An Introduction to TamifluTamiflu® (oseltamivir phosphate) is a prescription medication used for the avoidance or treatment of the swine flu. It is licensed for adults and children 1 year of age and old. The medication is not a swine flu vaccine, nor should it be used in host to a yearly flu vaccination. The Food as well as Drug Administration has sanctioned emergency use of Tamiflu for children under one year of age for your 2009-2010 H1N1 flu season. Who Tends to make Tamiflu?It is manufactured by Roche Pharmaceutical drugs.

What Is It Used For?Tamiflu has been certified for two uses: Treatment of flu (the virus that causes the virus) Prevention of influenza. For Tamiflu to treat your flu, it must be taken within one to two days of the start of influenza symptoms. For prevention, it must also be started as soon as possible immediately after exposure. Tamiflu has not been shown to be effective against other types of viruses, such as viruses that cause the abdominal flu or common chilly. It is actively being studied to learn how effective it is at treating bird winter flu (avian flu). How Does That Work?The medication functions attacking the flu virus in the body, thus preventing this from spreading. This is different from other flu medicines, that just treat symptoms of a flu. Tamiflu is part of a category of drugs called neuraminidase inhibitors. Neuraminidase (an enzyme found on the flu virus) allows a flu virus to spread. Simply by blocking this enzyme, Tamiflu restrictions the virus’s ability to spread.