Tamiflu Question

[Just Jan]

My daughter was home sick Thursday and tested positive for the flu Friday morning. Because she was seen a little more that 24 hrs of becoming ill they are treating her with Tamiflu.

She had been feeling really miserable all of Thursday. When she woke Friday (yesterday) morning she still had a fever, sneezy runny nose and a terrible headache that made her cry. Though she was never nauseous and sha had a bit of an appitite. She did sleep most of the day Thursday and all day Friday.

In my opinion Tamiflu is wonderful! She took her first dose of Tamiflu last night t 8:00. She woke at about 2:00am with some nausea, but was asleep again in about 30 minutes. When she woke this morning she did not have a fever. She looked and felt so much better and took the second dose at 8:00am. She has not had a fever at all today and has bee awake all day.

She will definately finish the prescribed coarse of this med. This is my first experience with Tamiflu and it is my understanding that it will shorten the length of the illness by1-2 days. I am stunned at how quickly she felt better.

How long will she be contagious. I know she is contagious today and most likely the day after. Is she to be considered contagious the entire 5 days she takes this medication. Please enlighten me I am just so surprised at how quickly she is feeling beter.

 

[maroo]

I believe the current recommendation (official recommendation) is that those infected should stay away from others for 24 hours after their fever breaks.

But the latest research indicates that the virus continues to "shed" up to 7 days after the fever breaks. They say that it can still spread as long as the person is still coughing.

This article addresses it...but it also sounds like they don't really care if it keeps spreading...it is going to be everywhere anyway. But I think the family of the people who have died would disagree.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203917304574413291115079788.html

 

[Just Jan]

Thank you. The nurse practitoner told us she was to be out of school next week.
The med was a little rough on her this a.m. as she didn't have enough to eat when she took in at 8am.

 

[sdchickie]

My son got the flu Thurs the 8th and was on Tamiflu, after one day on the meds he was feeling great. He still has a slight cough, only a few times a day he coughs. Our doctor told us that 24 hours after the fever broke he was no longer contagious and she said that the Tamiflu would also shorten the duration of the shedding of the virus. I'm so glad we got the Tamiflu for my son, he always gets the sickest of all our family members when ever we get sick.

 

[Just Jan]

She woke fever free yesterday morning after just 1 dose and continues to be fever free. She was awake all day yesterday and felt great, But she has been sleeping all day today so far.
She is lucky as she does not have classes on Monday and Tuesday.

 

[LeslieG]

Did you have to go to your doctor and be seen to get the Tamiflu, or did your doctor just call in the prescription?

What form does Tamiflu come in; liquid, pill?

 

[Just Jan]

She was seen in the doctor's office by the nurse practitioner (who we love). They did a nasal swab and she tested positive for the flu. You can only get Tamiflu by prescription. It is a small gel coated capsule.

The co-pay for it was $50. (she is covered under her father's insurance).
I was surprised at how high the co-pay was. The pharmacy tech told me I was lucky that some insurances do not cover this.
She woke up at about 2 and is feeling much better and requested an english muffin.
:note to self, have plenty to eat when you take this med. a few cracker won't cut it:

 

[LeslieG]

She was seen in the doctor's office by the nurse practitioner (who we love). They did a nasal swab and she tested positive for the flu. You can only get Tamiflu by prescription. It is a small gel coated capsule.

The co-pay for it was $50. (she is covered under her father's insurance).
I was surprised at how high the co-pay was. The pharmacy tech told me I was lucky that some insurances do not cover this.
She woke up at about 2 and is feeling much better and requested an english muffin.
:note to self, have plenty to eat when you take this med. a few cracker won't cut it:

I wonder if it comes in a liquid form. My son just cannot seem to get a pill down.

 

[LeslieG]

I wonder if it comes in a liquid form. My son just cannot seem to get a pill down.

I just looked it up. Tamiflu comes in a liquid form as well as a pill.

 

[Just Jan]

That's good news.
My oldest is now 22 and only started swollowing pills when she was a 18.
Daughter that is sick now is 17 and never had great difficulty making the transition from liquid mends to pills.