Tamiflu- Pros and Cons

Tamiflu is has received a massive amount of press as the best possible medical solution to avian influenza. However, there are many problems with this solution, as well as some clear advantages. If you're considering Tamiflu, you should inform yourself about it.

Tamiflu (Oseltamivir) is a antiviral prescription drug called a neuraminidase inhibitor. It is used in the treatment and prevention of both influenza A and influenza B. Tamiflu is not a vaccine, or a cure; it helps shorten the time you have the flu. You will also be less likely to develop complications of flu, such as bronchitis, pneumonia and sinusitis.

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA):

"Tamiflu is for treating adults, adolescents, and pediatric patients 1 year of age and older with the flu whose flu symptoms started within the last day or two.  Tamiflu is also used to reduce the chance of getting the flu in people age 13 and older who have a higher chance of getting the flu because they spend time with someone who has the flu.  Tamiflu can also reduce the chance of getting the flu if there is a flu outbreak in the community."

The question I hear most often is, "Should I buy Tamiflu?"

PROS

1. Tamiflu is the #1 doctor prescribed flu medicine.

2. Tamiflu attacks the influenza virus and stops it from spreading inside the human body.

3. Tamiflu and Relenza are the only drugs available that are currently being used successfully to treat bird flu.

4. Tamiflu works both as a preventative and as a treatment.

5. Since we have no vaccine, Tamiflu is the best medical treatment available, despite the fact that the FDA has not yet approved it specifically for that purpose.  The best prevention remains stringent hygiene, and a strong immune system.

CONS

1. Tamiflu is very hard to obtain. There are worldwide shortages, and the manufacturer, Roche Pharmaceuticals, is unable to keep up with demand. Roche stopped shipping to the U.S. and Canada in October 2005, and the U.S. government has bought up available supplies in the that country.

2. Tamiflu is very expensive. Due to high demand, retailers can charge inflated fees. One price in early December 2005 was $400 for a package of 10 75m tablets-- 16 times wholesale. (Enough for one person for 5 days of treatment or ten days of prevention.)

3. You may not be able to tell if what you have is real Tamiflu. Tamiflu is available in Europe, Latin America, and Asia. However, black market fake pills and knock-offs are rampant on the Internet.

4. People in the U.S. solve this problem by ordering from Canada, when supplies are available. Unfortunately, almost 80 percent of sites purporting to offer Canadian pharmacy prescription drug sites are registered in other countries than Canada, according to data released by the online risk management firm Cyveillance. The data is from a study for the FDA in June, 2005.

5. Tamiflu doesn't always work, either as a prevention or a treatment.

6. By the time a pandemic strikes, the virus may be resistant to Tamiflu. Already, Hong Kong researchers have reported H5N1 resistance to Tamiflu in some cases. H5N1 is already resistant to two other major flu antiviral medicines, amantadine or rimantadine.

7. Epidemiologists and health officials fear that the widespread use of Tamiflu in advance of a pandemic, and at early stages of a pandemic, can cause even greater resistance on the part of the H5N1 avian influenza virus.

8. You are supposed to use Tamiflu within 48 hours of noticing flu symptoms. Unfortunately, you usually cannot tell in the first 48 hours if the symptoms you are experiencing are the flu, a cold, or something else.  The H5N1 virus can only be reliably diagnosed in a small number of labs around the world. There is no way for home users to know whether flu-like symptoms are the result of avian flu or something else. However, if you wait long enough to be sure, it's too late to use Tamiflu.

9. Health officials have complained that private hoarding also hinders hospitals’ ability to get Tamiflu for patients who really need it, this winter and in case a pandemic strikes.

10. Tamiflu side effects include cardiac arrhythmia, liver damage, worsening diabetes, and seizures. Tamiflu has been associated with the deaths of 12 teenagers in Japan, and with impaired consciousness, abnormal behavior, hallucinations, and suicide. These cases are rare.

 

BOTTOM LINE

Despite its problems, Tamiflu is the safest bet we currently have for preventing or treating the H5N1 virus with traditional Western medicine. It belongs in your antiviral arsenal. However, it is not a elixir that will magically make the flu disappear. It is only one of the tools you should have at your disposal. The best prevention remains stringent hygiene procedures and taking measures to ensure you have a healthy immune system.
 

Order Tamiflu This U.S. based pharmacy may still have Tamiflu in small quantities. Pharmacists Will Use Professional Judgment To Dispense For Customers Living In Regions With Flu Activity. Message from the DEA: "Web sites offering to sell prescription controlled substances directly to consumers "without a prescription" or "without requiring a doctor visit" are operating outside the requirements of the federal Controlled Substances Act"

 

Related Articles Bird Flu Doctor Calls Tamiflu Worthless

 

About the Author: William Prescott is a health care researcher and author, focusing on science-based CAM (Complimentary and Alternative) healthcare solutions to contemporary medical challenges.

 

 

Visit Our Blog  For updates and latest news on the emerging bird flu pandemic.