Tamiflu – Winter might be the holiday and beautiful season to enjoy, but it also comes with several viruses and diseases. The United States has already recorded the highest cases of flu infection in the last few decades, and health experts believe that it can touch the old-time high.
Most health experts in the country, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, were expecting a sharp rise in the cases of flu as people have dropped all guidelines associated with COVID protocol. The only good thing about flu infection is that There are some medications you can use to treat and prevent the flu.
Tamiflu is one of those medicines that are once again getting popular in the country. If you are also worried about flu infection, then you are at the right place, as we will help you understand everything about the Tamiflu drug.
What is a Tamiflu Drug?
Tamiflu is among the most popular oral medicines used to treat and prevent symptoms of flu infection. Similar to other flu medicine, Tamiflu is also known to lower the intensity and recovery time of flu symptoms, including stuffy nose, cough, fever, chills, aches, tiredness, and sore throat.
Health experts may also use the Tamiflu drug to prevent the infection of flu in the first place. Usually, this medicine is recommended for people who already have someone exposed to the virus in their household.
As the community outbreak of flu is rising, health experts may start suggesting everyone consume it if they live in a community where the cases of flu are at their peak.
What is the Tamiflu Drug Dosage?
Unfortunately, the Tamiflu drug is not available as an over-the-counter medication, and you will have to consult it with your healthcare provider.
Your healthcare provider we’ll also use several things to Assess the dosage of the Tamiflu drug. Your healthcare provider will see whether you are going to use the Tamiflu drug as a preventative measure or the treatment of flu infection.
At the same time, your Age and previous medical conditions are also going to impact the dosage of the drug. Lastly, the form of the drug you are going to take can also impact the dosage.
Kindly do not increase or decrease the dosage without consulting with your healthcare provider. Tamiflu drug is also known to cause some side effects, and whenever you want to stop consuming it, you should let it know to your healthcare provider.
Health experts usually suggest 75MG of tablets by mouth twice for five days for everyone above the age of 13 who has been infected with the flu. You just have to make sure that you are visiting your healthcare provider as early as you start experiencing any symptoms associated with flu infection.
At the same time, healthcare experts might suggest everyone above 13 take 75MG dosage by mouth at least once a day to prevent the infection in the first place.
Pediatric Tamiflu Dosage
Similar to any other medicine in the world, Tamiflu is also known to have different dosages for kids. Most health experts in the world suggest Tamiflu for everyone above the age of 1 with a lower dose.
The timeline of treatment is going to be 5 days as adults, but the dosage is going to be much lower.
- Every Kid below the weight of 15 kg or 33 pounds should take around 30MG of dose twice by mouth.
- Every kid between the weight of 15 gigs or 33 pounds to 23 kg or 51 pounds should take a 45MG dose twice by mouth.
- Every kid between the weight of 23 kilograms or 51 pounds to 40 kilograms or 88 Pounds should take a 60MG dose twice by mouth.
- Every kid above the age of 40 should take 75 MG twice by mouth.
If your kid is between two weeks to less than a year, then healthcare experts might suggest you give three MG of Tamiflu per KG of body weight. For example, if your kid has a body weight of 10 kg, then you are supposed to give a 30MG dosage.
The whole timeline of treatment is going to be around 5 days, and you should consult with your healthcare provider as early as your kids start developing symptoms associated with the infection.
All about Dosage
Before we move ahead and talk about anything else related to Tamiflu, let’s take a look at small things about the dosage of Tamiflu.
If you are taking Tamiflu for the very first time, make sure you are not operating any heavy machinery or driving your vehicle. You must give them at least 24 hours to the medicine and see for any side effects.
At the same time, if you have missed any dose of Tamiflu, kindly take it as soon as you remember. You just make sure that you have a gap of two hours between two of your doses. If the time of your next dose is less than two hours, then you should skip the dose and take the next one on the schedule.
Overdosing with Tamiflu can trigger different and severe side effects.
Tamiflu Drug Side Effects
Similar to any other modern drug, Tamiflu is also known to cause some side effects, and everyone who is going to consume it should understand the probability.
Health experts categorize the side effects of Tamiflu in different categories depending on their severity.
Common Side Effects
As its name suggests, common side effects are way more common than any other category. Most people who are going to consume Tamiflu for prevention or treatment are going to experience it.
- Nausea
- Headache
- Body pain
- Vomiting
- Muscle pain
If you are experiencing any of the above-given symptoms after consuming Tamiflu, it means that you are experiencing common side effects, and they will go away within a few days.
You don’t have to take any extra medicine to lower the intensity of these symptoms. If you are among those people who are not able to bear their intensity, then you can consult with your healthcare provider anytime you want.
Severe Side Effects
Along with the probability of common side effects, severe side effects are also an integral part of the Tamiflu drug.
Severe side effects are rare, and if you are experiencing any of the below-given symptoms, then you should call your healthcare provider right away, or you can also call 911. Many of the severe side effects are known to cause life-threatening conditions, and you should never ignore them under any circumstances.
- People who are already allergic to any ingredients used in the drug are more vulnerable to developing symptoms associated with an allergic reaction after consuming the medicine.
- If you are allergic to anything, you should let it know to your healthcare provider as your healthcare provider might put you under observation once you have consumed the medicine.
- If you are experiencing any symptoms associated with an allergic reaction, such as swelling under the skin, swelling on lips, swelling on hands, swelling on feet, swelling on the tongue, and rash, you should call your healthcare provider right away.
- Allergic reactions are known to cause life-threatening conditions, and you should never ignore them under any circumstances.
Apart from allergic reactions, you might also experience hallucinations, as it has been recorded as among the most severe side effects of Tamiflu. We highly recommend everyone consult about these side effects with their healthcare and sport before consuming it.
Tamiflu Side Effects on Children
Kids are more vulnerable to developing side effects of Tamiflu. Several clinical studies have proved that Tamiflu is known to cause diarrhea in kids. Around 7% of kids are involved in short, sturdy symptoms such as diarrhea and other digestive issues after consuming the medicine.
Even though diarrhea is not a part of common side effects in adults, it is an integral part of common side effects in kids. If you or your kid is experiencing diarrhea and other digestive issues after taking Tamiflu, then you should make sure that you have enough fluids and stay hydrated.
Electrolytes are also known to provide good hydration, and you should never get a dry mouth under any circumstances while you are experiencing diarrhea.
Along with diarrhea, vomiting is also among the most common side effects of Tamiflu in kids. Around 9% of kids involved in Tamiflu studies showed symptoms associated with vomiting. Similar to diarrhea, vomiting is also known to cause dehydration, and you should be very careful.
Where can I buy a Tamiflu drug in the United States?
Tamiflu drug is not available as an over-the-counter medicine in the United States. Several drug manufacturers are working with the Food and Drug Administration of the United States to make over-the-counter medication, but we have not seen any success in that field yet. If you want to buy a Tamiflu drug, you will have to consult with your healthcare provider and get a prescription.