How To Use Oseltamivir Phosphate (Tamiflu)

Oseltamivir comes in the form of capsules and an oral suspension to take by mouth. To treat flu symptoms and reduce the duration of a severe illness, the oral dose is taken twice a day for 5 days. To prevent infection with the influenza virus, it is taken once a day for 10 days. The medicine may be prescribed for up to 6 weeks when there is a community outbreak of flu. 

You can take this medicine with or without food. If it causes an upset stomach, it may help to take it with food or milk.

Read the prescription label and patient information leaflet carefully and take oseltamivir exactly as prescribed. Do not perform a dose adjustment, change the dosage frequency, or alter the duration of treatment without your doctor’s approval. 

Continue taking oseltamivir even if you start to feel better after 1-2 days. If you stop treatment too soon, your infection may not be completely treated or you may not be fully protected from the influenza virus. 

Call your doctor if you develop new or worsening flu symptoms, including fever, chills, cough, sore throat, runny nose, stuffy nose, headache, tiredness, and muscle or joint pain. 

Remember, oseltamivir is not a substitute for the annual flu shot. Also, this medication does not prevent you from spreading the flu to others. Continue to avoid meeting people if you are sick, practice good hand hygiene, and do not share utensils or other personal objects with others. 

If you are using the oral suspension, shake the bottle well before taking the medicine. Use the dose measuring device provided with the medicine to measure the dose accurately. Your pharmacist will show you how to use the measuring device and plunger properly. Do not use a household spoon as this can result in the wrong amount of medicine. Do not mix the oral suspension with other liquids. 

If you have trouble swallowing pills, your doctor may ask you to open the capsules and mix the contents with a small amount of sweetened liquid, such as light brown sugar dissolved in water, regular or sugar-free chocolate syrup, caramel topping, or corn syrup. Consume the mixture right away - do not store it for later use.

Missed dose: If you miss a dose of oseltamivir, take it as soon as you remember. If it is less than 2 hours to your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the next dose according to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.

Storage: Store oseltamivir capsules at room temperature (between 15-30°C or 59-86° F) away from moisture, heat, and direct light in a tightly closed container. Do not store medications in the bathroom where they can be exposed to moisture and heat. The commercially available suspension can be stored at room temperature for up to 10 days and in the refrigerator for up to 17 days. A suspension prepared by a pharmacist can be stored at room temperature for up to 5 days and in the refrigerator for up to 35 days. Keep all medications safely out of reach of children and pets.

Unused medicine: Unused oseltamivir should be disposed of in a way that children, other people, and pets cannot get to them. Do not throw oseltamivir in the trash or flush it down the toilet. The best way to properly discard expired or unneeded oseltamivir is through a drug take-back program or your local waste disposal company. Learn more about proper medication disposal. 

NOTE: This medication guide is a summary and may not contain all possible drug information on oseltamivir. The information contained here may not be up-to-date. This sheet is for information purposes only. If you have questions about oseltamivir, talk to your doctor or health system pharmacists for medical advice.

Discounted prices for oseltamivir phosphate
 start at $27.00.

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