Unsure about giving Tamiflu?

DS has symptoms of swine flu. He had a fever of 103.5 last night, sudden worsening of cold and cough, diarrhea, slight rash, irritable (was up crying last night from 1am-4am)...

Anyway, I went to my ped and he said at DS's age (8 mos) they just "assume" swine flu and treat it. So he gave me a script for Tamiflu.

Now, I have done a little research before giving it to him, and there are side effects: hallucinations, severe upset stomach... there have been a few posts on here with them too.

Now I am hesitant to give it to DS... especially because it is not even confirmed that he has swine flu. But my Dr. said there is a "window" within which to start it of 24 hours.

WWYD?????

eta: DS is acting normal now... a little more irritable than average, but crawling, eating, etc. Just a runny nose and cough. I have been alternating tylenol and motrin every 6 hours too.

Message edited 11/21/2009 5:45:51 PM.

Re: Unsure about giving Tamiflu?

I personally would give it. But, DH and I are both asthmatics and the flu could go horribly wrong for us or our kids. I hope he feels better.

Re: Unsure about giving Tamiflu?

I would give it.

Re: Unsure about giving Tamiflu?

I wouldn't do it, from my friends who have taken it and/or given it to their kids, the side effects are worse than the actual flu symptoms. The physical vomiting and stomach pains are apparently horrible.

Good luck with your decision.

Re: Unsure about giving Tamiflu?

Posted by racheeeee

I wouldn't do it, from my friends who have taken it and/or given it to their kids, the side effects are worse than the actual flu symptoms. The physical vomiting and stomach pains are apparently horrible.

Good luck with your decision.

Re: Unsure about giving Tamiflu?

I think it is extremely irresponsible of your ped. to hand out tamiflu prescription without first swabbing your son to make sure it is any kind of flu.

I personaly would demand him be tested and if it was positive make my decision from there.

Re: Unsure about giving Tamiflu?

Re: Unsure about giving Tamiflu?

Re: Unsure about giving Tamiflu?

A few months ago I took DS to the Dr for a cold. We did not see our normal Dr. She gave me Tamiflu. Same situation as you in that they didnt test for the flu they just assume if a child comes in with flu like symptoms and treat accordingly.

I was really confident DS did not have the flu. I just knew it so I did not fill the script because I felt uncomfortable with the side effects given that I really didnt think he had the flu.

If I thought DS had the flu, I would have given him teh script but I just knew it wasnt that. IF I had seen my regular dr who knows DS's cold history I also might have been more inclined to follow her recommendation. But sometimes you have to go with your gut!

Sometimes you have to use your best judgment. You know your child best.

PS, I was right, DS's cold cleared up with our normal nebulizer treatments in about 4 days!

Re: Unsure about giving Tamiflu?

Re: Unsure about giving Tamiflu?

Same here, so we started it!

Re: Unsure about giving Tamiflu?

I'm going to be honest with you- if it's not confirmed and your DC seems to be doing fine otherwise, I wouldn't give it. I gave Tamiflu to my DD (12 months) when it was suspected (but not confirmed) that it was flu.

I took her off it after a day and a half. My DD was dealing with the illness just fine. She had a fever, but was eating and drinking. She was also sleeping relatively well. After giving her the Tamiflu, she became a different baby. She was restless and inconsolable. She also stopped eating and began limiting the amount she would drink.

Tamiflu isn't recommended for children under 12 months unless it is a dire reason. I don't consider an assumption of diesease dire enough to ever put my child through it again.

BTW- my DD didn't have flu. She had roseola. I understand the want to treat for flu since the window of time to treat is so small, but it sucks that doctor's are jumping right to this hard-core antiviral.

Message edited 11/22/2009 8:15:17 AM.

Re: Unsure about giving Tamiflu?

Re: Unsure about giving Tamiflu?

Re: Unsure about giving Tamiflu?

Thank you all so much. I decided not to give it to him. His fever broke yesterday and he has been doing MUCH better today (aside from the cold symptoms).

My neighbor was giving me a lot of flack for not putting DS on the Tamiflu so thank you all so much for reaffirming my decision.



Here's to hoping all of our kids stay healthy the rest of the flu season!!!

Re: Unsure about giving Tamiflu?

I would give it. The pediatrician on my son's soccer team doesn't hesitate to give it to her own kids, which makes me feel pretty confident that it's safe.

Re: Unsure about giving Tamiflu?

I was told by my ped that it couldn't be given to children under 1 year? The pamphlet said that as well.

I gave it to my DD but she is almost even three. That being said, she did throw up from the first dose.