Oseflu

Oseflu is an antiviral drug whose active ingredient is oseltamivir. In dosage form, it is presented in the form of oseltamivir phosphate, a compound that is converted into an active form in the body and blocks the reproduction of the influenza virus.

After oral administration, oseltamivir is quickly converted in the liver into an active metabolite - oseltamivir carboxylate, which has a therapeutic effect. It effectively suppresses the activity of neuraminidase, an enzyme necessary for the influenza virus to exit infected cells and further spread in the body.

Thanks to this, the drug not only alleviates symptoms, but also reduces the viral load, speeding up recovery and reducing the likelihood of complications.

For ease of use and dosage selection, Oseflu is available in two forms:

• 75 mg capsules - used primarily in adults and adolescents. This is the most common form in the treatment and prevention of influenza.

• Powder for the preparation of suspension for oral administration — after dilution with water, a solution with a concentration of 12 mg/ml is obtained. The volume of the suspension depends on the bottle: it can be 30, 60, 65 or 70 g. This form is convenient for children and patients who have difficulty swallowing capsules.

The choice of form depends on the age, body weight of the patient, as well as whether he is being treated or taking the drug for prophylactic purposes.

Oseflu is prescribed for the treatment and prevention of influenza types A and B. The drug does not act on cold viruses or bacterial infections - it is strictly specific to the influenza virus.

Main indications

• Treatment of influenza in adults and children of any age, including newborns. However, in infants the drug is used only for health reasons.

• Prevention of influenza in adults and adolescents over 12 years of age:

• After direct contact with someone who has the flu.

• During seasonal epidemics, especially in people at risk - the elderly, chronically ill, people with weakened immune systems.

Important: The effectiveness of treatment is maximum if you start taking the drug within the first 48 hours after the onset of symptoms. If started later, the virus may already have spread throughout the body, and the effectiveness of Oseflu will be reduced.

Oseflu is taken orally — the drug is absorbed into the gastrointestinal tract and quickly begins to work. It can be taken with or without food, but taking it with food may reduce the risk of nausea.

Efficiency directly depends on the time of treatment: the earlier, the better. It is optimal to start taking it within the first 48 hours after symptoms appear. During prophylaxis, it is important to follow the recommended dosages and course duration.

Adults and teenagers over 13 years old

• Flu treatment: 75 mg twice daily for 5 days.

• Flu prevention:

• After contact with the patient - 75 mg 1 time per day for at least 10 days.

• During the epidemic - 75 mg daily for the entire risk of infection (up to 6 weeks).

Children from 1 to 12 years old

The dosage depends on body weight. The medicine is usually used in the form of a suspension:

• 10–15 kg: 30 mg 2 times a day (5 days).

• 15–23 kg: 45 mg 2 times a day.

• 23–40 kg: 60 mg 2 times a day.

• More than 40 kg: 75 mg 2 times a day - as in adults.

For prophylaxis, the same doses are used, but once a day for 10 days.

Children under 1 year old

• Recommended dose — 3 mg/kg twice a day for 5 days.

• Due to limited data, the drug is prescribed only when really necessary and under the supervision of a physician.

For renal failure

Dosage adjustment is necessary depending on creatinine clearance:

• 30–50 ml/min: 75 mg 1 time per day (treatment) or 75 mg every other day (prevention).

• 10–30 ml/min: 30 mg 2 times a day (treatment) or 30 mg every other day (prevention).

• <10 ml/min: application not recommended.

In case of liver dysfunction

No dose adjustment required — Oseltamivir is well tolerated.

Preparation of the suspension

To obtain a suspension with a concentration of 12 mg/ml, you need to add the required amount of water to the powder in the bottle, following the instructions on the package. After preparation, the suspension should be stored in the refrigerator for no more than 10 days.

Although well tolerated, Oseflu has several limitations. Before use, it is important to exclude contraindications, especially in patients with impaired renal function or allergies.

The drug is not prescribed for:

• Hypersensitivity to oseltamivir or any component of the drug. Skin reactions, swelling, shortness of breath are possible.

• End-stage chronic renal failure - if creatinine clearance is <10 ml/min, the drug is not eliminated properly and may accumulate in the body.

If there is doubt about kidney function, your doctor may order tests and adjust the dose or find an alternative.

Although Oseflu is considered safe and well tolerated, some cases require additional attention. This is especially important in children, the elderly, and patients with underlying medical conditions.

What to pay attention to:

• Oseltamivir does not replace vaccination. It only works against influenza and does not protect against other acute respiratory viral infections.

• It is effective only against influenza A and B viruses. It does not work for other viral infections (rhinoviruses, adenoviruses, etc.).

