
No one should take any drug unnecessarily, Dr. Rehm points out. And the side effects of Tamiflu
Oseltamivir
Oseltamivir is used to treat symptoms caused by the flu virus.
Full Answer
What are the side effects of taking Tamiflu?
- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and headache are the main side effects. ...
- Tamiflu has been associated with neuropsychiatric side effects (mainly confusion, delirium and abnormal behavior that has resulted in injury; some cases were fatal). ...
- Tamiflu does not take the place of an early annual influenza vaccination.
Does Tamiflu cause stomach problems?
Tamiflu also increased the risk of nausea and vomiting in adults by around 4 percent and in children by 5 percent. There was a reported increased risk of psychiatric events of around 1 percent when Tamiflu was used to prevent influenza.” Tamiflu (oseltamivir) Side Effects: Digestive upset (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain) Headache; Nosebleeds
What are the risks of taking Tamiflu?
- Blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin
- convulsions ( seizures)
- dark urine
- difficulty with swallowing
- fainting
- fast, slow, or irregular heartbeat
- hives or welts
- itching, puffiness, or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
- joint or muscle pain
- light-colored stools
Will Tamiflu help with stomach flu?
Tamiflu may be taken with food if it upsets your stomach. To treat flu symptoms: Take Tamiflu every 12 hours for 5 days. To prevent flu symptoms: Take Tamiflu every 24 hours for 10 days or as prescribed. Follow your doctor's instructions. Read and carefully follow any Instructions for Use provided with your medicine.

How long after taking Tamiflu will you throw up?
The most common side effects from Tamiflu® are nausea and vomiting. These are not usually severe and usually happen in the first 2 days of treatment. Taking Tamiflu® with food may help reduce the chance of getting these side effects.
What happens if you take Tamiflu on an empty stomach?
Tamiflu may be taken either with or without food. Taking with food may reduce any gastrointestinal side effects such as nausea or vomiting. Tamiflu is usually taken twice daily when used for the treatment of influenza, or once daily when used to reduce the risk of catching influenza.
Can Tamiflu make your symptoms worse?
Tamiflu can have side effects (usually occurring within the first two days), and for some people, these can be worse than having the flu, according to Dr. Brauning.
Can oseltamivir make you throw up?
Tamiflu (oseltamivir) is effective at treating the flu if taken within 48 hours of symptoms, but can cause side effects related to your stomach like nausea and vomiting.
Who should not take Tamiflu?
You should not use oseltamivir if you are allergic to it. Do not use oseltamivir to treat flu symptoms in a child younger than 2 weeks old. Children as young as 1 year old may use zanamivir to prevent flu symptoms.
Can you stop Tamiflu before 5 days?
This medicine should be taken for 5 days. Continue taking this medicine for the full time of treatment even if you begin to feel better after a few days. This will help clear up your infection completely. If you stop taking this medicine too soon, your symptoms may return.
Is taking Tamiflu worth it?
Unfortunately, the effectiveness of Tamiflu is marginal, as it cannot “cure” the illness. Most studies have shown that the medication will reduce the length of symptoms by only 12 to 24 hours, and if started after two days of symptoms, it does not help at all.
What are the dangers of Tamiflu?
Tamiflu can cause vomiting, nausea, and even hallucinations. But experts say it's effective in reducing flu symptoms and is worth the side effects. Sometimes a cure is worth the side effects.
What percent of people have side effects from Tamiflu?
What are the side effects of Tamiflu? The most common Tamiflu side effects are nausea and vomiting, occurring in about 10 percent of patients who took part in a clinical trial. Stomach pain, diarrhea, and headaches are somewhat less common, happening in 1 to 2 percent of people who take it.
How long do Tamiflu side effects last?
Most side effects were reported on a single occasion, occurred on the first or second day of therapy, and resolved spontaneously within 1 to 2 days.
When is Tamiflu most effective?
