What is oseltamivir and what is it for?

What is oseltamivir?

Oseltamivir is a drug belonging to the group of inhibitors of the enzyme neuraminidase, that is, it is a compound that is responsible for preventing thespread of viruses associated withinfluenza or influenza within the human body.

Note: Oseltamivir can be purchased as capsules or oral suspension. The dose of 150 mg daily should not be exceededwithout medical supervision.

The doses of this medicine to treat the flu virus, should be calculated according to the weight of the patient. For adults over 40 kg, 75 mg twice daily for 5 daysof oseltamivir for the treatment of influenza, whilein children and adolescents doses vary between 30 mg to 60 mg.

For term infants up to 1 year of age, it is recommended tocalculate oseltamivir mg per kilogram of weight. The use of oseltamivir for prevention of influenza or influenza should be prolonged for 10 days.

What is oseltamivir for?

Currently, there are a large number of drugs to treat multiple Respiratory diseases, one of them being oseltamivir. Next, we present you for which specific conditions this drug is indicated:

1. Flu treatment

A large number of patients suffering from respiratory conditions associated with influenza are usually subjected to treatment with oseltamivir, especially if it is a flu outbreak in a community or the exposure of a person to another infected person.

To highlight: Oseltamivir has the ability to progressively decrease the duration of the flu, both in children and adults , that is, the use of this medication will increase the immune system’s response to the virus. (1)

2. Flu prevention

Prophylaxis or immunization to Prevent Influenza is a commonly discussed medical and social issue, because it is a disease that can spread easily.

Therefore, within the medical recommendations, oseltamivir is usually named as part of the medications for post-exposure prevention of said virus . (two)

Side effects of oseltamivir

Oseltamivir is one of the best-known medications for treating flu symptoms in patients of all ages, however it carries with it the following side effects:

• Renal insufficiency.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Diarrhea.
• Headache.
• Fever.
• Insomnia .

Important:The intake of this medicine is recommended under strict medical supervision. If you experience any of the aforementioned effects,stop using it and see your doctor .

Oseltamivir contraindications

Taking oseltamivir without medical supervision can be dangerous to health in certain cases. For these reasons,take into account the following contraindications before taking this drug:

• Allergy or hypersensitivity to the component.
• Patients undergoing hemodialysis.
• Patients suffering from renal or immunological diseases.

You should know: Inform your doctor if you have a Medical History or present any of the diseases described above.

Key Findings

• Oseltamivir is a medicine that inhibits the enzyme neuraminidase , thus helping the body to prevent and cure the flu.
• The use of this drug can be used as part of the treatment to cure influenza or flu , as well as the spread of it.
• It has side effects such as: headache, nausea and vomitingtag. It cannot be ingested by kidney patients.
• It must be taken under Medical Supervision .