Roches Claims Tamiflu Not Dangerous

Pharmaceutical giant Roche said today that its anti-influenza medication, Tamiflu, is not linked to psychiatric problems. The press release comes in response to concerns raised last month that patients given the drug died from severe side-effects of the treatment.

In Japan, several teens have committed suicide after being treated with Tamiflu. The most recent cases came last month when two teens jumped to their deaths after taking Tamiflu. The incidents were unrelated.

Tamiflu is one of only a few drugs that is believed to be successful in stopping the spread of the highly contagious bird flu.

In the statement released today by Roche, the company cites that clinical studies in the United States and Japan show that the incident of psychiatric problems is not higher in patients being treated with Tamiflu than in the general public. According to Roche, clinical studies have shown similar rates of neurological and psychiatric events in pediatric influenza patients being treated with Tamiflu compared to those receiving no treatment for their influenza.

Even though Roche claims the incidence of psychiatric problems are not greater in patients treated with Tamiflu, no direct research has been done to prove their position.

Roche, or other independent researchers, have yet to provide results from studies that look at the direct effects of Tamiflu and if they do or do not cause psychiatric problems.

According to the Federal Drug Adminstration, Tamiflu (oseltamivir phosphate) is approved in the United States as an oral anti-viral drug for the treatment of uncomplicated influenza in patients one year and older whose flu symptoms have not lasted more than two days. This product is approved to treat Type A and B influenza; however, the majority of patients included in the studies were infected with type A, the most common in the U.S.

Complaints about Tamiflu and its potential for causing neurological problems link back as far as 2002. Between 2002 and 2005 over 64 cases were reported in Japan describing adverse psychological problems from teens treated with the drug. In one case, a 17 year-old boy taking the anti-flu medication jumped in front of truck during a snowstorm.

Roche lists the most common side effects of the drug are nausea and vomiting. The company also warns against the potential for delirium and self-injury while taking the medication.

Regardless of the cases reported in Japan, Tamiflu has been largely successful in treating patients for influenza. In the statement released by Roche, the company claims that over 45 million people have been treated with medication.

Sources:

Roche Pharmaceuticals

Reuters