What is the success rate with Tamiflu?

Wednesday, June 17 2009

In light of all the controversy lately surrounding the Swine Flu, and the CDC’s recommendation of oseltamivir (the pharmaceutical Tamiflu) for flu prevention and treatment, people are wondering about its effectiveness in treating and/or preventing flu symptoms.

Nothing in life is 100% certain. But Tamiflu has been shown to work in many cases both for prevention of various types of flu, and when for alleviating symptoms of the Swine Flu and other strains, symptoms including fever, cough, runny nose and more. In studies of patients who took Tamiflu within 48 hours of the first appearance of flu symptoms:

Adults felt indications of recovery about 30% faster (1.3 days sooner) than people suffering from the flu who did not take Tamiflu.

Children found relief up to 26% sooner (1.5 days earlier) than flu patients who did not use Tamiflu. (Note that Tamiflu is not for infants, is for use in patients one year and older only.)

If you haven’t contracted any flu recently, but are concerned about it, then Tamiflu could be the preventative medicine you’re looking for. And if you do have the flu, or want to keep something on hand for its occurrence in your home, Tamiflu is shown to help speed up recovery from the flu.