• Neuropsychiatric side effects - cases of seizures, hallucinations, delirium have been described, especially in children. If such symptoms appear, it is important to stop taking it immediately and consult a doctor.

• Patients with chronic respiratory diseases (asthma, COPD) should take the drug with caution - exacerbations are possible.

• Hypersensitivity reactions, including rash, itching, angioedema and anaphylaxis, require immediate cessation of treatment.

• Patients with immunodeficiency may require a longer course - the decision is made by the attending physician.

In all cases, an assessment of risks and benefits is important, especially when treating children, the elderly and patients with chronic diseases.

Overall, Oseflu has a low potential for drug interactions, making it convenient for use in patients taking multiple medications. However, some points still require attention.

• No clinically significant interactions with other drugs have been identified.

• Caution is required when taking simultaneously with drugs that affect kidney function - for example, some antibiotics, diuretics, chemotherapy drugs. In such cases, dose adjustment of oseltamivir may be required.

• It is also recommended to avoid combination with drugs that are metabolized with the participation of the same hepatic esterases (for example, methotrexate, butadione, chlorpropamide) - although there is no clear data on harmful interactions yet.

Before you start taking it, tell your doctor about all the medications you use, including over-the-counter drugs and dietary supplements.

Oseflu may be used in special situations in pregnant and breastfeeding women, but only on the advice of a doctor. Despite the relative safety, there are nuances that are important to know about.

Pregnancy

The use of oseltamivir during pregnancy is permitted if the potential benefit to the mother outweighs the possible risk to the fetus. The drug has not shown a pronounced teratogenic effect in studies, but is still prescribed with caution in the first trimester.

During a flu epidemic or severe infection, Oseflu may be vital, especially given the risk of complications in pregnant women.

Breastfeeding

Oseltamivir passes into breast milk in small quantities, and no serious effects on the baby have been recorded. However, the drug should be used with caution during lactation, and be sure to discuss the risks with your doctor.

If necessary, you can temporarily interrupt breastfeeding for 1–2 days - this time is enough to reduce the concentration of the drug in milk.

Fertility

To date, there is no data on the effect of oseltamivir on fertility in men and women. However, if you have problems with fertility, it is better to discuss this issue with a specialist before taking it.

Oseflu usually does not have significant effects on cognition, reaction time, or motor coordination. Patients can continue to drive or operate machinery.

However, in rare cases, adverse reactions are possible that may affect attention:

• Drowsiness

• Headache

• Dizziness

If you feel any changes in your health after taking it, it is better to temporarily stop driving and work that requires concentration.

Like any medicine, Oseflu may have side effects. Most of them are mild or moderate in nature and go away on their own, but there are also more serious ones that require medical intervention.

Very common (≥1/10):

• Nausea

• Headache

Common (≥1/100 to <1/10):

• Vomit

• Abdominal pain

• Diarrhea

• Insomnia

• Cough

• Sore throat

• Runny nose

Uncommon (≥1/1000 to <1/100):

• Hypersensitivity reactions (rash, urticaria, angioedema)

• Increased activity of liver enzymes

• Arrhythmias

Rarely (≥1/10,000 – <1/1000):

• Convulsions

• Delirium

• Hallucinations

• Unusual behavior

• Stevens-Johnson syndrome

• Toxic epidermal necrolysis

If serious symptoms occur - especially neuropsychiatric reactions or skin rashes - you should immediately stop taking it and seek medical help.

Taking higher doses of Oseflu may lead to undesirable symptoms, especially from the gastrointestinal tract and nervous system.

Possible symptoms

• Nausea

• Vomit

• Drowsiness

More severe reactions are recorded extremely rarely and are usually associated with gross excess dosage or impaired renal function.

What to do in case of overdose?

• There is no specific antidote.

• Symptomatic therapy is carried out - rest, sorbents, drinking plenty of fluids.

• In severe cases (for example, in patients with renal failure), hospitalization may be required.

If you suspect an overdose - especially in children - you should consult a doctor immediately, even if the symptoms seem minor.

Oseflu is an antiviral drug belonging to the group of neuraminidase inhibitors. Its active ingredient, oseltamivir, blocks a specific enzyme of the influenza A and B virus, which is necessary for the virus to multiply in the body.

The enzyme neuraminidase allows viral particles to leave already infected cells and penetrate new ones. If this function is blocked, the virus is “locked” inside the cell, losing the ability to spread further.

This is the mechanism of action:

• Reduces the duration of the disease, especially with early initiation of therapy.

• Reduces the intensity of symptoms (fever, weakness, aches).

• Reduces the risk of complications - especially in patients at risk: the elderly, children, pregnant women and people with chronic diseases.

