The prophylactic doses are different from the treatment dose:
Prophylaxis is 75mg once a day for at least 7 days BUT up to 6 weeks in an epidemic (taken with 48 hours of exposure)
Treatment is 75mg twice a day for 5 days
Children older than 1 year can be given a treatment or prophylactic
dosage by a doctor but the advice is currently NOT to use it as prophylaxis
in under 12s since we have no safety data.
What is the difference between prophylaxis and treatment? >
How much Prophylaxis should I buy? >
The Number One Health Group would advise adults to have at least one treatment course of 10 Tablets available to them. These should be taken within 48 hours of the onset of an influenza-like illness (ILI)'. An ILI may have typical symptoms of cough, malaise, fever/chills, headache, nasal congestion, sore throat and aching muscles. However, symptoms can range from asymptomatic infection through respiratory illness (particularly bronchitis and pneumonia) to multi-system complications affecting the heart, lungs, brain, liver, kidneys and muscle. Influenza-associated death usually results from viral or bacterial pneumonia.
Treatment is for when you are ill. Prophylaxis is to protect you when someone close is showing the above symptoms. It may be someone in your household or in your open-plan office. If you need help deciding whether to take Prophylaxis or not call us on 0207 043 0523 or email us at info@numberonehealth.co.uk.
The Number One Health Group is now pleased that Roche Products limited have identified the dosage requirements for children over 1 year of age. Anti Virals are still NOT recommended for children under 1 year of age. Children need to be weighed in kilograms.
Roche have NO recommendations for children under 1 year of age
Over 40 Kg or over the age of 12 years children receive the same doses as adults (either as capsules or in the liquid form)
Dosage of Anti Virals for children is by weight - this can ONLY be managed by using the suspension (which has a short shelf-life and is difficult to obtain)
For adults this is one tablet per day. You may need it for 10 days or as long as 6 weeks. If you are travelling abroad The Number One Health Group advises at least a 6 week course for each adult (42 Tablets).
Women who are pregnant or breast feeding, those with severe renal impairment, and those on the following drugs: Chlorpropamide, Methotrexate, Phenylbutazone.
Almost all drugs can cause sickness and vomiting. Some people feel dizzy, get a headache or have difficulty sleeping.
'Tamiflu is designed to be effective against any clinically relevant influenza strains. As part of pandemic preparedness, the efficacy of Tamiflu against new H5N1 virus has been investigated in vitro and animal models and has been shown to be effective.Tamiflu, the only available oral neuraminidase inhibitor, provides an immediate option for the treatment and prophylaxis of influenza from the outset of a pandemic. However, the manufacturing process for Tamiflu is complex and takes approximately 12 months, making it vital for
governments to prepare their stockpiles and place their orders for Tamiflu in good time.
2.37 In order to help meet domestic and international demand, Roche has doubled its Tamiflu manufacturing capacity in 2004 and 2005 and will increase capacity eightfold in 2006. Roche is also now producing oseltamivir in three forms as follows:
- capsule;
- suspension (Tamiflu is the only available oral neuraminidase inhibitor that is licenced for treatment in children aged one year and over,15 and suspension allows for a more pleasant administration option for younger children);
As with any antiviral, a theoretical potential exists for an influenza virus
to emerge with decreased sensitivity to the drug and this is known as virus
susceptibility. Data collected from around 3,000 patients treated with Tamiflu
demonstrate an overall incidence of resistant virus of 0.4 per cent in adults
and 4 per cent in children aged one to 12 and this suggests that virus susceptibility
relating to Tamiflu is currently low.
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Nonetheless, Roche Products Ltd constantly monitors potential resistance to Tamiflu through the Neuraminidase Inhibitor Susceptibility Network. Accordingly, Roche welcome increased surveillance efforts by national governments and international organizations.
The 14-year old girl who seemed to have caught influenza from her brother ... she was actually treated with half the appropriate dose of Tamiflu.'
Roche spokesperson quoted from the House of Lords Select Committee Report
The prophylactic doses are different from the treatment dose:
Prophylaxis is 75mg once a day for at least 7 days BUT up to 6 weeks in an epidemic (taken with 48 hours of exposure)
Treatment is 75mg twice a day for 5 days
Children older than 1 year can be given a treatment or prophylactic dosage by a doctor but the advice is currently NOT to use it as prophylaxis in under 12s since we have no safety data.
Patient Queries On Anti Virals To Healthcare Provider Physician >
Corporate Queries By Client Occupational Health Physician >
Anti Virals Patient Product Information >
Patient specific enquiries on Anti Virals can be handled by either your company physician, Number One Health or your GP. There is a Anti Virals patient information leaflet available from www.rocheuk.com in the product section or via the electronic medicines compendium and medicines guides which can be accessed via www.medicines.org.uk.
Should specific questions be raised by corporate OH clients on for example efficacy or resistance of Anti Virals to H5N1 then these may be better handled by Roche given the changing face of experience. The Roche Drug Information Helpdesk number is 0800 3281629.
TREATMENT
| Body
Weight |
Recommended dose for 5 days |
| Less than or equal
to 15kg |
30mg twice daily |
| Greater than 15kg less than or equal to 23 kg | 45mg twice daily |
| Greater than 23kg less than or equal to 40 kg | 60mg twice daily |
| Body
Weight |
Recommended dose for 5 days |
| Less than or equal
to 15kg |
30mg twice daily |
| Greater than 15kg less than or equal to 23 kg | 45mg twice daily |
| Greater than 23kg less than or equal to 40 kg | 60mg twice daily |
Currently Roche has no recommendations for creating a child's dose by the opening of the adult capsules. The drug has a bitter taste.
Shelf-life of powder from manufacture is 2 years. Once re-constituted the suspension has to be kept in the fridge and used within 10 days.
We suggest you take extra supplies of Anti Virals and call us when the need arises (you have 48 hours). If we feel there is a need to protect your child we can advise you, but please note that we are not the manufacturer and cannot take legal responsibility for any side-effects if the drug is used to protect a child.
