An Introduction to Tamiflu Side Effects
As with any medicine, side effects are possible with
Tamiflu® (
oseltamivir phosphate). However, not everyone who takes the drug will have problems. In fact, most people tolerate it quite well. If side effects do occur, they are usually minor. Often, they require no treatment or are easily treated by you or your healthcare provider. In previous research studies, less than 1 percent of people taking Tamiflu stopped their medicine because of side effects.
If you develop an allergic reaction or severe skin rash, stop taking Tamiflu and call your healthcare provider.
(This article covers many, but not all, of the possible side effects with Tamiflu. Your healthcare provider can discuss a more complete list of Tamiflu side effects with you.)
Common Side Effects of Tamiflu
Tamiflu has been studied extensively in clinical trials. In these studies, the side effects that occur in a group of people taking the drug are documented and are then compared to those that occur in another group of people not taking the medicine. As a result, it is possible to see what side effects occur, how often they appear, and how they compare to the group not taking the medicine.
For adults, the most common side effects thought to be related to the medicine were:
- Nausea -- in up to 10 percent of people
- Vomiting -- up to 9 percent.
In children, the most common problem was vomiting. Up to 15 percent of children experienced this side effect. Nausea and vomiting usually happen during the first couple days of treatment and are usually mild to moderate. Taking Tamiflu with food may help decrease the chances of experiencing nausea or vomiting.
In adults, other common side effects with Tamiflu included but were not limited to:
In children, other common side effects included:
