Tamiflu

Tamiflu doesn’t work

First10EM - By Justin Morgenstern - February 3, 2020

"The paper: Butler CC, van der Velden AW, Bongard E, et al. Oseltamivir plus usual care versus usual care for influenza-like illness in primary care: an open-label, pragmatic, randomised controlled trial. Lancet. 2020; 395(10217):42-52. PMID: 31839279 ISRCTN27908921

Bottom line

The positive findings in this unblinded trial are completely unconvincing. Based on plaebo controlled studies, we know that tamiflu doesn’t change any important, objective outcomes. It may decrease the length of illness slightly, although the studies that report than benefit have a high risk of bias. However, it causes side effects that patients tend to find worse than the flu itself. Personally, I do not and will not prescribe Tamiflu."

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You can read a little bit about the Tamiflu saga here

Other FOAMed

• The Tamiflu Debacle – REBEL EM
• Which Review of Tamiflu Data Do You Believe? and Tamiflu, the Bell Tolls for Thee and Lies, Damned Lies, and Tamiflu (oseltamivir) on Emergency Medicine Literature of Note
• Myths in Emergency Medicine – Still Prescribing Oseltamivir?