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Tamiflu Information Tamiflu Information

TAMIFLU

Oseltamivir capsule 75mg

What TAMIFLU is used for?

TAMIFLU contains the active ingredient oseltamivir.

TAMIFLU is used to treat the flu (an infection caused by the influenza virus).

TAMIFLU belongs to a group of medicines called neuraminidase inhibitors. These medicines attack the influenza virus and prevent it from spreading inside your body and to other people.

Taking TAMIFLU means that you feel better faster because TAMIFLU treats the cause of flu at its source, rather than simply reducing the symptoms.

You will also be less likely to develop complications of flu, such as bronchitis, pneumonia and sinusitis.

Typical symptoms of flu include fever, headache, muscle weakness, sore throat, cough and generally feeling unwell.

Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why TAMIFLU has been prescribed for you.

TAMIFLU is not addictive.

This medicine is available only with a doctor's prescription.

Before you take TAMIFLU

When you must not take it

Do not take TAMIFLU if:

you have had an allergic reaction to TAMIFLU or any ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet
the package is torn or shows signs of tampering
the expiry date printed on the pack has passed.
If you take this medicine after the expiry date has passed, it may not work as well.

If you are not sure if you should be taking TAMIFLU, talk to your doctor.

Use in children

Do not give TAMIFLU to children under 12 years.

Safety and effectiveness in children under the age of 12 years have not been established.

Before you start to take it

Tell your doctor if:

you are over 65 years of age
There is limited data for TAMIFLU in people over 65 years of age. If you are over this age your doctor may decide not to prescribe TAMIFLU.
you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant
It is not known whether TAMIFLU is harmful to an unborn baby when taken by a pregnant woman. If there is a need to take TAMIFLU when you are pregnant your doctor will discuss the risks and benefits to you and the unborn baby.
you are breast-feeding or plan to breast-feed
It is not known whether TAMIFLU passes into breast milk. Your doctor will discuss the risks and benefits of using TAMIFLU if you are breast-feeding.
you have any other health problems, especially any of the following:
- kidney disease
- chronic heart disease
- lung disease
  Your doctor may decide not to prescribe TAMIFLU.
you are allergic to any other medicines, foods, dyes or preservatives.

If you have not told your doctor about any of the above, tell your doctor before you start taking TAMIFLU.

Taking other medicines

TAMIFLU is not a substitute for a flu vaccination. You should continue receiving an annual flu vaccination according to guidelines on immunization practices that your doctor can discuss with you.

Tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines, including any that you have bought from a pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.

These medicines may be affected by TAMIFLU, or may affect how well it works. You may need to use different amounts of your medicine, or you may need to take different medicines. Your doctor will advise you.

Your doctor or pharmacist has more information on medicines to be careful with or avoid while taking TAMIFLU.

It is safe to take paracetamol and cough medicines with TAMIFLU.

How to take TAMIFLU

Follow all directions given to you by your doctor or pharmacist carefully.

They may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.

Start taking TAMIFLU as soon as possible after you have been diagnosed with the flu. The earlier you start treatment with TAMIFLU, the shorter will be the duration of your flu.

How much to take

Take TAMIFLU exactly as your doctor has prescribed.

The usual dose is one TAMIFLU capsule twice a day.

How to take it

Swallow capsules whole with a glass of water with or without food.

It does not matter whether you take TAMIFLU with food or not. However, if TAMIFLU upsets your stomach, it is better to take TAMIFLU with food.

Do not break or chew the capsules before swallowing.

When to take it

Take one TAMIFLU capsule in the morning and one TAMIFLU capsule in the evening

Taking your medicine at the same time each day will help you remember when to take the capsules.

How long to take it

Continue taking TAMIFLU until your doctor tells you to stop or your course of treatment is complete.

The usual length of treatment is five days.

If you forget to take it

If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take your next dose when you are meant to.

Otherwise, take it as soon as you remember and then go back to taking it as you would normally.

If you are not sure what to do, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

If you have trouble remembering your dose, ask your pharmacist for some hints.

In case of an overdose

At present there has been no experience with overdose of TAMIFLU. If you or anyone else may have taken more than the recommended dose of TAMIFLU, immediately telephone your doctor or National Poisons Information Centre (telephone (03) 474 7000), or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.

We would anticipate that an overdose of TAMIFLU could cause similar side effects to those that have been reported following recommended doses (see side effects section).

Keep telephone numbers for these places handy.

If you are not sure what to do, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

While you are taking TAMIFLU

Things you must do

Tell your doctor if you have kidney failure or impairment or any other problems with your kidneys.

Tell all doctors, dentists and pharmacists who are treating you that you are taking TAMIFLU.

Tell your doctor if you become pregnant while taking TAMIFLU.

Tell your doctor if, for any reason, you have not taken your medicine exactly as prescribed.

Otherwise, your doctor may think that it was not effective and change your treatment unnecessarily.

Tell your doctor if you feel the capsules are not helping your condition. Be sure to keep all of your appointments with your doctor so that your progress can be checked.

Things you must not do

Do not stop taking TAMIFLU or change the dose without first checking with your doctor.

Do not let yourself run out of medicine over the weekend or on holidays.

Do not give TAMIFLU to anyone else even if they have the same condition as you.

Do not use TAMIFLU to treat other complaints unless your doctor says to.

Do not take any other medicines, whether they require a prescription or not, without first telling your doctor or a pharmacist that you are taking TAMIFLU.

Things to be careful of

Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how TAMIFLU affects you.

However, TAMIFLU is not expected to affect your ability to drive a car or operate machinery.

Side effects

Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are taking TAMIFLU.

TAMIFLU helps most people with the flu but it may have unwanted side effects in a few people.

All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You may need medical treatment if you get some of the side effects.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.

Tell your doctor if you notice any of the following and they worry you:

nausea (feeling like vomiting)
vomiting
stomach ache

These are the more common side effects of TAMIFLU. Mostly these are mild.

Taking TAMIFLU with food may reduce the potential for some or all of these side effects.

This is not a complete list of all possible side effects. Others may occur in some people and there may be some side effects not yet known.

Tell your doctor if you notice anything else that is making you feel unwell, even if it is not on this list.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you don't understand anything in this list.

Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects. You may not experience any of them.

After taking TAMIFLU

Storage

Keep your capsules in the blister pack until it is time to take them.

If you take the capsules out of the blister pack they may not keep well.

Keep TAMIFLU in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 30°C.

Do not store it, or any other medicine, in a bathroom or near a sink.

Do not leave it in the car or on window sills.

Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.

Keep TAMIFLU where young children cannot reach it.

A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.

Disposal

If your doctor tells you to stop taking TAMIFLU, or the capsules have passed their expiry date, ask your pharmacist what to do with any capsules that are left over.