TamiFlu & Relenza
If you're healthy, Tamiflu probably won't help you - Julia Belluz
image by: Tony Hisgett
HWN Recommends
If you're healthy, Tamiflu probably won't help you
I had been reporting on the Tamiflu controversy for several years when the question of whether to take the drug became personal.
For those who haven’t been nerding out on this fascinating scientific saga, the short summary is this: Tamiflu, a pill, is one of two first-line drugs approved to both prevent and treat influenza. (The other is an inhaler, Relenza.) About a decade ago, these flu medicines came under attack, as researchers began to dig into the evidence behind them and reveal holes, inconsistencies, and missing data. The antivirals, they argued, didn’t seem to be as effective as health officials around the world (and the manufacturers)…
Resources
Current recommendations
Antiviral treatment is recommended as soon as possible for any patient with suspected or confirmed influenza who: is hospitalized; has severe, complicated, or progressive illness; or is at higher risk for influenza complications.
Tamiflu and Relenza: getting the full evidence picture
The review confirms small benefits on symptom relief, namely shortening duration of symptoms by half a day on average. However, there is little evidence to support any belief that use of NIs reduces hospital admission or the risk of developing confirmed pneumonia. The evidence also suggests that there are insufficient grounds to support the use of NIs in preventing the person-to-person spread of influenza.
Tamiflu as a treatment for influenza
In April 2014, the Cochrane review on neuraminidase inhibitors was published alongside BMJ summary reviews. The review found that while Oseltamivir and zanamivir have small, non‐specific effects on reducing the time to alleviation of influenza symptoms, oseltamivir increases the risk of adverse effects, such as nausea, vomiting, psychiatric effects and renal events in adults and vomiting in children, and both drugs do not reduce the important outcomes such as pneumonia and hospitalisations.
What the Tamiflu saga tells us about drug trials and big pharma
We now know the government's Tamiflu stockpile wouldn't have done us much good in the event of a flu epidemic. But the secrecy surrounding clinical trials means there's a lot we don't know about other medicines we take.
Effectiveness of Tamiflu and Relenza questioned
Most experts would agree that the modest benefits of Tamiflu and Relenza, as reported by the review, do not justify the increased adverse risks, let alone the money spent on them by the UK.
Big Pharma Plays Hide-the-Ball With Data
What Cochrane uncovered was more than 70 Tamiflu trials and well over 100,000 pages of unpublished reports. Among them were many trials where the results were negative or inconclusive.
Should you take an antiviral drug when you get the flu?
You might be a candidate for an antiviral if you have a positive lab test for influenza and if you are at a higher risk for flu complications because you are age 65 or older; you have a chronic illness such as heart, lung, or kidney disease; or you have a compromised immune system.
Tamiflu helps, newest study in long-running debate says
Others suggest that the new report doesn’t change much about our understanding of Tamiflu, though they praise Roche for supporting it and agree with its finding that the drug reduces hospitalizations.
Tamiflu Made My Kid Hallucinate. I Think the Flu is Preferable to Delirium
It turns out that hallucinations, odd behavior and nightmares aren’t unusual for kids taking Tamiflu. “Reports of neuropsychiatric adverse events were the category most frequently reported in pediatric patients,” wrote FDA spokeswoman Stephanie Yao in an email.
Tamiflu: Millions wasted on flu drug, claims major report
Hundreds of millions of pounds may have been wasted on a drug for flu that works no better than paracetamol, a landmark analysis has said.
Tamiflu: Myth and Misconception
In its ads to physicians, the company claimed that Tamiflu cuts hospital admissions by 61 percent and reduces complications such as bronchitis, pneumonia, and sinusitis by 67 percent. In at least one press release, the company even claimed that the drug reduces flu deaths. The drug does none of the above.
The Tamiflu Spin
The specific complaint at issue is whether or not oseltamivir prevents secondary complications of influenza like hospitalization and pneumonia. Although you wouldn’t guess that was at issue from the reporting.
The Top 4 Flu Treatments That Do Not Work (And 2 That Do)
Flu season is upon us, and your local pharmacy may feature special displays with products claiming to cure or treat the flu (which is caused by the influenza virus). The array of products, and the claims featured on their packaging, can be bewildering. Which of them should you buy? Here is a quick guide. (Spoiler: if you want to know what really works, skip to the end.)
To Tamiflu or Not to Tamiflu?
If you have the flu, there are several prescription medications available including: oral oseltamivir (Tamiflu), inhaled zanamivir (Relenza), or the intravenous drug peramivir (Rapivab). However, studies show that these medications only help you recover one day faster from the flu. Rather than going to the doctor’s office to get examined and get a prescription, you might prefer to stay home and rest and drink plenty of fluids. Over the counter (OTC) medications don’t cure the flu but they can help you feel better by treating symptoms such as aches, coughs, and sore throats.
What the Tamiflu saga tells us about drug trials and big pharma
We now know the government's Tamiflu stockpile wouldn't have done us much good in the event of a flu epidemic. But the secrecy surrounding clinical trials means there's a lot we don't know about other medicines we take.
You Asked: Can Tamiflu prevent the flu?
