Crisis Administration For Dispensing Tamiflu And Relenza
On April 26th, 2009, a public health emergency was declared by the Health and Human Services Department [HHS] regarding the outbreak of the influenza H1N1 virus. Because of the declaration, the Center for Disease Control [CDC] asked for an [EUA] or an emergency use authorization. This would enable them to administer the antivirals Tamiflu and Relenza to a larger population base as a prophylactic measure against the flu virus than was currently stated for on the product packaging.
Included in this increase where previously excluded pediatric groups and those other people or groups who did not figure in the original parameters for receiving the drug as a preventative medicine. The influenza virus can cause serious complications and even death in those patients with seriously compromised immune systems. This would include HIV patients [infected toddlers and infants specifically] and young kids.
The antiviral medication oseltamivir [or tamiflu] has been accepted as a treatment and preventative therapy for influenza virus in patients who are one year or older. Its medicinal counterpart Relenza has been approved for treating serious but uncomplicated illness due to influenza contagion within adults and kids seven years and upwards. They must be indicative of the flu for less than a two day period and may also be treated as a therapeutic prevention drug in adults and children over five years of age.
The Emergency Use Authorization for tamiflu means tamiflu may also be utilized as a treatment and preventative drug in babies under one year old, and also to give optional dosage proposals for kids older than one year of age. As well, based on these EUA’s, both antiviral drugs can also be dispensed to bigger sub sections of society without the need to obey the instructions for the meds based on labeling which otherwise would be the case and provide written description of the emergency utilization. The drugs can also be dispensed by a larger segment of health care providers such as health officials and volunteers as allowed by state and regional laws or health service crisis reactions.
The Emergency Use Authorization though only temporary includes the following broader provisional policies, which are to expire when the emergency is ended:
- Tamiflu can be used as a treatment as well as a preventative therapy for infants under one year of age. As of now, tamiflu can be used on children one year or older. The new options for infants under one year were decided upon after review of safety and pharmacokinetics trials data by manufacturer Roche and the Collaborative Antiviral Study Group NIAID/NIH [National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Disease – National Institute of Health]. Also age appropriate dosage options in older kids formed part of the new proposal. These new EUA options are for the oral use of tamiflu and are as follows:
- Extended EUA tamiflu dosage options for treating influenza in patients with body weight [in kg] body weight [in lbs] dosage by age treatment doses for five days.
- Over 40 kg – over 88 lbs over 10 yrs 75 mg twice a day
- Over 23 kg to 40 kg over 51 lbs to 88 lbs 6 – 9 yrs 60 mg twice a day
- Over 15 kg to 23 kg over 33 lbs to 51 lbs 3 – 5 yrs 45 mg twice a day
- Under 15 kg under 33 lbs 1-2 yrs 30 mg twice a day
- Dosing for Babies younger than one year
- Not considered by weight 6 – 11 months 25 mg twice a day
- 3 – 5 months 20 mg twice a day
- Under 3 months 12 mg twice a day
The bottle dispenser for tamiflu oral suspension medicine is marked of in gram measurements and is available for children weighing more than 40 kg or adults who have a difficult time swallowing pills. Dosages are measured as follows for heavier/older children and adults – 30 mg’s measured followed up by 45 mg measured. For babies under one year a different type of measuring tool needs to be used which can discharge 2 ml [roughly 25 mg], 1.6 ml [approx. 20 mg], or 1 ml [or 12 mg].
Dosages for the current swine flu or H1N1 are equal for each age group however; doses are only given once each day instead of twice a day. When administering preventative dosages they should be consumed for a ten day course after contact with an infected individual or in the event of a localized outbreak.
Utilizing Tamiflu and Relenza for those patients excluded from current labeling instructions. Both medications are presently cited for use on patients showing heightened but uncomplicated influenza and the symptoms have been present for under forty eight hours. This EUA calls for utilization of tamiflu and Relenza in more severely infectious persons or those who have displayed symptoms for more than the forty eight hour time period. This is based on research data and the latest understanding of how H1N1 influenza reacts with different appearances. After considering patient susceptibility and the availability of these antivirals, physicians or health care providers can make an individual risk reward appraisal concerning how best to use these products.