Information on Tamiflu®

You have been prescribed Tamiflu® (oseltamivir) by your health care provider for either the treatment or prevention of the flu virus. This medicine is called an "antiviral" drug and may help you recover more quickly if you have the flu, or help keep you from getting sick if you have been exposed to the flu virus. This medicine is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to prevent and treat influenza.

For treatment of the flu

If you are sick with the flu, how much Tamiflu® to take will depend upon your health care provider's recommendation. The usual dose for adults and teenagers 13 years of age and older is 75mg and is given twice daily for 5 days. For infants and children 1 to 12 years of age, dosing is best done according to the child's weight. For infants younger than 1 year, the dosing is based on the infant's age. Treatment should start as soon as possible after the onset of flu symptoms with doses given approximately 12 hours apart. Take the entire course of medication; don't stop unless you are experiencing side effects (see information below).

To reduce your chances of getting the flu

If you have been exposed to the flu, the dose prescribed for reducing your chances of getting the flu is the same as for treatment as described above, but the medication is given only once a day rather than twice a day. Continue the medication for 10 days. It should be given at approximately the same time each day.

How supplied

Tamiflu® can be taken by mouth in the form of capsules or liquid for children and adults who may have difficulty swallowing.

Possible side effects

As with taking any medication, there could be possible side effects which should be reported to your health care provider. The most common side effects from Tamiflu® are nausea and vomiting. These are not usually severe and usually happen in the first 2 days of treatment. Taking Tamiflu® with food may help reduce the chance of getting these side effects. Other side effects reported commonly by children treated with Tamiflu® include abdominal pain, nosebleeds, ear problems, and pink eye. Side effects for children less than 1 year of age are unknown, because there is little information on Tamiflu® use in this age group. If you develop an allergic reaction or severe rash, stop taking Tamiflu and contact your health care provider.

People with the flu, especially children and teenagers, may be at increased risk of seizures, confusion, or abnormal behavior early in their course of illness. These events may occur shortly after beginning Tamiflu® or may occur even when flu is not treated. Thus, patients should be observed for signs of unusual behavior and a health care provider should be contacted immediately if the patient shows any signs of unusual behavior.

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