Is the state of Kansas refusing to dispense Tamiflu?

[cynatnite]

My sister's daughter has the flu, which it could very well be H1N1 given her symptoms. The doctor told her that they will only give Tamiflu to those who have been admitted to the hospital. My understanding is that by that point, the drug takes longer to work than it would when it's caught early on.

People have died from them not receiving Tamiflu early on from what I've read and seen on TV.

When she told me that this is what the state of Kansas has ordered I couldn't believe it. They are playing with people's lives if this is in fact true.

Can anyone help me out with this?

[dflprincess]

1. My niece's little girl was diagnosed with H1N1 about 10 days ago

(she okay now). She was prescribed Tamiflu, but my niece had to go to a couple different pharmacies before she found one that still had some.

Could be a shortage in Kansas, (I suppose).

[Oregone]

2. They are probably rationing it for severe cases, in order to not run out

right or wrong

[cynatnite]

3. I guess this is a clear case of rationing health care. Thanks. n/t

[Oregone]

6. Yes, and its a more sound method than using your wealth as criteria

Though, Id imagine in the US, the wealthy will not have a problem getting their mitts on Tamiflu regardless of their conditions

[Dogmudgeon]

4. They may not have enough to go around

If she's been triaged out, chances are that she is either in a very-low-risk group, or certain to die. With kids, it's usually the former.

They (the medical system) aren't "playing with people's lives" at all. They're making do with a bad situation. (Created by the pharmaceutical industry.)

Blame the company that makes oseltamivir (Tamiflu). The stuff has a much longer shelf life than vaccines, but the companies act as if they were the same. It creates an economy of scarcity, underscores their cries for subsidies, and makes them look like heroes when they miraculously manufacture Just One More Batch.

--d!

[cynatnite]

5. I'm back from the edge of worrying myself into being pissed...thanks. n/t

[CoffeeCat]

13. Here is what I am reading on the Tamiflu literature...

"INFORMATION FOR PATIENTS"
Patients should be instructed to begin treatment with TAMIFLU as soon as possible from the
first appearance of flu symptoms. Similarly, prevention should begin as soon as possible after exposure,
at the recommendation of a physician."

"HOW SHOULD I TAKE TAMIFLU?
It is important that you begin your treatment with TAMIFLU as soon as possible from the first appearance of your flu symptoms
or soon after you are exposed to the flu.

"To prevent the flu: If someone in your home has the flu, take TAMIFLU once a day for at least 7 days or for as long as
prescribed. You can take TAMIFLU for up to 6 weeks if you are exposed to the flu because of an outbreak in your community.

So---this seems contradictory to what some others are saying about people with the flu NOT being given TAMIFLU--and what
the literature in the Tamiflu box says.

I haven't heard that there is a Tamiflu shortage--but why would there be one? Especially when this "pandemic" has been
in the media since the early summer, six months ago?

[CoffeeCat]

11. Why wouldn't Tamiflu be plentiful?

You would think that there would be an abundance of Tamiflu. The medical community
has suspected, since this summer, that H1N1 would be a problem. We've had at least
five months warning. Prior to this summer, there should have been plenty of Tamiflu.

Also, didn't the government purchase stockpiles of Tamiflu, more than a year ago? I
seem to remember reading about that.

[Dogmudgeon]

20. There always seems to be a Tamiflu shortage

It's not exactly something that can be made in a kitchen, but it is wholly synthetic, so it is synthesized, not cultured, as vaccines are. In every flu and viral scare since it was introduced, it has been in short supply, and that has only increased its price. The government did, indeed, stockpile Tamiflu, on at least two occasions. Although it "keeps" much longer than vaccines, it still has a limited shelf life, though I suppose emergency stocks could be kept much longer in liquid nitrogen.

The good news is that 2009 Swine H1N1 is an unexpectedly mild influenza. The bad news is that it's still influenza, which will still kill, and it's unexpectedly hard on children. Tamiflu and vaccines should be first reserved for children -- then the elderly and infirm, then the general population. However, there is no official or even semi-official triage policy in place, except (here and there) for organ donations. Since viral infections seem to be getting more diverse and widespread, this should be brought to the attention of the Surgeon General ASAP.

Public Health is a relatively new thing, and the wet t-bag crowd thinks the Gummint is going to use it to kill everybody they don't like. This, then, is the best time to get the problem sorted out. But with so many problems taking precedence, that's not real likely.

