An Introduction to Side Effects of Oseltamivir
As with any medicine, side effects are possible with
oseltamivir (
Tamiflu®). However, not everyone who takes the drug will experience side effects. 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 oseltamivir stopped their medicine because of side effects.
If you develop an allergic reaction or severe skin rash, stop taking oseltamivir and call your healthcare provider.
(This article covers many, but not all, of the possible side effects with oseltamivir. Your healthcare provider can discuss a more complete list of oseltamivir side effects with you.)
Common Oseltamivir Side Effects
Oseltamivir has been studied extensively in clinical trials. In these studies, side effects occurring in a group of people taking the drug are documented and compared to those that occur in another group not taking the medicine. This way, it is possible to see what side effects occur, how often they appear, and how they compare to the group not taking the medicine.
Based on these studies, the most common side effects of oseltamivir seen in adults included:
- Nausea -- up to 10 percent of people
- Vomiting -- up to 9 percent of people.
Other common side effects included, but were not limited to:
-
Abdominal pain
-
-
Bronchitis.
In children, the most common side effect 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 oseltamivir with food may help decrease the chances of these side effects occurring.
Additional common side effects in children included:
