Tamiflu®: Not for Everyone?

 

The World Health Organisation has now stated that the use of Tamiflu® is inappropriate in healthy individuals with uncomplicated flu symptoms. An international panel of experts came to the conclusion that the H1N1 virus (swine flu) is at most a mild illness, and like seasonal flu, it does not require the use of antivirals in healthy individuals.

 

The UK government has not officially changed its position of making the drug less easily available, however. From a clinical prospective, some of my colleagues and I have been reluctant to prescribe any antivirals. Instead, we have been recommending  that our patients use supportive measurements, like encouraging rest, plenty of fluids and regular medication, such as Paracetamol, to help keep temperatures down and alleviate aches and pain.

 

 

Except for the usual flu like symptoms like aches, fever, runny nose, cough, diarrhoea and vomiting, the following symptoms would merit urgent consultation with your doctor:

 

If you have flu symptoms but are still worried, speak to your doctor first and discuss your symptoms. If your doctor feels that it is appropriate to prescribe an antiviral, that is fine. However, getting antivirals without prescription may not only be unnecessary, but you might expose yourself to side effects for no reason. Another thing to bear in mind is that inappropriate wide spread use of antivirals may lead to resistance to drugs like Tamiflu®, rending them potentially less effective if and when there really needed.