Posted by yxibow on April 30, 2009, at 4:33:29
In reply to Re: Anyone had psychiatric side effects from Tamiflu? » PeterJ, posted by Phillipa on April 28, 2009, at 17:14:08
> 2 reported cases in Charlotte now. I'd also like to know as will have to buy some. Phillipa
There's no need to stockpile flu medication unless you have been near someone who exhibits the symptoms. It is (and I was paranoid about it at the time) similar to the stockpiling of Cipro during the anthrax scare.Although so far I haven't seen any siphoning of vaccines to illicit web distributors and advertisements.
Also while being prudent in calling it a pandemic or potential pandemic in regions, it can backfire and raise the fear bar of people.
Don't be mistaken -- history told us what happened in the 1918-1919 Spanish flu. But simple but important steps in hygiene were probably not largely present, even if steps were taken to use masks and isolation in some circumstances, which was the case. It did kill more people than casualties from WWI.(Among was a relative of mine)
There was another suspected swine flu pandemic in the 1970s. In today's dollars, $500 million dollars were spent on a vaccine that had more fatal or negative consequences than current flu vaccines do.
Going back to Charlotte... as of looking at the news the suspected cases hadn't been confirmed as H1N1 swine flu yet.
I do know you fall under guidelines by the CDC if
there are real symptoms present though as those over 65 and with certain illnesses have been recommended.
I just see that if there are enough uses prophylactically, the currently available antivirals could become useless eventually.
Also flooding hospitals with mere fever symptoms will overtax the system that needs to help those who are really sick.
As for psychiatric side effects, if you need the medication because you do have a suspicious or confirmed case of swine flu, its a benefits versus risks like all medical decisions.
I think for myself, even if it would increase my symptoms, a short course of a antiviral medication outweighs the risk of a life threatening illness even if it means temporarily losing some functionality for psychiatric reasons, because one could also be quarantined and hospitalized for flu.
I'm not trying to say that if the medication is causing life threatening issues that one should just take it carte blanche.
There are after all several options available, fortunately, that would probably attenuate but not necessarily cure a strain that hasn't been seen yet.
-- Jay
poster:yxibow
thread:893289
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20090426/msgs/893541.html