💊 Oseltamivir (Oseltamivir)
Oseltamivir is an antiviral medicine used to treat acute, uncomplicated influenza A and B and to prevent influenza. It is taken by mouth and is not a substitute for annual influenza vaccination. Your doctor or pharmacist determines the right dose for you.
In Arabic: أوسيلتاميفير
🏷️ Brand names & manufacturers
Packages shown are US-market (DailyMed). Brands available in Palestine are in the price section below.
Oseltamivir Phosphate🏭 Amneal Pharmaceuticals LLC
Oseltamivir🏭 Alembic Pharmaceuticals Limited
Oseltamivir🏭 Alembic Pharmaceuticals Inc.✅ What it is used for
- Treatment of acute, uncomplicated influenza A and B in patients 2 weeks of age and older who have been symptomatic for no more than 48 hours
- Prophylaxis of influenza A and B in patients 1 year and older
🧪 Active ingredient
The active ingredient is oseltamivir (as oseltamivir phosphate), an antiviral active against influenza virus. In the body it is converted to its active form, oseltamivir carboxylate.
🌿 Benefits
- Treats influenza A and B when started early
- Helps prevent influenza in the groups specified in the label
📝 How to use
- Your doctor or pharmacist sets the dose and duration based on age, weight and kidney function; do not change it without consulting them
- Treatment should be started within 48 hours of the onset of flu symptoms
- Capsules may be taken with or without food, but tolerability may be better when taken with food
- For those who cannot swallow capsules, the oral suspension is preferred; if unavailable, capsules may be opened and mixed with sweetened liquids as directed by the doctor or pharmacist
💊 Dosage forms
- Capsules 30 mg
- Capsules 45 mg
- Capsules 75 mg
⚠️ Common side effects
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Headache
- Pain (in prophylaxis studies)
🚨 Serious — seek medical help
- Severe allergic reactions including anaphylaxis
- Serious skin reactions including Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis and erythema multiforme
- Delirium and abnormal behavior, in some cases leading to injury, reported mainly in pediatric patients
⛔ Do not use if
- Known serious hypersensitivity to oseltamivir or any component of the product
❗ Warnings & precautions
- Stop the medicine and seek medical help immediately if signs of an allergic reaction or serious skin rash occur
- Patients with influenza, especially children, may be at increased risk of confusion or abnormal behavior early in their illness and should be monitored
- Not a substitute for annual influenza vaccination
- Influenza viruses change over time and resistance may reduce effectiveness
- Not recommended in end-stage renal disease patients not undergoing dialysis
- Dose adjustment is needed in moderate or severe renal impairment
🔄 Drug interactions
- Live attenuated influenza vaccine (intranasal): avoid giving within 2 weeks before or 48 hours after oseltamivir unless medically indicated
- Inactivated influenza vaccine can be given at any time relative to oseltamivir
- No dose adjustment needed with amoxicillin, acetaminophen, aspirin, cimetidine, antacids, rimantadine, amantadine or warfarin
🤰 Pregnancy
There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. Published epidemiological data suggest that use in any trimester is not associated with an increased risk of birth defects, but these studies are limited. Pregnant women are at higher risk of severe complications from influenza. Consult your doctor before use.
🍼 Breastfeeding
The label text provided does not include information on breastfeeding. Consult your doctor before use.
🧒 Children
Safety and efficacy for treatment of influenza are established in pediatric patients 2 weeks to 17 years, and for prophylaxis in those 1 to 17 years. Dosing is weight-based and set by the doctor. Safety and efficacy for treatment in patients under 2 weeks of age have not been established.
👴 Older adults
No overall differences in safety or effectiveness were observed between elderly patients (65 years and older) and younger patients.
🌡️ Storage
Store at 25°C (77°F); excursions permitted between 15° and 30°C (59° to 86°F).
⏰ Missed dose
The label text provided does not give specific instructions for a missed dose. Ask your doctor or pharmacist.
🆘 Overdose
In most reported overdose cases no adverse reactions were reported; those reported were similar to adverse reactions at therapeutic doses. Seek medical help or emergency care in case of overdose.
💰 Price & brands in your area
Local prices are currently available for Palestine; more countries are coming. Ask your pharmacist for local price and alternatives.
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Mechanism of action
Oseltamivir is an antiviral with activity against influenza virus (neuraminidase inhibitor). It is extensively converted by hepatic esterases to oseltamivir carboxylate (at least 75% of an oral dose reaches the systemic circulation as this form), which is not further metabolized and is eliminated unchanged in urine.
Labeled dosing
Treatment: adults and adolescents (13 years and older) 75 mg twice daily for 5 days. Prophylaxis: 75 mg once daily for at least 10 days, and up to 6 weeks in a community outbreak. Reduce the dose in renal impairment according to creatinine clearance. The dose is determined by the doctor or pharmacist.
- Start treatment within 48 hours of symptom onset
- Pediatric dosing is weight-based; 2 weeks to under 1 year: 3 mg/kg twice daily for 5 days
- Renal impairment (CrCl >30-60 mL/min): 30 mg twice daily for treatment; (>10-30 mL/min): 30 mg once daily for treatment
- Hemodialysis: 30 mg immediately then 30 mg after every dialysis cycle (treatment, not to exceed 5 days)
- Monitor for abnormal behavior; discontinue if a hypersensitivity reaction is suspected
- Most common adverse reactions (>1% and more than placebo): nausea, vomiting, headache
🎓 Key points for students
- Oseltamivir is a neuraminidase inhibitor used for treatment and prophylaxis of influenza A and B
- It is converted by hepatic esterases to the active oseltamivir carboxylate, which is renally eliminated unchanged
- Plasma protein binding is low (3% for the active metabolite), so displacement interactions are not significant
- Dose is adjusted for renal function; not recommended in ESRD without dialysis
- Key adverse effects: nausea, vomiting, headache; warnings for serious skin/hypersensitivity reactions and neuropsychiatric events
- Avoid intranasal live attenuated influenza vaccine around the time of use
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What is oseltamivir used for?
It is used to treat uncomplicated influenza A and B when symptoms started 48 hours ago or less, and to prevent influenza.
Does oseltamivir replace the flu vaccine?
No, it is not a substitute for annual influenza vaccination.
Should it be taken with food?
It can be taken with or without food, though tolerability may be better with food.
What are the most common side effects?
Nausea, vomiting and headache; pain was also reported in prophylaxis studies.
When should I stop the medicine and seek help?
If you develop signs of an allergic reaction, a serious skin rash, confusion or abnormal behavior, stop and contact your doctor right away.
Can it be used during pregnancy?
Available data do not suggest an increased risk of birth defects, but they are limited. The decision rests with your doctor.
⚕️ For education only — not a substitute for advice from your doctor or pharmacist. Do not start or stop any medicine without advice. Source: official FDA drug label via openFDA (2023-01), simplified. Updated: 2026-11-10.