Flu Drugs Inappropriate for Healthy Adults

The flu drugs Tamiflu and Relenza may not be worthwhile to treat seasonal influenza in healthy adults, British researchers reported on Friday.

"Recommending the use of antiviral drugs for the treatment of people presenting with symptoms is unlikely to be the most appropriate course of action," wrote Jane Burch of the University of York and colleagues.

Their study, published in the Lancet Infectious Diseases, supports an advisory from the World Health Organization that says healthy patients who get H1N1 swine flu without suffering complications do not need to be treated with antivirals.

Tamiflu, made by Switzerland's Roche under license from Gilead Sciences Inc., is a pill that can both treat and prevent influenza A viruses of all kinds. Zanamivir, made by GlaxoSmithKline under license from Australia's Biota and sold under the brand name Relenza, is an inhaled drug in the same class.

WHO strongly recommends both drugs for pregnant women, patients with underlying medical conditions and children under 5, as they are at increased risk of more severe illness.

Burch's team reviewed many different published studies on Tamiflu and Relenza. "We present the results for healthy adults and people at-risk of influenza-related complications," they wrote.

Both drugs shaved about half a day, on average, off the time patients were ill, they found. Influenza usually affects people for about a week.

The drugs worked a little better in people who have a high risk of complications, such as patients with diabetes or asthma, with Relenza cutting sickness by almost a day and Tamiflu by three-quarters of a day, on average.

This suggests the drugs should be reserved for people who need them the most, the researchers concluded.

Copyright Reuters

Swine Flu Swindle - Tamiflu and Relenza Warning

The FDA has decided to swindle us.

First they laid the groundwork by scaring us with their ridiculous swine flu estimates. Then they rushed to the rescue, telling us to rely on Tamiflu and Relenza...two potentially dangerous drugs that, by the way, are already implicated in creating a drug- resistant strain of the flu. And now they've apparently decided that it doesn't matter if those drugs are effective -- as long as doctors hand them out anyway.
The FDA is allowing -- actually calling for, endorsing, promoting! -- the use of expired Tamiflu and Relenza. In fact, the agency decided under its SLEP (Shelf Life Extension Program...the name says it all) that four batches of antiviral drugs that expired in June 2009 now expire in May 2011. Magic!

And that's not all... To make sure government agencies can use up all their already bought and paid for and stockpiled, no matter what, they've also decided to waive their own standards. Now even improperly stored Relenza and Tamiflu will be deemed safe and effective for use...even in infants.

Of course, none of this is common knowledge. But it should be -- that's why HSI is bringing you this information when no one else is. You have the right to know that the course of Tamiflu your doctor prescribes may be expired, and may not have been properly stored. (Not to mention the potential adverse effects of Tamiflu!) Do you still want to take it?

--Michele

Posted:  True Health Is True Wealth