Important: the drug does not directly affect the immune system and does not replace vaccination. It only works against the influenza virus, not other viruses.

After oral administration, oseltamivir is rapidly absorbed and converted in the liver into the active substance - oseltamivir carboxylate. This form provides an antiviral effect.

Key Features:

• Absorption: high. The maximum concentration in the blood is reached 2–3 hours after administration.

• Distribution: the active metabolite penetrates well into the tissues of the respiratory tract, where the virus is localized.

• Metabolism: Oseltamivir is a prodrug. Its activation occurs with the help of liver esterases.

• Removal: by the kidneys, mainly in the form of oseltamivir carboxylate. The half-life is from 6 to 10 hours.

If kidney function is impaired, the drug may accumulate in the body, so dose adjustment is required.

Oseflu belongs to the pharmacological group of antiviral drugs for systemic use, or more precisely, to neuraminidase inhibitors.

Drugs in this category act directly on the influenza virus, disrupting one of the key stages of its life cycle - exit from infected cells. Due to this, they not only reduce the severity of symptoms, but also limit the further spread of infection throughout the body, shortening the duration of the disease and reducing the risk of complications.

In addition to the active ingredient, Oseflu contains auxiliary components necessary for stability, safety and ease of use. They may vary depending on the dosage form.

For capsules:

• Lactose monohydrate

• Pregelatinized starch

• Povidone

• Talc

• Sodium stearyl fumarate

• Gelatin (capsule shell)

• Dyes (titanium dioxide, yellow and blue iron oxides - depending on the manufacturer)

For powder (suspension):

• Sucrose

• Sodium citrate

• Xylitol

• Sodium benzoate

• Stabilizers and flavorings (e.g. fruit flavors)

The full composition is always indicated in the instructions. If the patient is allergic to food additives, dyes or sucrose, this should be reported to the doctor before taking the drug.

The shelf life of Oseflu depends on the form of release and is indicated on the packaging by the manufacturer. On average, it is 2-3 years from the date of production, provided that it is properly stored.

After opening or preparing the suspension, the shelf life is significantly reduced:

• The finished suspension is stored in the refrigerator for no more than 10 days.

• After the expiration date, the drug cannot be used - it may lose effectiveness or become unsafe.

Before taking, always check the expiration date on the bottle, blister or box.

To maintain the effectiveness of Oseflu, you must comply with the storage conditions specified in the instructions:

• Capsules should be stored at temperatures up to 25°C, in a dry, dark place, out of the reach of children.

• The suspension powder is also stored at room temperature until ready.

• The prepared suspension should be kept in the refrigerator at a temperature of 2 to 8°C. It cannot be frozen.

• The drug should not be used if the packaging is damaged or the drug has changed color, consistency or odor.

Oseflu is available in two forms, each of which has its own packaging solution:

• Capsules are packaged in blisters placed in a cardboard box. Inside are instructions for use. The number of capsules may vary depending on the course of treatment.

• The powder for preparing the suspension is supplied in a bottle with a measuring cap or a dosage syringe. The volume of the bottle is designed to obtain a certain amount of the finished suspension (30–70 g).

Before use, be sure to check the packaging for completeness and compliance with the instructions.

Remains of the drug should not be thrown into the sink, toilet or trash can. This is important for both human safety and the environment.

Recommendations:

• Do not pour any remaining suspension down the drain.

• Do not throw away capsules with household waste.

• Check with your pharmacy or health care facility to safely dispose of expired or unwanted medications.

Such measures will help avoid environmental pollution and accidental ingestion of the drug by children or animals.

Oseflu registered and available in Turkey.

Before purchasing abroad, it is recommended to check local holiday regulations and import allowances.

• Neutec (Turkey)

Oseflu is available by prescription. To purchase it, you will need to appoint a specialist, especially if we are talking about preventive treatment or treatment for children. Self-medication is not recommended, especially if you have concomitant diseases or are taking other medications.

To make Oseflu treatment effective and safe, follow several important rules:

• Start taking it as early as possible - preferably within the first 48 hours after the onset of symptoms.

• Take strictly as prescribed by your doctor, especially if the drug is used for prophylaxis.

• Tell your doctor about other medications you are already taking.

• Monitor your health, especially in children: if seizures, behavior changes or rash occur, consult a doctor immediately.

• Do not exceed the recommended dose, even if symptoms persist.

If all recommendations are followed, the drug is well tolerated and really helps to cope with the viral load.

J05AH02 - Oseltamivir

According to the international classification of diseases Oseflu used in the following conditions:

• J10 — Influenza caused by an identified influenza virus.

• J11 — Flu, the virus has not been identified.