Is Tamiflu safe? - Healthy Life Essex

While fears are growing about the increasing death toll from swine flu, there is also increasing concerns about the side effects of Tamiflu.

Tamiflu is the powerful anti-viral drug being used to treat swine flu.  It is now being taken as a preventative, in spite of warnings from some experts that this could increase resistance of the virus. But latest figures also show that side effects from taking Tamiflu are greater than initially expected, particularly for children.

It has never been denied that this powerful drug may have side effects. For someone seriously ill this may certainly be a risk worth taking. But while deaths are rising, the majority of people still only suffer a mild illness with a very quick recovery period. Should ‘healthy’ people then take a drug where potential side effects include liver failure? This is actually listed on the box!

The side effects seem particularly severe in children. GPs in Japan have already been advised not to give Tamiflu to childreen between the ages of 10 and 19 because of high rates of ‘ neuropsychiatric side effects’ such as feeling confused and having bad dreams. A study in three London schools showed that 59% of children had adverse effects including stomach cramps, nausea and sleeping problems.