What is Tamiflu?
Tamiflu is an anti viral medication designed specifically for the treatment of influenza. Influenza is one of
the most contagious diseases known, having the ability to circulate the globe. It affects people across all ages
and can cause mild to severe sickness and in people with a weakened immune system even death.
Tamiflu is manufactured by the very well respected Swiss pharmaceutical group Roche.
The active ingredient in Tamiflu, Oseltamivir is currently the best known protection against an attack of the flu virus. The flu virus reproduces and spreads in the human body through a protein - neuraminidase and Oseltamivir blocks the action of this very protein. This makes Tamiflu highly effective in arresting the spread of the flu virus and restricting the effect of influenza. With Tamiflu treatment, the body's immune system becomes capable of taking command and attacking the virus to provide a shorter illness period and milder disease symptoms.
How does Tamiflu work?
Viruses cannot reproduce on their own. To reproduce, a virus latches onto a living cell inside some organism, inserts
its genetic material into that "host" cell, and takes over the cell's reproductive "machinery". The virus makes copies
of itself - maybe hundreds, sometimes thousands. (Sooner or later, this kills the infected cell - causing disease.) All
of those new viruses break out of the host cell and start the process again, attacking other cells.
But what if the new viruses can't get out? This is where Tamiflu comes in. Tamiflu traps the new viruses inside the host cell. Eventually, the viruses die.
If you want to really get scientific: Two proteins on the surface of the virus enable it to enter and exit the host cell. The first protein, hemagluttinin, lets the virus attach to the cell and inject genetic material inside. The second protein, neuraminidase, then opens the cell membrane to let the new viruses out. Tamiflu inhibits the work of neuraminidase; that's why you hear Tamiflu called a "neuraminidase inhibitor." Another titbit: Hemagluttinin is the "H" and Neuraminidase is the "N" used in naming virus subtypes - like H1N1, the swine flu virus that everyone is worried about right now.
Should you buy a personal supply of Tamiflu?
The short answer: If you think swine flu is a risk and Tamiflu is an effective flu treatment, and you want to
be sure you have access to Tamiflu when and if you, your family or your friends need it, yes, buy some.
If you're undecided, consider the following:
There is no vaccine against H1N1. In that vacuum, Tamiflu is considered one of the best available pharmaceutical tools against any pandemic flu. (Again, the vaccines for regular seasonal flu will not protect against a new pandemic flu.)
Tamiflu supplies are limited. Before concerns arose about H1N1, the amount of Tamiflu produced was based on the amount needed to treat normal seasonal flu. If a pandemic flu appears, a much, much greater quantity will be needed. Tamiflu's manufacturer, Roche, is increasing production internally and through external partners. But it will take time to achieve adequate quantities and fill government stockpiles worldwide. In the interim, some individuals are buying their own supplies.
Until adequate supplies are available, antivirals likely will be rationed on some prioritized basis. Countries are now stockpiling antiviral drugs and they will decide in advance on priority groups for administration. Frontline health care workers would be an obvious first choice, but such decisions are the responsibility of governments.
Reminder: Antiviral drugs are not the only tools during a pandemic flu. Rather, they are key tools mainly for one phase of your experience. If a flu pandemic were to occur, think of (a) the time before you are exposed or sick, (b) the time while you are exposed or sick, and (c) the aftermath - you're exposed but don't get sick, or you get sick and recover or die.
Antivirals are pharmaceutical tools, used mainly in the middle phase above - a medical treatment if you're exposed or sick. Admittedly, Tamiflu also can prevent the flu. But due to cost and supply shortages, governments would most likely use Tamiflu that way only for people they consider to be in critical jobs - selected health care workers, police and civil servants for example.
How Does Tamiflu Help?
Tamiflu is proven to be effective against both strains of the influenza virus - type A and type B.
Swine flu is a very infectious disease which you can pick up even by being in the proximity of someone who has the virus. This swine flu disease spreads through respiratory droplets which are generally released when a person coughs or sneezes. Moreover these symptoms might appear as many as seven days after you get infected.
Swine flu will cause you to suffer from extreme weakness, high fever, a severe cough and make you bedridden for several days. Only Tamiflu has the double benefit of both preventing and fighting swine flu infection. It is the most proven and potent medication at present for the treatment of swine flu.
Another good reason to buy Tamiflu is the forthcoming flu season. Influenza strikes mostly during winter, which means its season is just around the corner. With Tamiflu you can be safe and prepared to meet the flu season head-on. As the saying goes, "Prevention is better than cure" so you should help yourself and your family take steps today to prevent falling prey to swine flu and buy Tamiflu today.
