Tamiflu Side Effects

Tamiflu Connected To Abnormal Behavior And Self-Injury

FDA Recommendation

The pharmaceutical maker Roche Laboratories is reviewing a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommendation to include stronger warnings with Tamiflu (Oseltamivir Phosphate), a product Roche produces to treat influenza. The FDA has issued warnings that associate the onset of influenza and the use of Tamiflu with the potential for delirium (confusion, hallucinations, speech problems), unusual behavior, and possible self-injury. These conditions have been found to occur more often in children. The Washington Post reported that the FDA panel issued these recommendations after reviewing reports of “bizarre behaviors and deaths among children who use the medication”. The Washington Post report went on to cite studies that found 596 cases where Tamiflu users displayed behavior consistent with “neuropsychiatric events”.

Reported Deaths

The FDA panel report, dated October 24, 2007, described five deaths in Japan as “unusual traumatic injuries” that are thought to be connected to neuropsychiatric behavior. The use of Tamiflu was restricted by the Japanese Ministry of Health after the February 2007 deaths of two teenagers. This restriction applies to patients from ten through nineteen years of age who the Ministry feels to be at increased risk of complications from influenza.

Roche Acknowledges Reports from Japan

Roche has acknowledged reports from Japan associating the use of Tamiflu and neuropsychiatric conditions. Tamiflu is Roche’s ninth largest selling drug, producing about $257 million dollars in the third quarter of 2007 and Roche claims that there is no evidence Tamiflu contributed to these deaths. The FDA feels strongly enough to recommend that Roche warn Tamiflu users about these deaths and Tamiflu’s possible connection to potentially fatal “neuropsychiatric events”.

If you or one of your family members has experienced injury, or death after taking Tamiflu, you should consult an experienced lawyer right away.

More Information about Tamiflu

Tamiflu Safety and dosing information from Roche

FDA.gov – November, 2006

FDA Panel Recommendations for Tamiflu information update

FDA.gov – November 24, 200

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