BMJ  2007;334:1232-1233 (16 June), doi:10.1136/bmj.39240.497025.80

Editorials

Tamiflu and neuropsychiatric disturbance in adolescents

The case is not proved but caution is advisable

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

In March 2007 the Japanese authorities advised against prescribing oseltamivir (Tamiflu, Roche) to adolescents aged 10-19 years.¹ This unusually severe measure resulted from the separate suicides of two 14 year olds who jumped to their deaths while taking oseltamivir; 52 other deaths (14 in children or adolescents) have been associated with the same drug. So far, similar action has not followed in Europe. When a regulatory authority warns doctors not to prescribe a drug but decides not to retract its marketing authorisation prescribers and patients are entitled to be concerned and a little confused.

Oseltamivir is a sialic acid analogue that inhibits influenza type A and type B neuraminidase, the viral enzyme that allows the release of virus from infected cells. Its main licensed indications are the treatment of flu, short term postexposure prophylaxis after contact with a diagnosed case of flu, and more prolonged (up to six weeks) "seasonal" . . . [Full text of this article]

Clinical Pharmacology Unit, University of Edinburgh, Queen's Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    StumbleUpon    Technorati    What's this?

Relevant Articles

Fifty sudden deaths may be related to central suppression

Rokuro Hama
BMJ 2007 335: 59. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Effectiveness of neuraminidase inhibitors in treatment and prevention of influenza A and B: systematic review and meta-analyses of randomised controlled trials

Nicola J Cooper, Alexander J Sutton, Keith R Abrams, Allan Wailoo, David Turner, and Karl G Nicholson
BMJ 2003 326: 1235. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Izumi, Y, Tokuda, K, O'Dell, K., Zorumski, C., Narahashi, T (2008). Synaptic and behavioral interactions of oseltamivir (Tamiflu) with neurostimulants. Hum Exp Toxicol 27: 911-917 [Abstract]  
• Hata, K., Koseki, K., Yamaguchi, K., Moriya, S., Suzuki, Y., Yingsakmongkon, S., Hirai, G., Sodeoka, M., von Itzstein, M., Miyagi, T. (2008). Limited Inhibitory Effects of Oseltamivir and Zanamivir on Human Sialidases. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 52: 3484-3491 [Abstract] [Full text]  
• Hama, R. (2007). Fifty sudden deaths may be related to central suppression. BMJ 335: 59-59 [Full text]  

Rapid Responses:

Read all Rapid Responses

Fifty sudden deaths are more serious reactions probably related to CNS suppressive action of Tamiflu (oseltamivir phosphate)

Rokuro Hama
bmj.com, 21 Jun 2007 [Full text]

Online poll

Find out more >>