Most flu researchers agree on the basics — that Tamiflu will reduce symptoms, like stuffy nose, sore throat, fever and tiredness, which is something many over-the-counter medications do too. “The most efficacy is received when treatment starts within 48 hours after symptoms start to appear.”
When are you no longer contagious with the flu?
People with flu are most contagious in the first three to four days after their illness begins. However, infants and people with weakened immune systems who are infected with flu viruses may be contagious for longer than seven days.
Is Tamiflu hard on the stomach?
Usually, nausea and vomiting are not severe and happen in the first 2 days of treatment. Taking Tamiflu with food may lessen the chance of getting these side effects. Other side effects include stomach (abdominal) pain, nosebleeds, headache, and feeling tired (fatigue).
When is Tamiflu most effective?
Most flu researchers agree on the basics — that Tamiflu will reduce symptoms, like stuffy nose, sore throat, fever and tiredness, which is something many over-the-counter medications do too. “The most efficacy is received when treatment starts within 48 hours after symptoms start to appear.”
Does Tamiflu have to be taken 12 hours apart?
Oseltamivir is usually given twice each day, once in the morning and once in the evening. Ideally, these times are 10–12 hours apart, for example can be given some time between 7 and 8 am, and between 7 and 8 pm.
What exactly does Tamiflu do?
Oseltamivir is used to treat symptoms caused by the flu virus (influenza). It helps make the symptoms (such as stuffy nose, cough, sore throat, fever/chills, aches, tiredness) less severe and shortens the recovery time by 1-2 days.
How long does it take to take Tamiflu?
Tamiflu should be started within 48 hours of symptom onset. Tamiflu is available as capsules or an oral powder. The powder can be used by people who cannot swallow capsules and must be mixed with water immediately prior to use. Always use a properly calibrated measure when giving a dose of Tamiflu.
What is Tamiflu used for?
Tamiflu is a brand (trade) name for oseltamivir. Oseltamivir is an antiviral agent that may be used to treat acute and uncomplicated infections due to influenza A or B viruses in people who have been symptomatic for no more than 48 hours. The manufacturer suggests oseltamivir works by inhibiting viral neuraminidase, an enzyme that enables viruses to be released from their host cell. However, a Cochrane review suggests oseltamivir reduces symptoms of influenza by inhibiting the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines which reduces the immune response. It may also work centrally (through the brain) to lower temperature. The Cochrane reviewers did not find any evidence of influenza-virus specific action.
How does oseltamivir work?
The manufacturer suggests oseltamivir works by inhibiting viral neuraminidase, an enzyme that enables viruses to be released from their host cell. However, a Cochrane review suggests oseltamivir reduces symptoms of influenza by inhibiting the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines which reduces the immune response.
How long does it take for tamiflu to work?
Tamiflu is an antiviral medicine that is used for the treatment or prevention of the flu. When used to treat the flu, it is most effective if started within 48 hours of symptom onset.
How long does tamiflu last?
Tamiflu is usually taken for five days when used for treatment and 10 days when used for prevention. However, it may be continued for 6 to 12 weeks in certain situations.
What class is Tamiflu?
Tamiflu belongs to the class of medicines known as antivirals.
Does Tamiflu interact with other medications?
Tamiflu may interact with some other medications including the live attenuated influenza vaccination and clopidogrel
Why do people take Tamiflu?
For anyone, being sick longer can lead to a compromised immune system that may spawn lethal bacterial infections, such as pneumonia. Dr. William Schaffner, a preventive medicine and infectious disease expert at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, told Healthline that there’s another important reason to use Tamiflu.
How serious is Tamiflu?
How Serious Are the Side Effects of Tamiflu? Written by Constance Gustke — Updated on September 18, 2018. Tamiflu can cause vomiting, nausea, and even hallucinations. But experts say it’s effective in reducing flu symptoms and is worth the side effects. Share on Pinterest.
How long does it take for Tamiflu to work?
Tamiflu helps block the flu virus, stopping it from progressing if taken within 48 hours after experiencing symptoms.
