Articles

H1N1 Virus Outbreak Information

Always consult your doctor before you begin taking any kind of product, natural or not. One of the best immune system boosters is elderberry concentrate.

Taking Tamiflu Drug by Children

Pharmacist have been modifying the compounding with the use of a bitterness suppressing agent and a sweetening enhancer with a flavoring of the child's choice.

Why Tamiflu For Treatment Of Influenza?

The dose for Tamiflu in adults is 75mg twice daily for 5 days for active cases and 75mg daily for 10 days for prophylaxis. The capsules should be taken with a full glass of water. The following is the recommended Tamiflu pediatric dosing.

H1N1 Vaccinations For Pregnant Women

If you are pregnant you really should consider taking the extra step in talking with your physician about getting the swine flu vaccine. If you are in a situation where you are around a lot of children, or are in a medical setting, that leans you more towards getting the vaccine over not.

Who Can Take Tamiflu?

Tamiflu contains the active ingredient oseltamivir phosphate, which is a type of drug called neuraminidase inhibitor. Tamiflu drug has been shown to be effective in treating individuals with common types of flu caused by influenza virus, A and B. It is a well-tolerated drug with a good safety profile. It is also useful for the treatment and prevention of avian influenza or bird flu.

Our Suggestions

Pharmacy

Tamiflu (Oseltamivir) is a pro-drug which through metabolisation transforms into its active form.

 

Taking Tamiflu Drug by Children

The greatest problem with the pediatric dose of Tamiflu drug is availability. The only source of Tamiflu is the adult 75mg capsules which comes 10 capsules per blister pack. Hospitals have the pediatric Tamiflu liquid because they stockpiled the drug, and although some hospitals have doses that are labeled as expired the government has sent out letters advising that the drug is still good and can be dispensed for another year. Also you may buy Tamiflu in our online pharmacy. For those pharmacies that cannot get the pediatric dose, the pharmacist must compound the drug. The package insert with the adult dose recommends to calculate the number of capsules needed to achieve the prescribed dose and mix with simple syrup or cherry syrup.

The medication is bitter. Pharmacist have been modifying the compounding with the use of a bitterness suppressing agent and a sweetening enhancer with a flavoring of the child's choice. The compounded suspension should be shaken well and kept refrigerated to preserve the drug and help mask the bad taste. To assure accurate dosing the parent should use a dosing syringe and not a teaspoon. If you do not have a syringe ask your pharmacist. The child should be given the drug for the duration prescribed.

Tamiflu may be given with or without food. If the drug upsets the stomach, it may help to give with food or milk. Parents are reporting that as early as the next day the children are asking for something to eat. If a dose is missed it should be taken as soon as remembered but not if less than 2 hours away from the next dose. Just skip the missed dose and continue the therapy. Do not take extra medication to make up for the missed dose.

Contraindication
1.Hypersensitivity to the drug
2.Patients under one year old
3.Caution if kidney impairment
4.Caution if liver impairment

Drug Interactions
 - Clopidogrel (Plavix)
 - Influenza nasal vaccines, live
Clopidogrel may decrease the Tamiflu efficacy because of competitive liver metabolizing and thus decrease the conversion of oseltamivir to the active metabolite.

Stop taking Tamiflu and get emergency medical help if any of these signs of an allergic reaction occur: hives, difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat, a red and blistering rash or peeling skin rash.

Common reactions: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, headache, epistaxis, ear disorder.


2009 © Copyright. All Rights Reserved.