presence of other medical conditions, and/or lack of adequate detail in the reports.
The review also identified severe skin reactions (like allergic reactions) in some pediatric patients. These events were not all reported in Japanese children and have also been reported in adults. Severe skin reactions in all age groups are currently being reviewed in more detail.
How can you deal with these unwanted effects?
Taking Tamiflu with food may reduce possible stomach upset.
Some unwanted effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine.
If you are concerned about these or any other unexpected effects while on Tamiflu, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
How should this product be stored?
- Keep this medication out of the reach of children.
- Store away from heat.
- Keep Tamiflu capsules in their original labeled container at room temperature at 15 to 30° C and keep them in a dry place.
- Do not use this medicine after the expiry date on the package.
If you wish to proceed with obtaining Tamiflu to keep and use if required.
- Please call 0845 130 4595 to check availability of the product.
- Please print and fill in the Health Questionaire Form. One form for each proposed recipient of Tamiflu.
- Post the completed form to 2 Burgoyne Road, Sunbury-on-Thames, Middlesex, TW16 7PW or fax it to 01932 711075.
- We will contact you by telephone to confirm the details and obtain payment.
- The product and prescription will be posted to your address by recorded delivery on the next working day.
