Posted on 11/12/2009 4:23:44 PM PST by Daffynition
G.'s young son was recently ill with H1N1, but no pharmacy in the city where he lives had liquid Tamiflu in stock. (Even the federal government released its stockpile not long ago.) He writes that nearly every pharmacy he called turned him down. Then he learned that the liquid can be made from Tamiflu capsules by pharmacists, or even by parents at home. Why didn't the pharmacy staff, or his doctor, tell him this?
He writes:
When his H1N1-induced fever spiked at 104, I brought my 16-month-old son to the pediatrician, who promptly prescribed Tamiflu.
When I arrived at CVS, I was told that they were out of stock of the liquid form and none would be available until late the next day. Further, I was told that none of the other CVS branches had any liquid Tamiflu. I called around and, sure enough, no pharmacy in the area had any liquid Tamiflu.
Knowing that Tamiflu needs to be taken promptly, I panicked and called my sister-in-law, who is a doctor in another city. She told me that although the liquid can be out of stock, pharmacists can make liquid Tamiflu from Tamiflu capsules.
I returned to CVS, asked the pharmacist if this could be done. I was told that it would take a half-hour. I am furious that he did not volunteer this information the first time around.
Parents, do not take "no" for an answer. Especially for at-risk children like mine, insist that the liquid be made promptly.
If you're not able to find a pharmacy equipped to make the liquid for you, the CDC has posted instructions for parents on how to make their own liquid Tamiflu out of the adult capsules.
Opening and Mixing Tamiflu® Capsules with Liquids if Child Cannot Swallow Capsules [CDC]
D.I.Y. Tamiflu for Kids: Pharmacists Cope With Shortage [ABC News]
You have a very valid point.
Purrfect!
I read the links. So much blah blah about shortage of the liquid form and pharmacists unable to get adequate supplies of the liquid they would use to liquify a pill.
But the CDC article, near the end under the topic “what if my child can’t swallow pills” gave simple directions: dump a capsule into a tablespoon of chocolate syrup, mix, and have the patient drink all of it.
So in reality the shortage of liquid Tamiflu is not a problem at all except for those unable to dump a capsule into chocolate syrup and mix. Maybe our citizens can’t be trusted with such a complicated recipe.
Why do they need the liquid form?
For kids or those who can’t swallow a pill.
the liquid can be made from Tamiflu capsules by pharmacists, or even by parents at home... If you're not able to find a pharmacy equipped to make the liquid for you, the CDC has posted instructions for parents on how to make their own liquid Tamiflu out of the adult capsules.Thanks Daffynition.
Korea Crud. Nasty green phlegm and congestion. Last for 48 hours typically.
Can be cured or controlled by Soju and Kimchi.
The other kink in this seems to be that if the pharm turns the pill into a liquid for you, your insurance [if you have it] doesn’t pay.
I would think that figuring out the ml for a child would be tricky. An adult, I wouldn’t care.
thanks, bfl
“figuring out the ml for a child would be tricky”
There’s a child-size Tamiflu for what that’s worth.
All of the pharmacies around here will compound Tamiflu from 75mg capsules. The commercial suspension (out of stock everywhere) is 12mg/ml, and the compounded version is 15mg/ml. Also, it seems that all of the lower strength capsules are out of stock as well; 75 mg is all that’s available.
I fear that Tamiflu will be depleted before Seasonal Flu starts in January....
Tamiflu is not without side effects.
Besides, people who get antibiotics that are PRESCRIBED many times don’t take them correctly. If Tamiflu went OTC, it will take an even shorter time for the flu viruses to become resistant....
But the CDC article, near the end under the topic what if my child cant swallow pills gave simple directions: dump a capsule into a tablespoon of chocolate syrup, mix, and have the patient drink all of it.
CDC links are provided with the article.
Duh, didn’t even think of that.
Actually, Tamiflu is derived from the Chinese star anise pod.
Hey, I saw that during the bird flu scare too! LOL!
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