Does Tamiflu cause confusion?
Some Tamiflu side effects like confusion or delirium are concerning, says Schaff ner. But, he adds, most of these cases have been reported in Japan, where Tamiflu is used in higher doses for longer time spans. A doctor should be alerted right away if these symptoms pop up, says the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Trusted Source.
Can Tamiflu cause vomiting?
Sometimes side effects can also be erroneously tied to the flu, whose hallmarks are fever or chills. But vomiting, for example, isn’t a common flu symptom, experts add. Since Tamiflu is in both pill and liquid form, sometimes just changing the Tamiflu formulation helps ease any problems.
Can you vomit capsules?
One of her patients vomited capsules up, but successfully used the liquid form.
Is dehydration worse than sickness?
Dehydration, for example, can be worse for someone who’s already sick.
When should I take Tamiflu?
Tamiflu is approved to treat influenza in people whose symptoms have not lasted longer than two days (which might come as a surprise to anyone who has gotten a script after being sick for a week.)
Does Fitbit help with flu?
RELATED: Your Fitbit May Help Predict Flu Outbreaks, According to New Study
Does Tamiflu keep you from getting sick?
As for flu prevention, the FDA says Tamiflu can also keep people from getting sick in the first place.
Can you take Tamiflu unnecessarily?
Basically, whether you take Tamiflu or not is up to you and your doctor. No one should take any drug unnecessarily, Dr. Rehm points out. And the side effects of Tamiflu —which include nausea and vomiting—are worth considering.
Can you take Tamiflu after 72 hours?
That said, doctors might prescribe Tamiflu to people who are immunocompromised or at risk of flu-related complications, even if the 72-hour period has passed, Dr. Rehm says .
How long does it take for tamiflu to work?
Ideally, Tamiflu should be given within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms. Even if started within this time period, the evidence shows that symptoms will only resolve 16.8 hours earlier. That’s 16.8 hours earlier for a virus that lasts 1-2 weeks. That’s really not very much time saved.
Does Tamiflu decrease time?
And there is even evidence supporting the fact that it does not significantly decrease the amount of time you are sick. This evidence comes from a Cochrane review, considered by many to be the best evidence available regarding the topic. Even the World Health Organization (WHO) recently downgraded Tamiflu because it has not been found to be effective.
Is Tamiflu safe for elderly?
Well, in the very young, elderly, or those that have other serious conditions, the CDC recommends taking Tamiflu in the slight chance that it CAN prevent any of the complications. Basically the CDC thinks the benefits of taking the medication may outweigh the risks of side effects. These conditions include:
Is Tamiflu a super drug?
So if you know others around you that have confirmed influenza and you can get to the doctor early, perhaps Tamiflu can be the super drug it was touted to be.
Is Tamiflu a good medicine?
If I’m going to take a medication, I want something that’s going to make me better quickly. Tamiflu is not your drug of choice based on these studies – especially with the added side effects like nausea and vomiting.
Does Tamiflu cause discomfort?
So for the ordinary patient without the health conditions listed above, Tamiflu has the potential to cause marked discomfort without much benefit. That brings us to the last part of this article and perhaps THE reason you might consider taking the medication.
Is Tamiflu indicated for other people?
For others without any of the criteria above, Tamiflu is not indicated.
Do you get the flu every year?
I am a CrNA and I am almost *positive* you do not get the flu every year. Influenza is often times confused with a stomach virus, a general feeling of illness, fevers, upset stomachs, etc etc. I would say out of every 10 people who have the "flu" only 3.5-4 of them would test positive for it. My advice is to wash your hands religiously through out the season and if you do indeed get sick just skip the tamiflu. You will probably have symptoms for 48-72 hours longer than with tamiflu but its obvious that outweighs the side effects of the drug for you.
Can tamiflu cause vomiting?
