I’ve been sitting on this post for a while now, let’s give it a go…
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Let’s talk Tamiflu. Have you ever taken it? Know someone who has? It MAY shorten the duration of symptoms for a few hours… But at what cost? Do you believe patients are TRULY INFORMED before they leave with a prescription? Let’s read…
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BLACK BOX WARNING: People, especially children, can develop nervous system problems and abnormal behavior that can lead to death.
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Very limited studies have been done to show Tamiflu is safe for children. The few studies that have been done were established on a SINGLE dose, not the ENTIRE dosage.
The package insert states: “Safety and efficacy of TAMIFLU for treatment of influenza in pediatric patients less than 2 weeks of age have not been established. Safety and efficacy of TAMIFLU for prophylaxis of influenza have not been established for pediatric patients less than 1 year of age.” YET… parents have been encouraged to administer it to their babies.
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Severe allergic reactions to Tamiflu include: anaphylaxis and serious skin reactions including toxic epidermal necrolysis, Stevens-Johnson Syndrom, and erythema multiforme.
Other adverse reactions from Tamiflu, per the package insert from the FDA website include: Serious skin and hypersensitivity reactions, Neuropsychiatric, rhinorrhea, dyspepsia, upper respiratory tract infections, epistaxis, ear disorder, conjunctivitis, Pneumonia.
People who have completed Tamiflu have reported:
Whole body: swelling of the face or tongue, allergy, anaphylactic/anaphylactoid reactions, hypothermia
Dermatologic: Rash, dermatitis, urticaria, eczema, toxic epidermal necrolysis, Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, erythema multiforme.
Digestive: Hepatitis, liver function tests abnormal
Cardiac: Arrhythmia
Gastrointestinal disorders: Gastrointestinal bleeding, hemorrhagic colitis
Neurologic: Seizure
Metabolic: Aggravation of diabetes
Psychiatric: Abnormal behavior, delirium, including symptoms such as hallucinations, agitation, anxiety, altered level of consciousness, confusion, nightmares, delusions.
Japanese health authorities started investigations of Tamiflu after eighteen juvenile fatalities linked to the drug occurred in seventeen months.
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After reading the small print, can you confidently claim that it’s worth the risk just to POSSIBLY shave off a few hours of discomfort?
woketxmama