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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by PeterJ on April 28, 2009, at 12:40:33
In reply to Confused about What Swine Flu Is And Meds To Treat, posted by Phillipa on April 28, 2009, at 2:42:46
Has anyone had any psychiatric side effects from Tamiflu?
There have been some reports of delerium and self-harm, mostly in children and adolescents and mostly in Japan. I'm thinking PB would be a good place to ask about the seriousness of this problem, since folks might be more susceptible to those effects.
What do you all think? Are these side effects anything to be worried about?
It would be helpful to hear from anyone who has had side effects, but it would be equally helpful to hear from those who have taken the drugs safely (particularly if you are otherwise medication sensitive)
I have never taken tamiflu IIRC, but I have taken the unrelated antiviral amantadine which was quite unpleasant. I'm debating whether it would be better to use tamiflu in the event of flu or try relenza, which may have fewer side effects (but must be inhaled).
PeterJ
Posted by Phillipa on April 28, 2009, at 17:14:08
In reply to Anyone had psychiatric side effects from Tamiflu?, posted by PeterJ on April 28, 2009, at 12:40:33
2 reported cases in Charlotte now. I'd also like to know as will have to buy some. Phillipa
Posted by Phillipa on April 28, 2009, at 17:23:49
In reply to Anyone had psychiatric side effects from Tamiflu?, posted by PeterJ on April 28, 2009, at 12:40:33
Just found this hope it helps doesn't mention side effects though. Phillipa
From Medscape Medical News
FDA Okays Emergency Use of Antiviral Drugs, Diagnostic Test for Swine Flu
Robert Lowes
April 28, 2009 State and local public health agencies will have more leeway to treat swine influenza with antiviral medications under an emergency order issued yesterday by the US Food and Drug Administration. The order also will authorize and widen the use of a diagnostic test that, unlike others in use, can precisely identify the new strain of swine flu.To date, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have confirmed 64 cases of swine flu in the United States. Worldwide, confirmed cases have emerged in Canada, New Zealand, Scotland, Israel, Spain, and Mexico, which appears to be epicenter, since travel to Mexico figures into many infections elsewhere. In addition, Mexico is the only country where the influenza has resulted in death; authorities there say 152 deaths were likely caused by the virus. In the 6 other countries, infected patients generally have experienced only mild symptoms.
The FDA's Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) relaxes current restrictions on 2 antiviral medications zanamivir (Relenza) and oseltamivir (Tamiflu) that the CDC recommends for preventing and treating swine influenza A (H1N1). Oseltamivir currently is approved for patients aged 1 year and older. Under the EAU, healthcare providers can administer oseltamivir to patients younger than 1 year and provide alternate dosing to patients aged 1 year and older.
The EAU did not alter the age parameters for zanamivir, approved to treat acute, uncomplicated cases of influenza in adults and children older than 7 years who have been symptomatic for fewer than 2 days, as well as prevent influenza in adults and children aged 5 years and older.
However, the FDA order allows both drugs to be distributed by a wider range of healthcare workers, including volunteers, in accordance with state and local law. In addition, both medications can be distributed without complying with the usual label requirements.
The FDA order follows a decision by the Department of Health and Human Services on Sunday to distribute one fourth of its stockpile of oseltamivir and zanamivir to state governments.
The EUA also authorizes the use of a diagnostic test called a reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) swine influenza panel to test for the virus and allows the CDC to distribute it to public health agencies. Two other available tests rapid influenza antigen and immunofluroscence can detect the new swine influenza virus, but they only identify probable cases because they cannot distinguish between seasonal influenza A and swine influenza, which is a subtype of A. In contrast, RT-PCR can conclusively confirm a case of swine influenza.
Posted by yxibow on April 30, 2009, at 4:33:29
In reply to Re: Anyone had psychiatric side effects from Tamiflu? » PeterJ, posted by Phillipa on April 28, 2009, at 17:14:08
> 2 reported cases in Charlotte now. I'd also like to know as will have to buy some. Phillipa
There's no need to stockpile flu medication unless you have been near someone who exhibits the symptoms. It is (and I was paranoid about it at the time) similar to the stockpiling of Cipro during the anthrax scare.Although so far I haven't seen any siphoning of vaccines to illicit web distributors and advertisements.
Also while being prudent in calling it a pandemic or potential pandemic in regions, it can backfire and raise the fear bar of people.
