Tamaflu

Self

[Will88]

I think they are only giving it to high risk patients now.

Yes, I do think it's being sort of rationed until they know how much they'll need in the colder months when the most people are normally infected with flu viruses. They have a big supply, but maybe not for a serious pandemic in the normal heavy flu months.

[Captain Peter Blood]

Tamiflu is only effective within the first 48 to 72 hours of flu.

[steve86]

I believe that "seasonal H1N1" is an oxymoron and a very poor choice of words. Why the CDC would be using this terminology evades me. H1N1 is obviously not seasonal in its expression.

At any rate, poor writers at government agencies aside, oseltamivir resistance in H1N1 is, so far, rare.

[al_c]

“As for Tamiflu, here’s what Wiki says (yes I’m aware that Wiki is on the FR “trash it” list) According to the CDC, Tamiflu is not very effective in currently circulating seasonal H1N1 virus anymore due to acquired resistance in 99.6% of all seasonal H1N1 strains, up from 12% in 2007-2008 flu season.[25]”

Not sure if I believe that. A coworker’s son got H1N1, got on Tamiflu and got better almost immediately. H1N1 supposedly lasts for 3 to 5 days, he was well in less than 3.

On another note, my family just endured flu-like symptoms but when one child tested negative for ANY kind of flu twice and my younger one once, looks like we didn’t have a flu, but something very similar.

There are plenty of viruses going around ... H1N1, seasonal flu (yes, it has started already), and other lovely things.

But regarding the original topic? Sounds fishy to me.

[dangerdoc]

Tamiflu is being stockpiled, this started before H1N1 back when the avian flu was the major concern. This has made the medicine a little scarce in the pharmacies. It is still protected under patent law, I’m sure that the patent holders would be very interested anyone selling generic versions of their medicine.

As far as testing for H1N1, it is not a generally available lab test. In our state, only the state lab was doing the testing and they stopped when the flu was verified to be widespread.

[Trust but Verify]

I attribute my amazing good health to the fact I drink a LOT of tea. Seriously, I never get so much as a head cold.

[DvdMom]

Some thoughts on Tamiflu -

The research that suggests that Tamiflu is not effective and does not do much for flu, is based on *seasonal flu* studies, not pandemic flu. For H1N1 and H5N1, my understanding is that Tamiflu actually reduces the viral load, which allows your immune system to fight off the virus and secondary infections.

Below are some studies regarding the efficiacy of Tamiflu with H1N1 (and one on H5N1). I believe, personally, the reason that the CDC has told doctors not to rx Tamiflu, is because there is not enough.

Here are the studies:

New England Journal of Medicine, published Oct 12 - The studies were conducted between early March and late August in Canada, Mexico and Australia and New Zealand.

Many patients in all three regions were also given the flu medication oseltamivir phosphate (Tamiflu), with apparent benefit. In the Mexican analysis, critically ill patients who survived were seven times more likely to have received the drug than those who died. http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2009/10/13/swine-flu-virus.html

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Tamiflu Cuts H1N1 Swine Flu Deaths In Half Vs. No Intervention

Treating the H1N1 novel influenza A Virus or Swine Flu using generic tamiflu and for chemoprophylaxis for those people in contact with infected patients is a most economical tactic for thwarting illness and fatalities in a pandemic of influenza. Research conducted by a Canadian University stated that utilizing supplies of generic tamiflu in enough quantities to treat sixty five percent of a population can potentially slash fatalities by fifty percent. http://www.oseltamivir2.com/tamiflu-deaths/

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Reports of Increased Survival in Bird Flu Patients Taking Tamiflu
BourSonews

3 mars 2008 (PARIS)

BASEL, Switzerland, March 3 /PRNewswire/ — Physicians from countries worst-affected by the deadly bird flu (H5N1 influenza virus) have reported an increased survival rate in patients treated with the oral antiviral Tamiflu (oseltamivir). These data reinforce the World Health Organization (WHO) advisory that Tamiflu is the only antiviral strongly recommended for the treatment of humans infected with the H5N1 virus. The physicians’ report was revealed this week at the International Symposium on Respiratory Viral Infections (ISRVI) in Singapore.(1) http://www.boursonews.com/increased_survival_118493_news-bourse.html

[FrdmLvr]

You sound like me. I’m a conservative health nut.

[JEANCERCE]

I have just had the same experience. My son was given the prescription for tamiflu today from our doctor. When I went to the pharmacy to fill it I was told it was not covered under my insurance prescription plan. I asked the pharmacy for a reason and said that is all he knew. I have never been declined for any prescription in all the years I have had this plan.

A neighbor of mine who's son was diagnosied with the swine flu yesterday was given the same prescription and when she went to get it filled she was denied as well. We have 2 different insurance plans, but have had similar situations. I plan on calling my insurance company and getting a full explanation.

If the CDC and all the other government agencies do not want this to spread quicker then it is why are the insurance companies allowed to do this. There are alot of people who cannot afford the cost of the med’s and do not qualify for Medicaid. I do not agree at all with Obamas insurance bill it will make this problem much worse and not benefit anyone other then who are already receiving health care under the Medicaid program. This is a matter that needs to be looked into.