Oseltamivir (Antiflu) 75 mg capsule and its containing active ingredient Oseltamivir, is an FDA approved anti-viral prescription medicine used to treat acute uncomplicated influenza A and influenza B viruses that cause the flu in adults and pediatric patients.

Oseltamivir is also useful for influenza prophylaxis if there is flu outbreak or within 48 hours of contact with an infected individual in adults and children greater than one year of age. Oseltamivir is not a substitute for flu vaccine. If you receive the flu vaccine every year, continue to do so.

Moreover, the US FDA has disapproved of this medicine’s use to treat patients with mild, moderate, and severe COVID-19. Do not use this medicine to treat COVID-19 unless directed by the doctor. 

What does Oseltamivir (Antiflu) 75mg capsule contain?

Antiflu 75mg contains its active ingredient oseltamivir, which is an anti-viral medicine that belongs to a class of drugs called neuraminidase inhibitors. 

How does Oseltamivir (Antiflu) 75mg work?

Antiflu 75mg capsule and its active ingredient oseltamivir, is an anti-viral medicine which acts as a neuraminidase inhibitor with potent and selective competitive inhibition of the influenza virus neuraminidase, an enzyme necessary for viral replication. It works by stopping the spread of the flu virus in the body. Oseltamivir also reduces the duration of shedding and the viral titer and can shorten the length of symptoms by 1 to 3 days. 

Who cannot take Oseltamivir (Antiflu) 75mg?

Before taking this drug, inform your doctor if you have any of the following conditions.  Oseltamivir is not suitable for everyone. Patients under treatment for the following conditions, or any ongoing managed condition, should consult their doctor prior to taking this medication 

• You should not use this medicine if you are allergic to oseltamivir, any other medications, or any of the ingredients in oseltamivir capsules.
• HIV/AIDS, or other conditions that can weaken the immune system
• A medical history of heart, lung and kidney disease or kidney transplant or bone marrow transplant
• Oseltamivir should not be used in patients with influenza illnesses due to strains confirmed as resistant to oseltamivir. In addition, it should not be used for diseases caused by organisms other than influenza viruses.

How should you take Oseltamivir (Antiflu) 75mg? 

Take oseltamivir (Antiflu ) 75mg capsule exactly as prescribed by your doctor with food (to reduce gastrointestinal upset) or without food. You may view Additional Information tab for recommended doses. Take this medication as soon as flu symptoms appear or as soon as possible after you have been exposed to the flu. Oseltamivir works best if you start taking it within 2 days either of these events. Do not take this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. Do not skip any doses and finish the full course of treatment.

• When oseltamivir is used tfo treat flu symptoms, it is usually taken two times a day (morning and evening) for 5 days. 
• When oseltamivir is used to prevent flu, it is usually taken once a day for at least 10 days, or for up to 6 weeks during a community flu outbreak. 

Periodically reassess the appropriateness of continued use of the daily regimen. Dosage recommendations may vary among individual products and between countries (refer to detailed product guideline).

What if you miss a dose?

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double the doses. 

What if you take too much?

Reports of overdoses or toxicity with oseltamivir have been received from clinical trials and during postmarketing experience. In the majority of cases reporting overdose, no adverse reactions were reported. Adverse reactions reported following overdose were similar in nature to those observed with therapeutic doses of oseltamivir.

If you take too much of the drug, seek medical help immediately.

What are the side effects of Oseltamivir (Antiflu) 75mg?

Most side effects do not require any medical attention and disappear as your body adjusts to the medicine. The most frequently reported adverse effect by patient taking Oseltamivir Includes:

• Nausea (up to 10%)
• Vomiting (2 to 15%) – Most frequently reported side effect in children (16% of children aged 1-12 years) 
• Abdominal pain
• Diarrhea
• Headache 
• Insomnia
• Vertigo 

Other side effects occurring less than 1% of the time include conjunctivitis, epistaxis, allergy, arrhythmia, GI bleeding, erythema multiforme, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, confusion, seizures, and neuropsychiatric events.

This is not a complete list of possible adverse effects; others may arise. For medical advice on side effects, contact your doctor.

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction (hives, difficulty of breathing, swelling in your face of throat) to oseltamivir, or a severe skin reaction (fever, sore throat, burning in your eyes, skin pain, red or purple skin rash that spreads and causes blistering and peeling).   

What other precautions should be taken?

Children

Oseltamivir is not indicated to treat flu in children younger than 2 weeks of age nor to prevent flu in children younger than 1 year of age. Safety and efficacy have not been established.

Elderly

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of oseltamivir in the elderly.

Pregnancy

This drug is a categorized as FDA Pregnancy class C. Use with caution if benefits outweigh risks. Animal studies show risk and human studies not available or neither animal nor human studies done.

Breastfeeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding

Drug-Disease interactions

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Heart disease
• Illnesses caused by viruses other than influenza Type A or B
• Liver disease, severe
• Lung disease
• Serious medical problems that may need admission to a hospital
• Weakened immune system—Safety of this medicine for people with these conditions is not established
• Kidney disease—Use with caution. The effects may be increased because of slower removal of the medicine from the body

Drug-Drug interactions

Tell your doctor what prescription and non-prescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention any of the following medications, especially those that affect the immune system such as: azathioprine, cyslosporine, cancer chemotherapy medications, methotrexate, sirolimus, and oral steroids such as dexamethasone and prednisone. Your doctor may need the change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects. 

Alcohol

There are no direct interactions between alcohol and the flu shot or flu medications. This means that alcohol doesn’t affect how well the shot or medications work. Always drink in moderation and drink responsibly. 

Driving

Oseltamivir (Antiflu) 75mg is not expected to affect your ability to drive a car or operate machinery. If you experience a decrease in alertness, sleepiness, dizziness, and changes in your vision while taking this medicine, do not drive and immediately consult your doctor. 

Diet and Lifestyle

Apart from vaccination and antiviral treatment, the public health management includes personal protective measures like:

• Regular hand washing with proper drying of the hands
• Good respiratory hygiene – covering mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, using tissues and disposing of them correctly
• Early self-isolation of those feeling unwell, feverish and having other symptoms of influenza
• Avoiding close contact with sick people
• Avoiding touching one’s eyes, nose or mouth

How should you store Oseltamivir (Antiflu) 75mg?

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing. Keep out of the reach of children. Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Quick Tips

• Oseltamivir Anti-flu 75mg will not stop you from giving the flu to others. You should wash your hands frequently, and avoid practices such as sharing cups and utensils that can spread the virus to others. 
• The most effective way to prevent the disease is vaccination. Oseltamivir is not a substitute for flu vaccine. If you receive the flu vaccine every year, continue to do so. 
• Do not let anyone else take your medication. Your prescription is probably not refillable. If you still have symptoms of the flu after you finish taking oseltamivir, call your doctor

What company produces Oseltamivir (Antiflu) 75mg?