Tamiflu is not without its drawbacks, but it may be the difference between a relatively mild illness and a trip to the hospital for some
'Tamiflu Is No Better Than Tylenol'
Analysis of clinical trial data released by the manufacturers, Roche and GlaxoSmithKline, after a five year battle to keep them secret, reveal that it cuts the duration of flu symptoms by just a single day. The analysis by the Cochrane Acute Respiratory Infections Group, led by Dr Tom Jefferson, also warned that oseltamivir, the active ingredient in both medicines, causes nausea and vomiting and increases the risk of headaches and renal and psychiatric syndromes.
Does Tamiflu work and what are the side effects?
As an individual and as a member of a human herd, I will continue to get yearly flu vaccines and nudge my dear ones to do the same. If I wake up feeling like I got hit by a truck and then nanobots have attacked my mucous membranes with sandpaper I will probably take one of the anti-flu drugs (but maybe zanamivir since it is cheaper and probably won’t make me jump off a balcony). These are decisions, though, that individual patients should make after being fully informed of both effectiveness and potential side effects.
Don't give Tamiflu or Relenza to under-12s, warn researchers
Government stresses 'safety first' approach for severe symptoms.
The Truth About Tamiflu
There are a couple of take-home messages here. One is pretty obvious: Tamiflu may not be doing much good for patients with the flu who take it, and it might be causing harm. The more important issue, however, involves the need for trust in science and medicine.
Armed With New Data, Researchers Again Challenge Effectiveness of Antiflu Drug
Tamiflu can make flu symptoms disappear a little sooner than they would otherwise, the authors say, but there is no evidence that it can prevent serious complications from flu, or keep people out of the hospital.
Controversies in medicine: the rise and fall of the challenge to Tamiflu
One of the biggest recent controversies in medicine involves the effectiveness – or otherwise – of the antiviral drug Tamiflu. Governments around the world have stockpiled the drug for use in severe influenza pandemics, but many have raised doubts about its effectiveness.
Hallucinations After Taking Tamiflu: How Much Is Real Versus Not Real?
The flu can be bad. But so is jumping out a window. According to a report from CBS 11 (KTVT) in North Texas, after taking Tamiflu for influenza, a 6 year-old girl began hallucinating, ran away from school, and tried to jump out a window. The girl's family from Allen, Texas, has requested to remain anonymous but indicated that they will be filing a report with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Neuraminidase inhibitors for influenza: a systematic review and meta- analysis of regulatory and mortality data
The balance between benefits and harms should be considered when making decisions about use of NIs for either prophylaxis or treatment of influenza.
Study Questions Tamiflu's Effectiveness Against Pandemics
Evidence from the trials reviewed showed Tamiflu and Relenza alleviated flulike symptoms in adults about half a day faster than in those taking a placebo. Using either drug as a preventative medicine also reduced the risk of developing symptomatic flu. But there was insufficient evidence that Tamiflu stopped people with the flu virus from spreading it; no evidence that Tamiflu reduced hospitalizations; and no evidence that either drug reduced complications like pneumonia, inflammation of the sinuses or middle-ear infections in adults, the report found.
Tamiflu and Relenza for treatment and prevention of influenza
The Cochrane Collaboration published an evidence review of Tamiflu (the antiviral drug oseltamivir) and Relenza (zanamivir) trials, reporting that Tamiflu shortens symptoms of influenza but other claims made for the drugs were not well supported by evidence from clinical study reports.
Tamiflu For All? Evidence Of Morbidity In CDC’s Antiviral Guidelines
While CDC states that oseltamivir can prevent serious complications and even death, by contrast, potential harms are not consistently highlighted alongside promotions of the drug...
If you're healthy, Tamiflu probably won't help you
For those who haven’t been nerding out on this fascinating scientific saga, the short summary is this: Tamiflu, a pill, is one of two first-line drugs approved to both prevent and treat influenza. (The other is an inhaler, Relenza.) About a decade ago, these flu medicines came under attack, as researchers began to dig into the evidence behind them and reveal holes, inconsistencies, and missing data. The antivirals, they argued, didn’t seem to be as effective as health officials around the world (and the manufacturers) had claimed, and Tamiflu became the poster-child for the open data movement in medicine.
TamiFlu (Oseltamivir)
f you're experiencing fever, aches, chills and tiredness, you may have the flu. Don't wait for things to get worse. Ask your doctor about Tamiflu.
Relenza
Patients with influenza, particularly pediatric patients, may be at an increased risk of seizures, confusion, or abnormal behavior early in their illness. Monitor for signs of abnormal behavior.
MedlinePlus
You should know that people, especially children and teenagers, who have the flu may become confused, agitated, or anxious, and may behave strangely, have seizures or hallucinate (see things or hear voices that do not exist), or harm or kill themselves. You or your child may develop these symptoms whether or not you or your child uses oseltamivir, and the symptoms may begin shortly after starting treatment if you do use the medication.
Patient
Oseltamivir treats influenza (flu) by preventing the viruses causing the infection from spreading once they are inside your body. This reduces the symptoms of the influenza infection. It also reduces the risk of other problems which can sometimes occur alongside flu, such as pneumonia. It is most effective when it is started within an hour or two of the first symptoms of infection, but it can still be effective after this time, as long as it is started within 48 hours.
Introducing Stitches!
Your Path to Meaningful Connections in the World of Health and Medicine
Connect, Collaborate, and Engage!
Coming Soon - Stitches, the innovative chat app from the creators of HWN. Join meaningful conversations on health and medical topics. Share text, images, and videos seamlessly. Connect directly within HWN's topic pages and articles.