Drug Warning: Tamiflu Side Effects and Risks
Tamiflu, the anti-viral drug manufactured by the Swiss Roche Holdings, is the only neuraminidase inhibitor approved for the treatment of influenza in the United States. Tamiflu treats influenza by trapping the influenza virus in cells that are already infected. It is approved for use on children over one year and on adults who have had symptoms for less than two days.
The first concerns raised about Tamiflu related to skin reactions. By December 2005, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had received reports of severe, and sometimes fatal, skin reactions and allergic reactions. These included 24 cases of Stevens-Johnson syndrome, a potentially fatal skin condition caused by an allergic reaction to a drug, and 14 cases of erythema multiforme, a similar condition. There were also several cases of anaphylactic reactions, including 17 cases of potentially deadly anaphylactic shock. These reactions caused three deaths in adults. On December 21, 2005, the FDA required an update to the Tamiflu label warning about these reactions.
At that time, the FDA also had 12 reports of pediatric deaths in patients taking Tamiflu that had come from Japan. The FDA concluded that it was unable to determine if the deaths were caused by Tamiflu and decided to monitor Tamiflu side effects in the 2006 flu season. During the following year, the FDA continued to receive reports of neurophychiatric events in patients taking Tamiflu. Many of the additional reports came from Japan, but some came from the United States as well. On November 13, 2006, the FDA decided to require a Tamiflu warning similar to that already used in Japan. The warning states that patients taking Tamiflu should be carefully monitored for unusual behavior. The FDA did not find convincing evidence that the abnormal behavior was a Tamiflu risk.
Check out the following articles for more information about Tamiflu, filing a Tamiflu lawsuit and finding a Tamiflu attorney.
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