Influenza Antivirals...

Mellow Chaos

Mellow Chaos

Joined
Feb 2, 2002
Messages
2,286
So is anyone stocking up? I purchased 400 doses of amantadine from overseas. It's a reputable place and cuts my medication tab by 80%. I know that China was feeding it's poultry with feed laced with amantadine, thereby rendering that particular antiviral useless against the bird flu IN ASIA. However, my further research indicates that the strain going through Russia and western Europe does not show signs of resistance to amantadine. Tamiflu and Relenza are the other antivirals to which the bird flu virus seems sensitive, but it is very expensive and scarce. Apparently, using amantadine starting the first day of symptoms with still make you feel like want to die but you won't.

This whole anticipated pandemic has me in a tizzy. I plan to get Tamiflu, as well, but I don't know why for the life of me you have to make a special trip to the doctor to get it and why it is still so scarce. Any input on fighting off this latest scare?
 
I've been intending to call my doc to get an advance perscription of Tamiflu. Thanks for reminding us. Things could get really bad this winter. I went ahead and got a flu shot yesterday. Like most folk, I missed my flu shot last year and sure enough, everybody in the family got it. Knocked me down for a week and took another nearly 3 weeks to regain some strength.

Razz
 
I got my flu shot a few weeks ago. I can't recall ever having the flu, but I dodged a bullet because last year my girlfriend's entire family came down with it. My doctor told me that in response to last year's shortage where one company had a faulty batch, there are now those original two companies and an additional one creating the vaccine. Hopfully there won't be any shortage, because a line of elderly people waiting to get medical help in the cold and being refused it many times is just one of those things that you don't want to see happen in your country.
 
Early reports out of Asia indicate Amantadine is not effective against the new flu...Amantadine works reasonably well for Flu A, (although resistance is not uncommon). I have been a little lax in keeping up with the 'bird flu', but if the early reports are true, then this may be a Flu B variety. Tamiflu looks to be the best bet at this time, but I have not heard how the 'bird flu' responds to Tamiflu. Effectiveness of any of the anti-virals is highly dependent on starting as soon as the host is infected. 48 hours post infection and the flu will likely have to run its course. Anti-viral shortages will likely occur worldwide as folks stock up in anticipation, making it unavailable for those that do catch the flu.
md
 
I have been trying to decide if to buy antivirals or not. Tamiflu has just about sold out most places I can find but I hear relenza is a similar medication

They are however expensive and a waste if it doesnt happen, or if the strain is resistant to antivirals as they are suggesting it may be. On the other hand if it does happen money is irrelevent
 
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