In my experience, most influenza viruses do not cause vomiting. Yes to aches, chills, hit by truck feeling, fever, sore throat, etc., but vomiting is usually a GI thing caused by norovirus or rotavirus or another form. As someone who rarely vomits, with or without the flu, I knew it was the tamiflu when after one dose I got extremely nauseated and started vomiting and dry heaving. The vomiting stopped when I stopped taking the Tamiflu (although the other flu symptoms remain). There's nothing worse than being hit by a the flu truck and feeling crappy enough, only to then get the Tamiflu vomiting. The "cure" for me was worse than the flu.
Why do people take antivirals?
One of the reasons people might take an antiviral is to prevent the illness progressing to the point where they would need to be hospitalized. Unfortunately there was no evidence that the drug produced that benefit. 3. The studies were inadequate to determine the effect of Tamiflu on complications.
Is Tamiflu sweeping the country?
Tamiflu (Photo credit: ahisgett) Influenza-like-illness is sweeping the country with the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention reporting that most areas of the country experiencing high rates. I should know, my family is in the midst of it despite having been vaccinated. This year may rival some of the worst years in recent history.
Does Tamiflu reduce symptoms?
The use of Tamiflu did reduce the duration of symptoms by about a day. The reviewers found 5 studies that assessed the effect of Tamiflu on the duration of symptoms. They were fairly consistent in their findings – though the duration of the symptoms varied quite a lot across the studies.

How It Works
Upsides
- Tamiflu can be used to treat influenza A or B in adults and children aged two weeks or older who have been symptomatic for no more than 48 hours.
- Tamiflu may be used to reduce the risk of adults and children aged one year or older from becoming infected with influenza A or B viruses.
- May be more effective at preventing the symptoms of influenza rather than treating them.
- Tamiflu can be used to treat influenza A or B in adults and children aged two weeks or older who have been symptomatic for no more than 48 hours.
- Tamiflu may be used to reduce the risk of adults and children aged one year or older from becoming infected with influenza A or B viruses.
- May be more effective at preventing the symptoms of influenza rather than treating them.
- Available as a capsule and a powder for oral suspension.
Downsides
- If you are between the ages of 18 and 60, take no other medication or have no other medical conditions, side effects you are more likely to experience include: 1. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and headache are the main side effects. Rarely, allergic or skin reactions and breathing problems have been reported. 2. Tamiflu has been associated with neuropsychiatric side effects (mainly c…
Bottom Line
- Tamiflu is an antiviral medicine that is used for the treatment or prevention of the flu. When used to treat the flu, it is most effective if started within 48 hours of symptom onset.
Tips
- Tamiflu may be taken either with or without food. Taking with food may reduce any gastrointestinal side effects such as nausea or vomiting.
- Tamiflu is usually taken twice daily when used for the treatment of influenza, or once daily when used to reduce the risk of catching influenza.
- Tamiflu is usually taken for five days when used for treatment and 10 days when used for pre…
- Tamiflu may be taken either with or without food. Taking with food may reduce any gastrointestinal side effects such as nausea or vomiting.
- Tamiflu is usually taken twice daily when used for the treatment of influenza, or once daily when used to reduce the risk of catching influenza.
- Tamiflu is usually taken for five days when used for treatment and 10 days when used for prevention. However, it may be continued for 6 to 12 weeks in certain situations.
- Tamiflu should be started within 48 hours of symptom onset.
Response and Effectiveness
- Tamiflu is rapidly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and its ingredient, oseltamivir, is converted by liver enzymes to its active form oseltamivir carboxylate (OC). OC is detected in the blo...
- Some studies have shown Tamiflu only reduces the duration of an influenza-like illness by about a day.
Interactions
- Medicines that interact with Tamiflu may either decrease its effect, affect how long it works for, increase side effects, or have less of an effect when taken with Tamiflu. An interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of the medications; however, sometimes it does. Speak to your doctor about how drug interactions should be mana…
Further Information
- Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use Tamiflu only for the indication prescribed. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances. Copyright 1996-2022 Drugs.com. Revision date: September 8, 2021. Medical Di…