The Tamiflu debate rages on, should we, shouldn’t we?
Not being a medic I suppose I can see some point, but the Gov has spent hundreds of millions on Tamiflu which is rapidly approaching its sell by date, to treat, as far as I can tell a minor but highly infectious illness.
Not being a medic I suppose I can see some point, but the Gov has spent hundreds of millions on Tamiflu which is rapidly approaching its sell by date, to treat, as far as I can tell a minor but highly infectious illness.
It seems that the people most at risk are children, but Tamiflu cannot be given to under one year olds, and side effects are beginning to emerge; “Between April 1 and August 6 there were 418 reports, of which 125 were received in the last week alone.
The 418 reports detailed 686 suspected adverse reactions, including allergy to Tamiflu and nausea. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is collecting data on suspected side effects - not all of which are confirmed as being caused by the drug.
Tamiflu, which is manufactured by Roche, has vomiting and nausea listed as its main side effects on its packaging.
A total of 11 per cent of adults and adolescents taking the drug experience nausea and 8 per cent have vomiting, according to the summary of product characteristics.
Headaches are another side effect when the drug is taken preventatively rather than as a treatment.
In children, the most commonly reported side effect is vomiting, with 15 per cent suffering it and 10 per cent having diarrhoea.
A total of 3 per cent of children will get nausea and 5 per cent have reported abdominal pain.
Clinical studies accepted by health bodies in the UK and worldwide show that the drug should not aggravate asthma.
A total of 4 per cent of children with asthma experienced worse asthmatic symptoms when taking the drug - the same proportion as in a group of asthmatic children taking a dummy drug.
The study, on 334 asthmatic children aged six to 12, found the drug did not help cut the length of the illness.
But by the last day of treatment (day six) the lung function was better in children taking Tamiflu, with their Forced Expiratory Volume having increased by 10.8 per cent compared with 4.7 per cent among those on the dummy drug.
The Government has 23 million treatments of Tamiflu and 10.5 million treatments of another anti-viral, Relenza.”
An MHRA spokesman said: “We have allocated a dedicated section of our website to receive reports of side effects to Tamiflu and Relenza from doctors and the public in order to spot any developing trends.
“We have set up this specific site so that people can log on and report any potential side effects.
“This will assist us in monitoring the safety of these anti-viral medications.
“A report of a reaction does not mean it has been caused by the drug in question - a mere suspicion will suffice.
“The MHRA is very keen to promote this website as we want people to know about it and use it - http://swineflu.mhra.gov.uk/.”
I still fail to see what all the fuss is about, it’s FLU for god’s sake, some people won’t even know they have it, many people think they have it and demand Tamiflu from the “help line”, a lot of people will use it as an excuse to have a week off work, hysteria and panic are rife, the media are still upping the panic rating, but most of us will carry on as normal, if we get it we will retire to bed for a few days and get on with life.
I wonder that if the Gov hadn’t paid out all this money for a fairly pointless drug there would be all the hype, are they just trying to justify what seems to me to be yet another fiscal cock up by Gord and his gang.
3 comments:
It's not 'just' children who are most at risk but also those with compromised immune systems, the elderly,etc.
Tamiflu is necessary but
I reckon it probably has a placebo effect on some folk!
Children, elderly and immuno-compromised are at risk...but for a lot of other 'flu' and other communicable infections as well. This 'wonder' vaccine was too rushed through, and there are too many side effects. I'd rather just take the precaution of boosting the immune system, stay away from 'crowds'(hotspots for the contagion to spread easily), observe good handwashing.
My great-gran nursed some traveling friends who came down with the 'flu' during the Spanish flu epidemic. One died. She, her husband, 8 children and people working in her household were all fine. She kept the friends isolated, and observed the whole good handwashing, etc.
on a side note....the vaccine against HPV is another one with nasty side effects, rushed through, heavily promoted (who has to gain, I wonder). My friend's daughter had a terrible reaction, was affected neuromuscularly(couldn't walk, literally) for months.
See the last item on The sunday section http://angusdeionallandsundry.blogspot.com/
I will try to find the post what I wrote a while ago:)
Post a Comment