INFORMATION ABOUT Tamiflu™ (also known as Oseltamivir)

There is an outbreak of influenza occurring in this personal care home or hospital.  It can only be prevented by a new drug called Tamiflu™.  The following questions and answers have been created to help you or the person you are representing decide whether to take this medication.

What is influenza?

The flu, or influenza, is an infection caused by influenza virus.  It is most common in the fall and winter.  The flu is highly contagious.  The virus usually enters the body through the mouth, nose or eyes.  When a person with the flu coughs or sneezes, the virus becomes airborne and can be passed on to anyone nearby.  Symptoms of the flu include fever, cough, sore throat, headache, muscle aches and extreme fatigue, sometimes lasting for seven days.  Influenza can make heart, lung and kidney problems worse and can result in pneumonia, hospitalization and death.  About 4,000 Canadians are estimated to die from complications of influenza each year.

Why is influenza a special concern in hospitals and personal care homes?

Patients and residents are often elderly with more than one chronic illness.  This results in a weaker immune response to the influenza vaccine than in healthy, younger people.  While the vaccine protects against infection in about 70% of young healthy adults, it is only about 30% effective in elderly persons with chronic illness (however in elderly persons protection against hospitalization is about 60% and protection against death is about 80%).  The large numbers of unprotected persons can result in large, rapid-onset outbreaks, which may occur as frequently as every couple of years in a given personal care home.  When infected with influenza, about 10% of personal care home residents have to be admitted to hospital.

What is Tamiflu™

Tamiflu™ is a prescription medication which has been shown to be about 80% effective in preventing influenza.  It is the only medication known which will prevent influenza outbreaks caused by influenza B or influenza A resistant to another drug used for prevention, amantadine.  It has also been shown to be effective in reducing the length of symptoms and complications following infection with influenza.  It is a capsule taken by mouth.

This drug has not yet been licensed in Canada to prevent influenza infections.  It has been licensed in Canada for treatment of influenza and is licensed in the United States for prevention.

What are the side effects of Tamiflu™ ?

Tamiflu™ does not usually cause many side effects.  The most common side- effects are nausea and vomiting and diarrhea in 4 - 6% of people.  These do not last long and usually occur with the first dose.  Taking Tamiflu™ with food may reduce these side effects.  More serious reactions have been reported but the drug has not been proven to be the cause.

Does Tamiflu™ interact with other medications?

Existing information does not indicate that there are any clinically important interactions with other medications.

How long will Tamiflu™ be given?

Tamiflu™ is usually given for about 10 days, the average time that an influenza outbreak lasts.

What happens if a person develops influenza when taking Tamiflu™?

Since Tamiflu™ can reduce the length of symptoms and complications, it will be given at a higher treatment dose for 5 days and then stopped.

Do residents/patients have to take Tamiflu™?

No.  If a decision is made not to receive Tamiflu™, no changes will be made to any care or treatments already in place.

Is there a cost?

No, in this situation only, the medication is provided at no charge.

Who should not take Tamiflu™?

• Anyone who has had a severe allergic reaction to Tamiflu™.
• Persons with severe kidney disease (check with the doctor prescribing Tamiflu™).
• Persons who are pregnant, may become pregnant or are breast-feeding.

What should you do if you have more questions?

Contact the doctor who will be prescribing Tamiflu™.

September 2002