Can you take Tamiflu for swine flu prophylaxis?

Answer 1

Tamiflu is an antiviral medication that is most effective when taken within 40 hours of the first symptoms to prevent a virus from reproducing. This prevention of the virus's reproduction is accomplished by inhibiting the action of a protein that would otherwise enable the release of new virus particles from the infected person's cells, in which they have developed. Tamiflu is most effective as a treatment, instead of for prophylaxis (prevention of infection).

It does not actually stop the virus from invading your cells in the first place. But it can make your symptoms less severe, and it will make the duration of the viral infection shorter. If started within one day, or under 40 hours at the latest, of the first symptoms, it may even make the symptoms very minor or negligible in some people. This treatment to reduce the severity of symptoms and their duration is the most common reason for prescription of the drug. It is one of the two antiviral drugs that are effective in the treatment of the "Novel" A-H1N1/09 strain of influenza.

It is approved also for use as a prophylactic for people over one year old, when there is known virus in a household or community. If the timing is just right to stop the release of the virus particles that are made from the first cells to be infected by the virus, it can help avoid any flu symptoms and control the reproduction of the virus so that only the minimum number of cells will be invaded. This is how it can be used as a prophylactic aid.

According to the indications and efficacy statements in the Tamiflu patient information,

"In a pooled analysis of two seasonal prophylaxis studies in healthy unvaccinated adults (aged 13 to 65 years), TAMIFLU 75 mg once daily taken for 42 days during a community outbreak reduced the incidence of laboratory-confirmed clinical influenza from 4.8% (25/519) for the placebo group to 1.2% (6/520) for the TAMIFLU group."

The typical incidence rate of A-H1N1/09 in communities where it has been tracked was around 6% without treatment.

Answer 2

There is no "cure" for any cold/flu virus. Over the counter treatments for the flu will help relieve the symptoms, but not fight the virus. Your pharmacist can advise you about the different symptom relief medications available. If you are infected with Swine Flu (or other types of flu) you may be given anti-virals like Tamiflu. These can support the body's defenses in fighting the diseases but do not kill the virus itself. They only work well if taken within 40 to 48 hours of symptoms appearing.

Answer 3

Update, there is now a vaccine against A-H1N1/09 swine flu and it has been available since the 2009 flu season. For each flu season since then, the vaccine for H1N1/09 has been a part of the seasonal flu vaccine. If everyone got their flu vaccinations, that would be the only preventive medicine needed. See below for more information about Fluvir/Tamiflu (Oseltamavir) antiviral medicines.

Fluvir is the brand name of one manufacturer's generic oseltamavir, a prescription antiviral medication. The brand name of the original oseltamavir is Tamiflu, the same drug from a different manufacturer.

Antiviral medications do not prevent infection, but they can be very effective at decreasing the severity of the symptoms when the flu is caught, and shortening the time period for the body to get rid of the virus.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) information says that the swine flu can be treated, if caught very early, with two of the anti-viral medications: oseltamivir (Tamiflu/Fluvir) and zanamivir (Relenza). Tamiflu is for treatment in adults and children aged 1 year and older, and must be taken within 48 hours of the first symptom to be most effective.

Talk to a health care professional to find out if it is an appropriate medication for the treatment of the person involved. (If the person is a child, ask about side effects that have been being seen in some children treated with Tamiflu.)

Answer 4

H1N1 can be prevented just as any other sickness.

Wash hands regularly, and try to keep away from people who are sick or who show potential symptoms of the virus. Below are a few signs that could indicate swine flu:

-Fatigue

-Headache

-Coughing or shortness of breath

-Muscle Aches

-Loss of appetite

-Vomiting

-Runny nose

-Sore throat

Of course, you can also get vaccinated against the virus at just about any local doctor's office, but it's good to note that just like other flu vaccinations, there can be, although quite rare, side effects.

So just keep in mind to stay sanitized, keep a distance away from people with the virus or the areas in which they've been around, and get vaccinated if you feel it is the right decision for you.