--d!

[havocmom]

7. just googling Tamiflu effectiveness against H1N1 gets you a mixed bag of opinion

Recalled reading some stuff that it was not effective against the strain. Googling gets you articles which conflict. Could be both a shortage and varying opinions on whether it works?

Whatever the reason, Yep, health care in the US is rationed. Has been for a long time.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

9. Still very effective on novel H1N1(2009), very ineffective on seasonal flu.

[CoffeeCat]

10. I've got the pamphlet from the Tamiflu box...

...and it says in the Tamiflu literature--that comes inside the box that "There is no evidence for efficacy of TAMIFLU in any
illnesses caused by agents other than influenza viruses Types A and B.

H1N1 is type A, correct?

[havocmom]

12. Like I said, seems to be a bit of variance of opinion

There are articles stating it works on H1N1 and articles saying it doesn't. Google brought a very mixed bag

[amborin]

18. it generally works, but there are cases that are resistant to it

[CoffeeCat]

8. Someone on my Facebook said...

...they went to the doctor (I'm in Iowa) and their daughter (age 11) was diagnosed with
H1N1, and they refused them Tamiflu also. I didn't say anything on the thread, because
this was just an acquaintance talking about her situation...but I was wondering just exactly
WHAT is going on??? This FB friend said that the doctor told her that the CDC is recommending
that they not give Tamiflu.

I really don't get this AT ALL.

Someone else on that FB thread said that they were given rx's for Tamiflu and that they all bounced
back after a couple of days.

I just happen to have some Tamiflu at home that I've been stockpiling for two years. I read the pamphlet
that said it must be administered very soon after flu is suspected. Most recommend 24 hours--that's optimal!

Tamiflu does not cure the flu, it just stops it from replicating or getting worse.

So, by the time a kid would be bad enough to be at the hospital--I don't see how Tamiflu would help.

That would really ANGER me if a doctor refused to give me Tamiflu. It can stop the flu from worsening and
with children that could mean saving their life!

I'll be watching this thread closely to see what others have to say.

You would think the CDC would want to give Tamiflu--because it would shorten the flu cycle in a person and
lesson the spread of disease. Again...I'm thinking this doesn't make sense.

[cynatnite]

16. Here in TN, my husband was given Tamaflu and antibiotics immediately...

He bounced back very quickly. I've also read that waiting like this makes it that much harder to beat. The medicine is most effective early on.

That's why I question this. It could be a matter of supply...I do understand that, but I would think dealing with it from the outset would help contain it better.

[CoffeeCat]

14. After reading more about this...

This is what I would do if this was my family. If we had symptoms of H1N1, I would not stop until I found
a doctor who would give me Tamiflu. Especially with kids. They are the ones dying from this!

Any doctor who said that they are only giving Tamiflu to kids in the hospital---is so completely WRONG.

First off--read my other posts in this thread, where I quote directly from the Tamiflu pamphlet. I have a box
of Tamiflu right in front of me and I'm typing the exact words from the paper in the box.

You have to give Tamiflu at the earliest of symptoms, because Tamiflu only stops the replication of the flu
virus. It prevents it from worsening. It is not a cure. So, what this doctor is saying--isn't even in line
with how Tamiflu is used.

There was also an article on DU, about two days ago. The article mentioned that medical professionals ARE
recommending Tamiflu for all kids who have signs.

I just heard from a FB friend, who talked with her doctor because her daughter has H1N1. The doctor said that
the CDC is recommending Tamiflu for those under 5, over 65 and those with underlying conditions. However, her
doctor gave her daughter Tamiflu anyway.

Find a doctor who will do this...when we have these drugs that can stop the flu from worsening (and possibly
save lives) we should get those drugs!! I'd fight like hell for them and find a doctor who would write an Rx.

Just my 2 cents.

[amborin]

15. it was foolishly given preventatively to kids in ny over the summer, contributing to resistance

[Spider Jerusalem]

17. Tamiflu is of fairly limited effectiveness

it does little apart from delaying the onset of symptoms. And there's an added danger of overprescription of Tamiflu for what may not be H1N1 making the swine flu virus resistant (there have already in fact been reported cases of Tamiflu-resistant H1N1).

[neverforget]

19. My 5 year old daughter has the swine flu right now. The doctor gave her

ibuprofen for the fever and that's it. This is day 6 for the flu. It can last 2 weeks but I hope your niece recovers soon!