Do you take oseltamivir as a "magic flu drug" when you have a fever? You should understand this before taking it →

Speaking of Oseltamivir

I believe everyone is familiar with

It was once known as the " miracle flu drug "

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So

More than 48 hours have passed since the influenza diagnosis

Is Oseltamivir still effective?

The doll is too small

What should I do if I vomit after taking oseltamivir?

Do I need to take the meal again after vomiting?

Do you still have many questions about Oseltamivir ? Come and copy the answers——

Don't panic! You need to first understand the difference between flu and cold :

The full name of flu is influenza , which refers to an acute respiratory infectious disease caused by influenza virus.

The viruses that cause human influenza are mainly influenza A and B viruses.

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The cold is not a formal medical term. In the medical field, we call it upper respiratory tract infection, which is mainly caused by infections such as rhinovirus and respiratory syncytial virus.

Here comes the point! Oseltamivir is only effective against influenza A and B viruses , and has no therapeutic effect on bacteria, fungi, rhinovirus, respiratory syncytial virus, new coronavirus, etc.

Therefore, we can only use oseltamivir when it is clear that the infection is caused by influenza A or influenza B virus .

Although China has not approved the use of oseltamivir for children under one year old, the "Influenza Diagnosis and Treatment Program (2020 Edition)" jointly issued by the National Health Commission and the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine also gives the dosage of oseltamivir for treatment in children under one year old, indicating that oseltamivir can be used for children under one year old .

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However, it should be noted that oseltamivir is a prescription drug and can only be purchased and used after examination and diagnosis of influenza A or B infection and a prescription from a doctor .

If we compare viruses to the "enemies" of our body, then their number is limited when they first invade our body, but in order to "win", the viruses will use the nutrients in our body to gradually expand their team.

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That is, if oseltamivir is taken within 48 hours, the number of “enemies” that oseltamivir faces is small;

If taken after 48 hours, the number of "enemies" will increase, making it more difficult for oseltamivir to "fight", which will affect the outcome of the "battle".

Studies have shown that administration within 48 hours can shorten the course of diagnosis and treatment, reduce mortality and complications ;

If the drug is given beyond 48 hours, it will not shorten the course of the disease, but it will have a therapeutic effect and can benefit critically ill patients .

Therefore, even if the course of the disease exceeds 48 hours, if the test results and the doctor's judgment recommend the use of oseltamivir, drug treatment is still effective .

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In addition, starting preventive treatment within 48 hours after close contact with an influenza patient can help prevent influenza.

Preventive medication cannot replace vaccination!

Flu vaccination is the most effective way to prevent influenza and can reduce the risk of contracting influenza and developing serious complications.

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The following groups of people are recommended to receive influenza vaccination every year:

● Elderly people aged 60 and above

● Children aged 6 months to 5 years

● Pregnant women

● Family members and caregivers of children under 6 months old

● Patients with chronic diseases

● Medical personnel and other key groups

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Common adverse reactions to oseltamivir are gastrointestinal reactions, such as vomiting and nausea.

Parents can have their children take the medicine with meals, or take the medicine after meals to reduce gastrointestinal reactions .

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If a child vomits after taking medicine, should he be fed again ?

This depends on the situation:

Capsules

If you take capsules, you need to take another dose after spitting out the capsule shell, otherwise you do not need to take it .

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Granules and dry suspensions

When taking oseltamivir granules and dry suspension: If you vomit within 15 minutes after taking it, you need to take another dose ;

If vomiting occurs within 15-30 minutes, take half the dose ;

If it exceeds 30 minutes, no make-up dose is needed .

Forgetting to take medication

If you forget to take your medicine, take it as soon as you realize it. However, if it is less than 2 hours before your next dose, you do not need to take it and can take the next dose directly.

While taking the medicine, you should pay attention to a balanced diet, ensure adequate sleep, and pay close attention to your physical and mental state .

If symptoms do not improve after taking the medicine, or if irritability, hallucinations, confusion or cognitive impairment occurs, you should go to the hospital for treatment in time .

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In conclusion

Oseltamivir is an effective drug for treating influenza

But it’s not a miracle drug

Overtreatment or prevention is not recommended

But if you are infected with the flu virus

Be sure to follow your doctor's orders

Sufficient amount for a full course of treatment

Statement: This article is a medical-related educational popular science article. It does not involve specific treatment methods or medical behaviors and cannot replace hospital visits.

Author

Experts who reviewed this article

References

[1] National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Diagnosis and Treatment Program for Influenza (2020 Edition)[J]. Infectious Disease Information, 2020, 33(05):385-390.

[2] Lv Jingjun, Zhao Guangju, Zhao Hongyu, et al. Expert consensus on diagnosis and treatment of influenza in adults (2022 edition)[J]. Chinese Journal of Emergency Medicine, 2022, 42(12): 1013-1026.

[3] Chen Fengqing, Cao Wei, Luo Qian, et al. Pharmacokinetics and bioequivalence analysis of oseltamivir phosphate capsules in Chinese healthy subjects[J]. Journal of Clinical Rational Drug Use, 2022, 15(32): 1-6+10. DOI: 10.15887/j.cnki.13-1389/r.2022.32.001.

[4] National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Diseases, Chinese Medical Association Pediatrics Branch Respiratory Group. Expert consensus on diagnosis and treatment of influenza in children (2020 edition)[J]. Chinese Journal of Practical Pediatrics, 2020, 35(17):1281-1288.

[5] Abraham GM, Morton JB, Saravolatz LD. Baloxavir: A Novel Antiviral Agent in theTreatment of Influenza. Clin Infect Dis 2020;71:1790.

[6] Aoki FY, Macleod MD, Paggiaro P, et al. Early administration of oral oseltamivirincreases the benefits of influenza treatment. J Antimicrob Chemother 2003;51:123.

[7]Kawai N, Ikematsu H, Iwaki N, et al. Factors influencing the effectiveness of oseltamivir and amantadine for the treatment of influenza: a multicenter study from Japan of the 2002-2003 influenza season. Clin Infect Dis 2005; 40:1309.

[8] Louie JK, Yang S, Samuel MC, et al. Neuraminidase inhibitors for critically ill children with influenza. Pediatrics 2013; 132:e1539.

[9] Oseltamivir Drug Instructions

[10] Oseltamivir FDA drug package insert

[11] Oseltamivir EMA drug package insert

[12] Qiu Bo, Ding Congyang, Song Haojing, et al. Effect of high-fat diet on the pharmacokinetics of oseltamivir phosphate in healthy Chinese subjects[J]. Chinese Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 2022, 38(7): 693-698. DOI: 10.13699/j.cnki.1001-6821.2022.07.018.

[13] If a child vomits the medicine while taking oseltamivir orally, does he need to take another dose? https://news.sina.com.cn/o/2024-06-11/doc-inaykkiz8247529.shtml

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Editor: Yang Yali

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