Tamiflu is widely used for preventing and treating symptoms of influenza A and B in both adults and children such as fever, body aches, sore throats, etc. However, to achieve a positive outcome, patients should understand their medications.

Overview

On August 3, 2016, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) affirmed the license of Tamiflu to become:

• • Treatment of influenza in patients aged 2 weeks or older with symptoms up to 48 hours.
  • Prevention of influenza in patients aged 1 year or older. 

The antiviral drug relieves flu symptoms such as fever, chills, body aches, cough, sore throat, tiredness, etc. It also prevents the proliferation of viruses and minimizes possible complications. 

The effectiveness of Tamiflu varies on patients’ medical condition, age, and time of taking the drug. However, Tamiflu is not expected to fight against COVID-19. Even though COVID-19 and Influenza share similar symptoms, the two cases of flu derived from different sources of the viruses and yield different complications. Therefore, they require different treatment and preventive methods. 

How should Tamiflu be used?

Tamiflu is available in two forms: a capsule and oral suspension. With the oral suspension, remember to shake well with a proper amount of dissolved water for the drug to dissolve well.

The common Tamiflu dosage for:

• • The treatment purpose is twice daily (12 hours apart) for 5 days. You should start taking the drug within 2 days of flu symptoms onset.
  • The prevention purpose is once daily for 10 days. It is recommended to take the drug after a meal to minimize the side effects of nausea and vomiting. 

Taking the antiviral drug within 48 hours of symptom onset can shave approximately one day off a seven-to-10-day sickness.

Note that the above dosage recommendation is for reference only. Several factors will influence how patients should take the drug, so it is essential to contact your doctor for an examination and prescription. In addition, patients should rest and have a balanced diet to get positive results.

Is Tamiflu safe?

Tamiflu is prescribed for influenza in both adults and children. However, the drug is contraindicated in cases of hypersensitivity to oseltamivir phosphate or any of its components. There are some cases patients should carefully consider while using such as

• • Pregnancy and breastfeeding
  • Children 1 year under
  • Elderly 
  • Patients who are also taking other prescribed drugs

Some mild side effects of Tamiflu include:

• • Nausea or vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Sleeping difficulty

If you get the flu, contact your doctor about a safe treatment option that gets you on the right path to recovery. You should also stop using the antiviral drug and seek immediate medical attention if there is any sign of allergic reactions or unusual behaviors such as anxiety, breathing problems, or redness on the skin.