The Basics on Tamiflu
With all of the recent health scares and pandemics that have sprung up all around the globe, the public’s knowledge of viruses has been limited. This has felt particularly alarming for many. Some pandemics can spread very quickly, and with newer strains of viruses the solutions can be hard to come by.
Tamiflu is a recognised and extremely powerful antiviral drug that can be used to treat the flu virus. It can be used proactively, but its effect here is limited. However, it has proven very effective in reducing the effects and duration of a viral infection.
Tamiflu is approved for the use of adults and children over the age of twelve. Anyone under this age should not take Tamiflu. This is absolutely essential as a dosage requirement. In any case, Tamiflu is a prescription drug; hence there should be very little chance of someone taking it if they are not supposed to. Bearing this is mind, if you know of anyone under the age of twelve who is taking or who is exposed to Tamiflu, stop them immediately, and seek medical advice.
The drug is also not approved for any women who are pregnant or nursing. Again, the negative effect that can arise if a pregnant or nursing woman takes the drug can be considerable. With a pregnant or nursing woman, the drug can have an adverse effect on the health of the baby or infant.
In addition, another patient group who should not be exposed to Tamiflu are those who are allergic to Oseltamivir Phospate, which is the main ingredient in Tamiflu. Because the drug is available on prescription, your physician should be able to advise if you are allergic to this particular substance.
When it comes to those people who have more serious medical conditions, their physician will make the decision as to whether or not Tamiflu is right for them. People with any kind of kidney problem, for example, can face medical issues if they take Tamiflu. The physician will advise on whether or not that person should take the drug. The same applies to anyone who has a respiratory problem or disease or in fact any kind of serious health problem that can cause drugs to be reduced in effectiveness or to interact in a negative way. All of these issues can be resolved with the physician, and may or may not result in the drug being approved for use.
You can take Tamiflu mainly to treat the flu. It is not generally seen as something that can cure the flu. However, some physicians may prescribe to help the body protect against an impending or current strain of the flu virus. If this is the case, they may say that it is a preventative measure. If this is what the physician says to you, bear in mind that the drug may help against the symptoms, or at least their severity, but it is not used as a cure for the flu. In other words, you will not see an instant improvement.
General dosages follow the pattern of the patient taking one dosage in the morning of the drug in tablet form. Then taking one capsule of the drug in the evening is the norm. This continues for five days if the drug has been prescribed as a treatment for the symptoms of flu. However, if the drug has been prescribed as a preventative treatment, then the dosage does change a little. It is in this kind of case that the doctor may state that you take one capsule per day for ten days. If there is an outbreak of flu in the community, the doctor may suggest that you take Tamiflu for up to six weeks. Again, this is not a cure, but instead a proactive treatment against the symptoms of the flu.
Tamiflu has been known to have some side effects, such as mild to moderate vomiting. If you take the drug with food or milk these symptoms may decrease to the extent that they feel less troublesome. Again, your doctor will advise.
These are the basic facts about Tamiflu. Remember that your doctor will advise on all aspects of taking the drug when they prescribe it to you.