Dr. Ogbru received his Doctorate in Pharmacy from the University of the Pacific School of Pharmacy in 1995. He completed a Pharmacy Practice Residency at the University of Arizona/University Medical Center in 1996. He was a Professor of Pharmacy Practice and a Regional Clerkship Coordinator for the University of the Pacific School of Pharmacy from 1996-99.
Jay W. Marks, MD, is a board-certified internist and gastroenterologist. He graduated from Yale University School of Medicine and trained in internal medicine and gastroenterology at UCLA/Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
DRUG CLASS AND MECHANISM: Oseltamivir is an oral medication used for treating
and preventing the "flu." It is similar to zanamivir (Relenza). Oseltamivir
suppresses and decreases the spread of influenza A and B viruses, the viruses
responsible for the flu. It does this by blocking the action of neuraminidase,
an enzyme produced by the viruses that enables the viruses to spread from
infected cells to healthy cells. By preventing the spread of virus from cell to
cell, the symptoms and duration of influenza infection are reduced. On average,
oseltamivir reduces the duration of symptoms by one and a half days if treatment
is started within forty-eight hours of the beginning of symptoms. The FDA
approved oseltamivir in October 1999.
GENERIC AVAILABLE: No
PRESCRIPTION: Yes
PREPARATIONS: Capsules: 30, 45, and 75 mg. Suspension: 12 mg/ml
STORAGE: Oseltamivir should be stored at room temperature, 15-30 C (59-86 F).
PRESCRIBED FOR: Oseltamivir is used for the treatment of uncomplicated
infections with the influenza viruses, including
H1N1, in adults and children
(one year and older) within two days of the beginning of symptoms. It also is
approved for emergency use in children less than 1 year old. Oseltamivir can be
used for preventing the flu in healthy individuals, but it is not a substitute
for flu vaccine.
DOSING: Oseltamivir is administered orally.
The recommended dose for treating
adults is 75 mg twice daily for five days.
Children are treated with 30-75 mg
twice daily depending on body weight.
For the best results, treatment should
begin within 2 days of symptom onset. The recommended dose for preventing flu
after close contact with an infected individual is 75 mg daily for 10 days.
DRUG INTERACTIONS: Oseltamivir potentially may interfere with the action of
the live attenuated flu vaccine that is given by injection because oseltamivir
prevents viral replication. Therefore, live attenuated flu vaccine should not be
administered within two weeks before or 48 hours after administration of
oseltamivir.
NURSING MOTHERS: The CDC recommends that women with flu who have recently
given birth may be treated with oseltamivir. Oseltamivir is approved for use in
children one year old and older, and available evidence suggests that the risk
of adverse events is low when oseltamivir is used in children less than 1 year
old.
Influenza (flu) is a respiratory illness caused by a virus. Flu symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, headache, fatigue, and muscle aches. The flu may be prevented with an annual influenza vaccination.
Bird flu (avian flu, avian influenza) infection in humans may result from contact with infected poultry. There is a vaccine to prevent human infection with the H5N1 strain of the avian flu virus.
Novel H1N1 influenza A virus infection (swine flu) is an infection that generally is transferred from an infected pig to a human, however there have been reported cases where infection has occured with no contact with infected pigs. Symptoms of swine flu are "flu-like" and include fever, cough, and sore throat. Treatment is generally with the antibiotics oseltamivir (Tamiflu) or zanamivir (Relenza).
Drug resistance (antimicrobial resistance) is the ability of bacteria, fungi, parasites, and viruses to grow, even in the presence of a drug that would normally kill it (or limit it's growth). Drug resistance is a growing problem, particularly for infections such as MRSA, VRE (vancomycin-resistant enterococci), tuberculosis, HIV, STDs, gonorrhea, flu, pneumonia, malaria, E. coli, salmonella, Campylobacter, which causes diarrhea and gastroenteritis. Learn how to protect yourself from resistance to drugs.
Pregnant and women who are breastfeeding are encouraged to receive the seasonal flu shot as well as the 2009 H1N1 influenza (swine flu) vaccine. H1N1 flu is treated with the medications Tamiflu® (oseltamivir) or Relenza® (zanamivir). Pregnant women should not receive the H1N1 attenuated nasal spray vaccine. Possible side effects of the H1N1 flu vaccine include muscle aches, fever, nausea, tiredness, or headache.
Increasing use of antimicrobials in humans, animals,
and agriculture has resulted in many microbes developing resistance to these
powerful drugs.
Many infectious diseases are increasingly difficult
to treat because of antimicrobial-resistant organisms, including HIV infection, staphylococcal
infection, tuberculosis, influenza, gonorrhea, candida infection, and malaria.
Between 5 and 10 percent of all hospital patients
develop an infection, leading to an increase of about $5 billion in annual
U.S. healthcare costs.
About 90,000 of these patients die each year as a
result of their infection, up from 13,300 patient deaths in 1992.
People infected with antimicrobial-resistant organisms are more likely
to have longer hospital stays and may require more complicated treatment.
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