Clinical Use of Tamiflu (Oseltamivir)

Mee Soo Chang; Jun Hee Woo

doi:10.5124/jkma.2008.51.8.757

J Korean Med Assoc > Volume 51(8); 2008 > Article

Chang and Woo: Clinical Use of Tamiflu (Oseltamivir)

Continuing Education Column

Journal of the Korean Medical Association

Journal of the Korean Medical Association 2008; 51(8): 757-763.

Published online: August 31, 2008

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5124/jkma.2008.51.8.757

Clinical Use of Tamiflu (Oseltamivir)

Mee Soo Chang, MD¹, Jun Hee Woo, MD²

¹Department of Pathology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Korea.

²Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Korea. thanks1126@paran.com

Abstract

Oseltamivir (Tamiflu, the trade name) is a neuraminidase inhibitor used for the treatment and prevention of influenza virus infection as well as those of avian influenza infection. The mechanism of action is inhibition of neuraminidase for blocking the release of newly formed virus particles from the infected respiratory epithelial cells and preventing the further spread of the virus. Development of resistance is rare. The adult dose is 75mg (p.o.) b.i.d. for 5 days for treatment of influenza. The adverse drug reactions of oseltamivir are very rare but in children and adolescents careful monitoring is needed.

Oseltamivir; Influenza; Avian influenza

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Figure 1

Structure of oseltamivir (Tamiflu).

Table 1

Therapeutic dose and preveting dose of oseltamivir (CDC 2007, USA)