How Oseltamivir Phosphate is Best Antiviral Medication

In the United States in 1999, the Oseltamivir was approved for medical use. This medication was the first neuraminidase inhibitor available by mouth. And also It is on the WHO's (World Health Organization's) List of Essential Medicines but was downgraded to "complementary" status in 2017.
In the very same year (2017), Oseltamivir became the 159th most commonly prescribed medication in the US (United States), with more than three million prescriptions.

Oseltamivir Phosphate and it's uses: 

Oseltamivir is recommended to use in order to prevent and also in the treatment of influenza caused by influenza A and B viruses. The drug is on the WHO's (World Health Organization's) List of Essential Medicines, the safest and most effective medicines needed in a health system. The World Health Organization supports its use for severe illness due to confirmed or suspected influenza virus infection in critically ill people who have been hospitalized. The risk-benefit ratio of Oseltamivir is controversial.

The CDC (US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), ECDC (European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control), Public Health England and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommend the use of oseltamivir for people who have complications or are at high risk for complications. The complications include people who are hospitalized, those over the age of 65, young children, those who are with other significant health problems, people with pregnancy, and Indigenous peoples of the Americas among others.

According to a review, that came in the year of 2014. The review was in the New England Journal of Medicine. They recommended that all people who are admitted to ICU (intensive care units) during the influenza outbreaks with a diagnosis of community-acquired pneumonia should receive the oseltamivir until the absence of influenza infection is established by PCR testing.

A systematic review that came in 2015 and also meta-analysis observed that the oseltamivir is effective in order to treat the symptoms of influenza, reducing the risk of otitis media and reducing the length of hospitalization.
According to the same review, the oseltamivir did not significantly increase the risk of adverse events.

In 2005, during the H5N1 avian influenza epidemic in Southeast Asia, Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) was used at a wide level. So in the perspective of the epidemic, various governments including those of the United Kingdom, Canada, Israel, United States, and Australia, stockpiled quantities of oseltamivir in preparation for a possible pandemic and due to this, there were worldwide shortages of the Oseltamivir, driven by the high demand for stockpiling.

Side Effects of Oseltamivir Phosphate: 

In the United States, it is prescribed for influenza infection while pregnancy. Oseltamivir has been received by a small number of pregnant women in absence of the signs and symptoms of problems. The dose adjustment might be needed in those who are struggling with kidney problems.
Common side effects include 

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Headache
• Trouble sleeping.
• Psychiatric Symptoms
• Seizures

How Does Oseltamivir Work:

Oseltamivir phosphate is a neuraminidase inhibitor, which is a competitive inhibitor of influenza's neuraminidase enzyme. The enzyme cleaves the sialic acid which is mainly found on glycoproteins on the surface of human cells which helps new virions in order to exit the cell. In this way oseltamivir works by preventing the new viral particles from being released.

On the basis of some reports of Oseltamivir. It shows that the drug is able to reduce the disease severity and also the hospitalization time in patients with canine parvovirus infection.
The medication can limit the potential as well as ability of the virus in order to invade the crypt cells of the small intestine and decrease gastrointestinal bacterial colonization and toxin production.

Dosage and Administration: 

TAMIFLU (Oseltamivir) may be taken with or without food. When this medication is consumed with food, it's tolerability can be increased in some patients. Oseltamivir Capsules are comes as the following strengths:

• Oseltamivir 30 mg
• Oseltamivir 45 mg
• Oseltamivir 75 mg

The dose of Oseltamivir 75 mg, Oseltamivir 45 mg, and also 30 mg should be taken according to the prescription of your healthcare provider.

Read:- How Darunavir Ritonavir combination is useful in the treatment of HIV