Dosage of Oseltamivir for Children
For the prevention or treatment of
the flu in children 1 to 12 years of age, the recommended dosage of
oseltamivir will be based on the weight of the child. Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist about the specific dosage for your child.
The Food and Drug Administration has authorized emergency use of oseltamivir for infants under one year of age for the 2009-2010 H1N1 flu season. However, oseltamivir is not recommended for very young infants (under three months of age) unless the situation is critical, since there is very little information about how to properly dose this medication in young infants.
Because there is a shortage of oseltamivir oral suspension, your pharmacist may need to make a suspension using the capsules. It is very important to understand that this pharmacist-made suspension will be a different concentration (15 mg per mL) from the commercially available oseltamivir suspension (12 mg per mL).
General Oseltamivir Dosage Information
Here is some general information you should know about your oseltamivir dosage:
- Your dosage can be taken at any time during the day. However, it should be taken at the same time each day to maintain an even level of the drug in your system.
- Your dosage can be taken with or without food. If it bothers your stomach, try taking it with food.
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Oseltamivir comes in either liquid or capsule form. For oseltamivir suspension, make sure to shake it before each dose.
- Make sure that you complete your entire prescription of oseltamivir, even if you start feeling better before it's finished. This will ensure that the infection is completely treated.
- If you are unsure about anything related to oseltamivir or your oseltamivir dosage, talk to your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist. Do not stop taking oseltamivir without first discussing it with your healthcare provider.
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