TAMIFLU(R) Suspension
contains the active ingredient oseltamivir
Consumer Medicine Information
What is in this leaflet
This leaflet answers some common questions about TAMIFLU suspension.
It does not contain all the available information.
It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.
All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you taking TAMIFLU against the benefits they expect it will have for you.
If you have any concerns about taking this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Keep this leaflet with the medicine.
You may need to read it again.
What TAMIFLU is used for
TAMIFLU contains the active ingredient oseltamivir.
TAMIFLU is used for the treatment and prevention of influenza (an infection caused by the influenza virus). It has no effect on the common cold or other respiratory virus infections.
TAMIFLU belongs to a group of medicines called neuraminidase inhibitors. These medicines attack the influenza virus and prevent it from spreading inside your body.
TAMIFLU is absorbed to the key sites of influenza infection and treats the cause. Taking TAMIFLU means you feel better faster.
You will also be less likely to develop complications of influenza, such as bronchitis, pneumonia and sinusitis.
Typical symptoms of influenza include fever, headache, muscle aches, 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:
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 the elderly
Although there is limited experience with use of TAMIFLU in patients 65 years and older, the same dose is recommended in elderly patients.
Use in children
Do not give TAMIFLU to children under 1 year of age.
Safety and effectiveness in children under one year of age has not been established.
For children who weigh over 40 kg and who are able to swallow capsules, one TAMIFLU capsule twice a day is recommended for the treatment of influenza and one TAMIFLU capsule once a day is recommended for the prevention of influenza.
Before you start to take it
Tell your doctor if:
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.
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.
kidney failure, kidney impairment or kidney disease.
If you have not told your doctor about any of the above, tell them before you start taking TAMIFLU.
Taking other medicines
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 aspirin, paracetamol and cough medicines with TAMIFLU. However, medical advice should be sought before giving aspirin to children with viral illness.
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 influenza.
The earlier you start treatment with TAMIFLU, the shorter will be the duration of your influenza.
How much to take
Take TAMIFLU exactly as your doctor has prescribed.
Treatment of influenza
Adult
Adults and adolescents who are unable to swallow capsules may receive TAMIFLU suspension. The usual treatment dose is 75 mg twice daily for 5 days. This should be taken as 6.25 mL in the morning and 6.25 mL at night using the oral dispenser provided.
Children
The recommended oral treatment dose of TAMIFLU suspension for children greater than 1 year of age is:
Prevention of influenza
For prevention of influenza TAMIFLU is taken once a day at the recommended dose while protection is required. Safety and effectiveness have been shown in patients taking TAMIFLU for up to 6 weeks.
Adult
Adults and adolescents who are unable to swallow capsules may receive TAMILFU suspension. The usual prevention dose is 75 mg once daily for 10 days. This should be taken as 6.25 mL using the oral dispenser provided.
Children
The recommended oral prevention dose of TAMIFLU suspension for children greater than 1 year of age is:
A dosing syringe marked with 30 mg, 45 mg and 60 mg dosing levels has been provided.
How to take it
Shake the suspension well every time you use it to ensure you get the right dose.
Water has been added to the powder by your pharmacist to make the suspension.
The powder in the suspension may settle during storage.
Each bottle of suspension contains 75 mL. Depending on the dose your doctor has prescribed for you or your child, you may have suspension left over.
TAMIFLU suspension can be taken with or without food.
After each dose of suspension, have a glass of water.
When to take it
Treatment with TAMIFLU should be started as soon as possible, but no later than 48 hours after the first symptoms of influenza.
For treatment TAMIFLU suspension should be taken in the morning and in the evening.
Taking your medicine at the same time each day will help you remember when to take your TAMIFLU.
How long to take it
Continue taking TAMIFLU until your doctor tells you to stop or your course of treatment is complete.
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
Immediately telephone your doctor, or Poisons Information Centre (telephone 13 11 26), or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital, if you think you or anyone else may have taken too much TAMIFLU. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
The following are some symptoms of overdose which may or may not occur:
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.
Things you must not do
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 influenza 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:
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.
People with influenza including those taking TAMIFLU may be at an increased risk of confusion and in rare cases accidental injury. Please ensure that you monitor how you are feeling throughout the treatment period. Your doctor should be contacted immediately if you notice any signs of unusual behavior.
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
Discard the suspension after 10 days.
The suspension only lasts for 10 days after water has been added. After this time it may not work as well.
Keep TAMIFLU in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 25 degrees 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.
Do not freeze the suspension.
It may be kept in the fridge (2-8 degrees C).
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 suspension has passed its expiry date, ask your pharmacist what to do with the rest of the suspension that is left over.
Product description
Availability
TAMIFLU suspension comes in a 100 mL bottle with an adapter, an oral dispenser and a measuring cup.
TAMIFLU is also available as 75 mg capsules.
What TAMIFLU looks like
TAMIFLU suspension is a white to light yellow liquid.
Ingredients
Active ingredient –
oseltamivir
Inactive ingredients –
TAMIFLU powder for oral suspension is gluten free and lactose free.