Oseltamivir is used to treat flu symptoms caused by influenza virus in patients who have had symptoms for less than 2 days. It may also be given to prevent influenza in people who may be exposed but do not yet have symptoms. This medicine will not treat the common cold.
Before taking this medicine, tell your doctor if you have received a nasal flu vaccine within the past 2 weeks, or if you have kidney disease, heart disease, lung disease, or any other serious disease or health problem. Also tell your doctor if you have any condition causing swelling or disorder of the brain.
Take Oseltamivir for as many days as it has been prescribed for you even if you begin to feel better. Your symptoms may start to improve before the infection is completely treated.
Some people using this medicine have had rare side effects of sudden confusion, delirium, hallucinations, unusual behavior, or self-injury. These symptoms have occurred most often in children. It is not known whether this medicine was the exact cause of these symptoms. However, anyone using this medicine should be watched closely for signs of confusion or unusual behavior. Call a doctor at once if you or the child using this medicine has any of these symptoms.
Before taking this medicine
Oseltamivir should not be used in place of getting a yearly flu shot. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends an annual flu shot to help protect you each year from new strains of influenza virus. You can get a flu shot even while using this medicine.
You should not use oseltamivir if you are allergic to it.
Do not use oseltamivir to prevent influenza in a child younger than 3 months old. Do not use this medicine to treat influenza in a child younger than 2 weeks old unless instructed by your doctor.
Tell your doctor if you have ever had:
kidney disease (or if you are on dialysis);
heart disease or chronic lung disease;
a condition causing swelling or disorder of the brain;
a weak immune system (caused by disease or by using certain medicine);
hereditary fructose intolerance; or
if you have used a nasal flu vaccine (FluMist) within the past 2 weeks.
It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. However, getting sick with influenza during pregnancy can cause complications leading to birth defects, low birth weight, preterm delivery, or stillbirth. Your doctor will decide whether you should receive oseltamivir if you are pregnant.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that pregnant women may receive a yearly flu vaccine to prevent influenza. Oseltamivir is not to be used in place of the yearly flu shot.
It is not known whether oseltamivir passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
