Tamiflu Side Effects: Children

A lot of people are thinking of Tamiflu (generic name: oseltamivir) as a way to cure swine flu. And indeed, Tamiflu is supposed to be effective up to 2 days post infection in reducing the effect of swine flu. But Tamiflu is a very powerful drug, and should not be taken without precautions (and certainly not without prescription). Tamiflu side effects in children can be acute.

Some of the general side effects of Tamiflu include vomiting, abdominal pains, and nose-bleeds. For children, there have been reports of ‘unusual neurologic or psychiatric events such as delirium, hallucinations, confusion, abnormal behavior, convulsions, and encephalitis’.

A Japan study documented Tamiflu side effects in children. The ministry said it had found 64 cases of psychological disorders linked to the drug in the past four years (that was a 2005 article).

So in summary, one has to be very careful in taking Tamiflu and certainly NOT without prescription. In these times of Pandemic level rising, it is specially important to know the medication one takes. Be careful, specially with children!

Some reference:

Japan links sudden death in children (2005 article) The article detailing side effects of Tamiflu on children, as observed in Japan (provide with no analysis or comments, do your own due dilligence)

Tamiflu on About.com a very good reference written by an MD

Links to Tamiflu Side Effect reports - Gold & Silver Forum - In November 2006, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) amended the warning label to include the possible side effects of delirium, hallucinations, or other related behavior.[20] This went further than the FDA’s previous …

Anderson Cooper 360: Blog Archive - Swine Flu cure? « - Blogs from … - The number of cases of neuropsychiatric side effects with Tamiflu may seem like no big deal, however if we give out the drug to the whole population to prevent swine flu, and if that turns out to be no big deal but results in a few …