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FDA issues dosage alert for Tamiflu prescriptions

 
BY SUSAN SIMPSON    Comment on this article Leave a comment
Published: September 29, 2009

The Food and Drug Administration is asking doctors and pharmacists to be alert for dosing errors with the oral version of the antiviral drug Tamiflu.

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Doctors write prescriptions for liquid medicines in milliliters, while Tamiflu is dosed in milligrams. A dosing dispenser packaged with Tamiflu has markings only for milligrams.

Doctors and pharmacists are asked to make sure dosage instructions match the markings on dispensers. That means using milligrams if using the Tamiflu dispenser, or discarding the Tamiflu dispenser if using milliliter measurements.

The FDA says doctors should avoid prescribing oral Tamiflu in teaspoons because that also can lead to inaccurate dosing.

Tamiflu, and another prescription antiviral drug, Relenza, may make illness milder and prevent serious flu complications. However, public health officials caution that persons should not request that their physician prescribe these drugs to take as a precaution or keep at home "just in case.”

The drugs should only be prescribed for those with life-threatening complications from the flu. Otherwise, overuse could result in limited supplies for those who need it most. Overuse also could lead to flu viruses becoming resistant to the drugs, health officials said.

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Related Topics: Health and Fitness, Domestic Policy, Social Policy, Political Policy, Politics, Contagious and Infectious Diseases, Public Health Policy, Influenza, Government and Politics



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