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]
This one matters - might save a life! Thanks for the ping.
BTTT
“which in turn might help create strains of resistant flu viruses.”
That is already happening.
And not only that, but the Tamiflu is showing up in the water supply and rivers, so this will make the resistant flu strains develop even faster because of the exposure of birds to it.
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