Title: Flu Season is Upon Us: Treatment with Oseltamivir<br/>Author: Wesley Oliver<br/><a href='mailto:1911'>[Click to email author]</a><hr/><p>
---Early antiviral treatment can shorten the duration of fever and illness symptoms, and may reduce the risk of some complications from influenza.</p>
<p>
---Early treatment of hospitalized adult influenza patients with oseltamivir has been reported to reduce death in some observational studies.</p>
<p>
---Clinical benefit is greatest when antiviral treatment is administered within 48 hours of influenza illness onset.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>
<strong><u>Antiviral treatment is recommended for patients with confirmed or suspected influenza who:</u></strong></p>
<p>
---are hospitalized;</p>
<p>
---have severe, complicated, or progressive illness; or</p>
<p>
---are at higher risk for influenza complications. (See below for in-depth information)</p>
<p>
Oral oseltamivir is the recommended antiviral for patients with severe, complicated, or progressive illness who are not hospitalized, and for hospitalized influenza patients.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>
<strong><u>Treatment:</u></strong></p>
<p>
Doses: Oseltamivir 75 mg twice daily</p>
<p>
<u>Renal Impairment Dosing</u></p>
<p>
CrCl >60 mL/minute: No dosage adjustment necessary</p>
<p>
CrCl >30 to 60 mL/minute: 30 mg twice daily</p>
<p>
CrCl >10 to 30 mL/minute: 30 mg once daily</p>
<p>
ESRD undergoing dialysis: 30 mg immediately and then 30 mg after every hemodialysis session</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>
<u><strong>Duration of Treatment:</strong></u></p>
<p>
Recommended duration for antiviral treatment is 5 days for oral oseltamivir. Longer daily dosing can be considered for patients who remain severely ill after 5 days of treatment.</p>
<div align='center'>
<a href='http://www.umem.org/educational_pearls/3542/' target='_blank'><b>CLICK TO VIEW MORE IN-DEPTH INFORMATION</b></a><br/>
(Must disable pop-up blocker to open new window)
</div>
<fieldset><legend>References</legend>
<p>
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Influenza antiviral medications: summary for clinicians. https://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/antivirals/summary-clinicians.htm (Accessed on January 8, 2019).</p>
<p>
</p>
</fieldset>