Oseltamivir Versus Assorted Flu Strains
Generic tamiflu has been available since February 2006, when Thailand was granted the right to produce this drug. Since then, China and India have also produced this medication.
Some people have raised concerns that the use of oseltamivir may cause flu virus strains to become resistant to other flu medications, but its current use is effective in stopping the spread of the flu in the body. Oseltamivir does not stop the spread of the flu virus to other individuals and regular hand washing is required.
The Swine Flu, or H1N1 flu virus, is thought to have originated on a pig farm in Mexico City. Although pigs typically carry this strand of flu virus, it does not usually kill the animals. H1N1 cannot be contracted by eating pork products and is rarely transferred to humans. However, the recent outbreak in humans and spread of this virus across countries throughout the world has raised concerns about this viral infection.
The symptoms of this flu typically include fever, chills, cough, sore throat, runny nose, body aches, and headaches. The virus affects the upper respiratory tract, and if untreated it can spread to the lungs and bronchi. This virus is highly contagious and it can spread quickly through coughing, sneezing, saliva, and other bodily secretions. Antibacterial drugs are not effective in treating the flu but can help alleviate the symptoms. The flu virus can only be successfully treated with an anti-viral drug such as Oseltamivir.
Boosting your immunity system with Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Beta Carotene, and antioxidants can help prevent your susceptibility to contract this disease and aid in fighting the flu virus. Drink plenty of fluids such as orange juice and water to keep your body hydrated when fighting the flu. Getting adequate sleep and eating a healthy diet will help your body’s natural immunity to fight this viral infection.
Since the current spread of the H5N1 and H1N1, (Swine flu) virus has now reached the pandemic levels; people are flooding to their doctors to ask about having a personal stockpile of generic tamiflu at home, and as its most effective treatment should begin as soon as exposure to the virus has occurred. As well, if people who contract the flu virus are able to treat it themselves at home, they will limit the spread of the disease by traveling to pharmacies, clinics or doctor’s offices.
However, this scenario has some dangers. If the drug is misused, it may lose its effectiveness in fighting the flu virus, and this result has already starting to occur in several clinical studies in Japan. As the virus mutates, the new strains become drug resistant. The results of these Japanese studies may be skewed, however, as some of the doses given to children were insufficient to fight the virus. A clinical study in the United States where doses were higher did not show any resistance to the drug.
Another problem with stockpiling of generic tamiflu could lead to insufficient doses being administered when needed to treat the flu virus, and also an inadequate supply of the drug available where it is needed most. If Oseltamivir, or generic tamiflu treatment is stopped when symptoms cease but before the full effects of the drug are fully realized, it can lead to a resistance of the drug. Children, in particular, are infectious for longer periods of time than adults who have the flu virus, and when treatment ceases prematurely, the risk of spreading the virus is higher.
When stockpiling the drug, individuals must be aware that a few cases of counterfeit generic tamiflu have occurred. If the increased demand for generic tamiflu creates a need to import illegally, criminal activity can result. There is a concern that the medication will be counterfeit. In San Francisco in December 2005, a shipment of 53 packages of generic tamiflu was found to contain a mixture of Vitamin C and lactose.
Oseltamivir has been used in veterinary clinics to treat canine parvovirus infection, a highly contagious and often fatal virus affecting dogs. It has been successfully administered in a limited number of cases to decrease the severity of symptoms and decrease hospitalization time. The drug seems to stop the virus from infecting the crypt cells in the small intestine, and decreases the production of toxins and bacteria.