Tamiflu

Tamiflu is an effective antiviral drug that actively fights against influenza types A and B.

Indications Tamiflu

The medicine is indicated for use as a preventive or therapeutic agent for the treatment of infections caused by the influenza A or B virus. The drug should be taken immediately after the onset of the first signs of the disease.

Tamiflu is allowed to be used as a treatment for infants from six months in the case of an influenza pandemic.

As a means of prevention, the drug is prescribed to people who have been in contact with patients with a diagnosis of "Flu" during the circulation of this virus.

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Release form

Capsules are contained in blisters for 10 pcs. On each plate. One package contains 1 blister.

Powder for the manufacture of the suspension is available in glass bottles in volume of 30 g. One package contains 1 such bottle, to which a special dispenser is attached.

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Pharmacodynamics

The active component of Tamiflu is oseltamivir - a prodrug that is metabolized in the body, turning into oseltamivir carboxylate. The metabolites of the active ingredient selectively and competitively inhibit viral neurominidase, as a result of which the virus particles can not be released from the already infected cells and penetrate into healthy ones. Such a mechanism allows the medicine to prevent the development of the disease. Carboxylate oseltamivir suppresses the process of virus reduplication, and in addition reduces its pathogenic activity.

When taking drugs for the first 40 hours after the discovery of signs of the disease, there is a reduction in its duration, a reduction in the risk of complications, and a decrease in the severity of the symptoms of influenza. As a preventive medicine, Tamiflu reduces the risk of flu by 92% in those patients who came into contact with patients.

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Pharmacokinetics

After ingestion, oseltamivir phosphate is rapidly absorbed through the intestine. The effect on the body of hepatic esterases helps to form an active form of the active substance - oseltamivir carboxylate, determined in the plasma in half an hour. It reaches its peak concentration 2-3 hours after the drug is consumed. In the circulatory system, approximately 75% of the active substance is defined as a carboxylate, and about 5% under the guise of phosphate. From the reception of food bioavailability of the medicine does not depend. With plasma proteins, oseltamivir binds at most 3%.

Excretion of oseltamivir occurs mainly through the kidneys along the tubular secretion pathway under the guise of oseltamivir carboxylate. The half-life of active metabolic products is 6-10 hours. A maximum of 20% of the active component is excreted through the intestine.

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Dosing and administration

The method of preparation of the drug suspension from the powder Tamiflu: you need to shake the closed vial of the drug, and then measure 52 ml of water, which is then added to the powder. After this, it is required to close the container tightly with a lid and shake for 15 seconds, until an equilibrium suspension appears. Then remove the lid from the vial, insert a special adapter into the neck and close it again. Date, when the suspension was prepared, it is recommended to mark on the label, so as not to forget.

Teenagers and adults are usually prescribed such dosages: 75 mg of the drug 2 p. / Day. For a day, it is allowed to consume a maximum of 150 mg of the drug (it should also be taken into account that an increase in the daily dosage does not lead to an increase in the effectiveness of drugs).

As a means of postexposure prophylaxis of influenza for children and adults weighing 40+ kg, 75 mg of the drug per day for 10 days is usually prescribed. As a means of seasonal prophylaxis against influenza, administration of the drug at the same dosage is prescribed daily throughout the epidemic period. Studies have shown that Tamiflu can be taken for 6 weeks. Without the risk of health.

Dosages to be given to children (the child must be at least 1 year old): children weighing less than 15 kg should take 30 mg at a time. Children weighing 15-23 kg take 45 mg of medicine at a time. Children with a weight of 23-40 kg should consume 60 mg of the drug. Number of receptions per day - 2 times. The duration of the treatment course is 5 days.

Children aged 6-12 months. In the case of an influenza pandemic, should take the medicine in a calculated dosage of 3 mg / 1 kg of body weight 2 r. / day, exclusively with the permission of the child's doctor. The course of treatment lasts 5 days.

Capsules of the drug should be swallowed without chewing, and washed down with water. Use Tamiflu is allowed, regardless of food. Duration of treatment and size of doses is determined by the doctor.

Children after 1 year weighing less than 40 kg can use capsules Tamiflu 30 or 45. When the baby can not swallow the medicine, you can dissolve it in a spoon of plain water or sweet tea.

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Use Tamiflu during pregnancy

The drug is in category B. Pre-clinical studies have shown that active metabolic products and oseltamivir are absorbed into the milk of rats in the lactation period. While there is no information whether the active ingredient or its active metabolite with human milk is excreted, but the amount of these substances can be 0.01, as well as 0.3 mg / day, respectively.

Because there is no information about taking this medication by pregnant women, it is recommended to prescribe it when lactating or becoming pregnant only when the benefits from eating exceed the possible danger to the baby or fetus.

Contraindications

Among the contraindications:

• Intolerance to oseltamivir phosphate, as well as any other element of the drug;
• Renal failure in chronic form (regular hemodialysis, or peritoneal dialysis in a chronic form, as well as a Cl creatinine score less than 10 ml / min).

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Side effects Tamiflu

In the process of treatment with Tamiflu, there may be such adverse reactions as nausea or vomiting. Basically, they occur at the initial stage of therapy, pass themselves and quickly enough, so the withdrawal of medication is not required.

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Interactions with other drugs

In the case of joint drug use with probenecid, the process of excretion through the kidneys of metabolic products of the active substance Tamiflu can be slowed down. However, patients who do not have problems with kidney function do not need correction of the established dosage.

It is necessary to combine with caution oseltamivir with substances such as phenylbutazone, chlorpropamide, and also methotrexate, because they are excreted in the same way, as a result of which the excretion process can be slowed by simultaneous reception of these preparations.

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Storage conditions

The drug in any form (except the finished suspension) should be stored within the temperature range of 15-25 degrees.

The finished drug suspension at a temperature of 2-8 degrees can store a maximum of 17 days. At 15-25 degrees - a maximum of 10 days.

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Shelf life

Tamiflu in powder form is allowed to be used for 2 years from the date of manufacture. Capsules have a 5-year shelf life.

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