Has anyone taken Tamiflu? (prescription, symptom, expensive, death)

[Briolat21]

There are "fast" tests which can only tell the type of flu (type A or not type A) - and then there are the real tests. The real tests take longer. Most people run the fast test because the only type A flu that is in circulation right now is H1N1. Your doctor may be more thorough though.

My husband came down with fever (103) last Tuesday. He went to the doctor first thing Wednesday and was prescribed and started taking Tamiflu on Wednesday. His fever was better the next few days, and by Sunday gone and he was back to work on Monday.

In general, if taken immediately - tamiflu cuts the duration of the illness nearly in half. He had no side effects, though I'm sure Tamiflu has some as all medicines do.

For us - Tamiflu was great. If I do come down with symptoms (so far I have none) I will be Tamiflu-ing myself.

[azriverfan.]

It will vary with every individual. When I've taken it, I've gotten a queasy nauseous feeling but it only lasts for about 1 hour. For that hour, it was uncomfortable but I knew that feeling would go away and it did 1-2 hours later. I've taken it many times in the past and it was highly effective with me.

[HIF]

Originally Posted by andthentherewere3

My Dr. wants me to take Tamiflu for the swine flu, I've had all the symptoms for almost 48 hours. The test results for my swine flu swab won't be back until Monday, but to be fully effective, I'd need to start Tamiflu right away. But I've heard TERRIBLE things about Tamiflu, like vomiting, hallucinations, etc. Has anyone here taken Tamiflu, and how did it effect you?

My GD (13) took it orally when she developed symptoms a couple of weeks ago and no problem.

[azriverfan.]

All of you have heard of antibiotics. Antibiotics don't work on viruses since they are different organisms. They tried to create a medication that would eradicate viruses in a similar manner. It's almost impossible to directly kill viruses so they did the next best thing. They created a drug that attacks the reproductive ability of viruses to replicate. It's this replication that hurts us because viruses reproduce quickly and that overwhelms our bodies.

Tamiflu works by destroying the reproductive parts of the virus so it can't reproduce as quickly. This causes the viral load in our body to be low and thus enable our bodies to better fight the virus and not get overwhelmed.

This is also why you have to take it in the first 48 hours. Think about it. If you take it late, then the virus has already replicated enough and your body is already overwhelmed. If you take it early, you can "nip it in the bud" so to speak

[ajzjmsmom]

Originally Posted by Briolat21

There are "fast" tests which can only tell the type of flu (type A or not type A) - and then there are the real tests. The real tests take longer. Most people run the fast test because the only type A flu that is in circulation right now is H1N1. Your doctor may be more thorough though.

My husband came down with fever (103) last Tuesday. He went to the doctor first thing Wednesday and was prescribed and started taking Tamiflu on Wednesday. His fever was better the next few days, and by Sunday gone and he was back to work on Monday.

In general, if taken immediately - tamiflu cuts the duration of the illness nearly in half. He had no side effects, though I'm sure Tamiflu has some as all medicines do.

For us - Tamiflu was great. If I do come down with symptoms (so far I have none) I will be Tamiflu-ing myself.

It is strange that you say this, I have 4 different friends in 4 different states whose kids have gotten sick, and all of their kids had the seasonal flu, none of them tested positive for H1N1. I think I even saw an article where some medical professionals were saying that not all the flu cases are H1N1. It is really hard to know who to believe with all the different reports circulating.

[azriverfan.]

With regard to Type A vs Type B. In the past, regular flu could be either type A or type B. They had medicines in the past that would affect the type A virus such as Amantadine. The obvious limitation was that Amantadine affected only Type A Flu. Many "regular" flu is Type B. Tamiflu attacks both Type A and Type B flu. So when a person has regular flu, the first drug they prescribe is Tamiflu. The H1N1 virus is a Type A virus so Tamiflu works well against it. The reason it is prescribed is because we won't know immediately what type of Flu you have and immediate treatment is required hence the reason we give Tamiflu regardless if you have "regular" Flu or swine Flu. It will take care of both.

[azriverfan.]

People need to be less preoccupied with what type of flu they have. People don't realize that regular flu kills people as well. The flu pandemic in the early 20th century in the United States was a "regular" flu. If you have flu symptoms, your best defense is knowledge and vigilance. Do the right things.
1. Take Tamiflu
2. Keep hydrated
3. Get Sleep
4. Eat healthy
5. monitor your temperature. Buy a quality electronic thermometer. If your temp exceeds 102 F (NOT 100.2), I would definitely go to the emergency room especially if you have been drinking fluids responsibly. Also, don't drink pure water. Don't drink pure gatorade either. Buy a gallon of gatorade and drink a glass half gatorade and half water throughout the day. The reason is you want to keep hydrated but you want to make sure your electrolytes(salt, potassium and chloride levels) are balanced. Pure water can dilute those levels and pure gatorade has too much sugar and can make your dehydrated status worse and possibly raise your electrolytes to higher than normal. Balance is the key!

I'm a physician so hopefully this advice can help

[Cupcake77]

Originally Posted by Briolat21

There are "fast" tests which can only tell the type of flu (type A or not type A) - and then there are the real tests. The real tests take longer. Most people run the fast test because the only type A flu that is in circulation right now is H1N1. .

Influenza A was going around this summer and that's not the h1n1, because that's what I had early June. I was tested at the hospital. they said it was not H1n1

[azriverfan.]

Originally Posted by Cupcake77

Influenza A was going around this summer and that's not the h1n1, because that's what I had early June. I was tested at the hospital. they said it was not H1n1

Exactly, regular flu also has a type A strain. H1N1 is also a type A strain but is different than Type A influenza strain that commonly causes the flu. Either way, the treatment for both is the same.

And as I said earlier, be less preoccupied by with the type of flu you have and pay attention to your particular set of symptoms because regular influenzae can kill as well and many elderly people die from it each year. People are not aware of this fact. And many who die from swine flu or "regular" flu are often immunocompromised (elderly, infants, HIV, on chronic steroids) or are sufferring from other comorbidities (Congestive Heart failure, Chronic kidney failure-dialysis etc). Yes, even young and healthy people can suffer from a particular strain that can make them acutely and severely ill but that is rare.

[BioAdoptMom3]

I am wondering if anyone else there though has had a problem with their insurance covering this drug? A friend of mine just had it prescribed for her H1N1 and it costs a little over $100 for 14 doses. We both work for the school system and have the same insurance. I am wondering if others are finding the same to be true, or if it is covered for you?

Nancy