FDA adds 'abnormal behavior' warning for Tamiflu label

[lakercub]

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Patients who take Tamiflu should be closely monitored for signs of abnormal behavior, health officials said Monday in announcing an updated label for the flu drug.

The added precaution comes after reports of more than 100 new cases of delirium, hallucinations and other unusual psychiatric behavior in children treated with the drug. Most were Japanese children.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/HEALTH/11/13/tamiflu.behavior.ap/index.html

I find this interesting because, if I remember correctly, Tamiflu was the flu drug the USA was pushing for earlier in the year. Also, if memory serves, this push was fishy because Rumsfeld used to be on the board. Do I remember this correctly?

[aquart]

1. Now that Rummy's out, we can admit that Tamiflu is poison?

Wow! What'll happen if we fire someone else?

[annabanana]

5. (My first reaction too)

As each one falls, we'll be able to see the sordid, filthy, dollar filled mattresses on which these crooks have been lying.

[Lexingtonian]

2. Mr. Castagana's legal defense is now clear

and we finally have an explanation for FR.

[Canuckistanian]

3. Say, didn't the entire administration get Tamiflu?

And knowing how paranoid they are, probably took the drug during the Anthrax scare (Tamiflu does nothing for Anthrax)

And yes, Rummy was on the board and owns shares in Gilead Sciences, the creator of the drug. In an agreement with LaRoche, they get 10% of sales.

[flamingpie2500]

4. FDA: Tamiflu Patients Need Monitoring

WASHINGTON (AP) -- More than 100 recent cases of delirium, hallucinations and other unusual psychiatric behavior in Japanese patients treated with Tamiflu should have parents watching for similar reactions when treating their children with the flu drug.

That's the new advice from the Food and Drug Administration in adding a new precaution to the label of the influenza drug, prescribed about 2 million times a year in the United States.



http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/T/TAMIFLU_BIZARRE_BEHAVIOR?SITE=FLTAM&SECTION=HOME

[Mojorabbit]

6. This info came out last year

Took the FDA long awhile to study it I guess.

[depakid]

7. Before the conspiracy theorists get going too hard

One might posit that tamiflu patients also have influenza, which not only can and does kill people- but also causes delerium.

So, anyone who is STUPID enough not to closely monitor a child taking tamiflu probably isn't a fit parent to begin with.

Of course, it does help to know the signs of adverse reactions- as well as contraindications (e.g. Reye's Syndrome with aspirin).

And last I heard- no one was having to put on their tinfoil hats about aspirin....

[noonwitch]

8. Now all the college students are going to want to take Tamiflu!

Oh, man, look at the colors! This Tamiflu trip is awesome!

[poofer]

9. Never take a drug

that has not been on the market for at least 3 years. I don't take any flu shots, God only knows what is in them! Our FDA need a good checking into, when it is FDA approved and then taken off the market after deaths etc.

[Bridget Burke]

10. Tamiflu was pushed as useful against Bird Flu.

But Bird Flu hasn't mutated into a human-to-human version. There's no proof that it would be useful against that quite serios possibility.

Tamiflu should be given when the first symptoms of influenza appear. This study ought to discourage: "Well, these symptoms might be flu--so the Tamiflu can't hurt." Close monitoring is definitely suitable--not just a dose of Tamiflu so the patient can go back to work or school.

I got my flu shot. Influenza vaccine has been around a bit longer.