Don't be mistaken -- history told us what happened in the 1918-1919 Spanish flu. But simple but important steps in hygiene were probably not largely present, even if steps were taken to use masks and isolation in some circumstances, which was the case. It did kill more people than casualties from WWI.(Among was a relative of mine)
There was another suspected swine flu pandemic in the 1970s. In today's dollars, $500 million dollars were spent on a vaccine that had more fatal or negative consequences than current flu vaccines do.
Going back to Charlotte... as of looking at the news the suspected cases hadn't been confirmed as H1N1 swine flu yet.
I do know you fall under guidelines by the CDC if
there are real symptoms present though as those over 65 and with certain illnesses have been recommended.
I just see that if there are enough uses prophylactically, the currently available antivirals could become useless eventually.
Also flooding hospitals with mere fever symptoms will overtax the system that needs to help those who are really sick.
As for psychiatric side effects, if you need the medication because you do have a suspicious or confirmed case of swine flu, its a benefits versus risks like all medical decisions.
I think for myself, even if it would increase my symptoms, a short course of a antiviral medication outweighs the risk of a life threatening illness even if it means temporarily losing some functionality for psychiatric reasons, because one could also be quarantined and hospitalized for flu.
I'm not trying to say that if the medication is causing life threatening issues that one should just take it carte blanche.
There are after all several options available, fortunately, that would probably attenuate but not necessarily cure a strain that hasn't been seen yet.
-- Jay
Posted by Phillipa on April 30, 2009, at 21:50:23
In reply to Re: Anyone had psychiatric side effects from Tamiflu? » Phillipa, posted by yxibow on April 30, 2009, at 4:33:29
Jay had three small kids during the 70's outbreak got the vaccination no side effects and no one got sick with the flu either. Now it's at stage five. There is a very long thread on social on it. Phillipa. Been gone all day and saw newspaper on way home with people in Mexico airport wearing masks one confirmed death of 22 month old boy in Texas. Quite a lot in NYC.
Posted by yxibow on May 1, 2009, at 15:26:37
In reply to Re: Anyone had psychiatric side effects from Tamiflu? » yxibow, posted by Phillipa on April 30, 2009, at 21:50:23
> Jay had three small kids during the 70's outbreak got the vaccination no side effects and no one got sick with the flu either. Now it's at stage five. There is a very long thread on social on it. Phillipa. Been gone all day and saw newspaper on way home with people in Mexico airport wearing masks one confirmed death of 22 month old boy in Texas. Quite a lot in NYC.
That's one confirmed death out of 300 million people. Yes, the WHO and the CDC are very concerned and as new cases approach our areas, I may even become more concerned. But simple hygiene at the moment is all one can do. How can you do more than is possible at the moment ?
I'm not saying its complete chicken little vs. reality... I know its serious... but the word "pandemic" while a medical term, can incite a lot of people to run scrambling (and huddling up somewhere... close.... possibly transmitting amongst each other) and backfire.
Its not surprising that for whatever reason not yet understood why it is greater in Mexico, there are other floating scientific theories too, that there would be people with masks there.Prudence is prudence and preparing calmly means that -if- things get worse in a certain area one has the reserve strength to get through things.
-- Jay
Posted by yxibow on May 1, 2009, at 18:35:17
In reply to Re: Anyone had psychiatric side effects from Tamiflu? » Phillipa, posted by yxibow on May 1, 2009, at 15:26:37
> > Jay had three small kids during the 70's outbreak got the vaccination no side effects and no one got sick with the flu either.
Forgot to cover that one -- not only could it cause a flu because it was not attenuated enough like today's vaccines which -DO NOT- cause flus but may cause temporary aching in the shoulder, but there was a much higher rish of Guillain-Barré than there is today (which basically hovers in the once in a million range, aggregated if those cases ever developed into a more serious version, would affect only 300 people in the US.)
And that's why though there are even more novel ways of vaccine creation which are quicker and potentially even more safe, there is always lessons from the past of rushing a vaccine in a pandemic.
It its probably akin to what numbers of people in the 50s and beyond who did not get the later developed inactivated Salk vaccine but instead the oral Sabin vaccine, had the potential of contracting polio from the vaccine.
Today, despite activists shunning vaccines from their children for religious reasons, the cases of any multivalent vaccines in children causing illnesses is basically none.
In fact, those who don't vaccinate their children with standard vaccines or are not tested for TB risk spreading largely eradicated diseases to the general population.
TB, though with with a vaccine used in some places, remains a non-eradicated disease. It is treatable, though with resistance, by antibiotics.
-- Jay
This is the end of the thread.
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