Monday, July 27, 2009

Britain: Dozens fall victim to side effects of swine flu drug

Britain: Dozens fall victim to side effects of swine flu drug

Jeremy Laurence
The New Zealand Herald
Monday, July 27, 2009

The agency that licenses medicines in Britain has received 150 reports of suspected adverse reactions to the Tamiflu treatment for swine flu.

The figure was released yesterday as GPs said some patients were choosing not to take the drug because of concern about the possible side effects.

The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said the 150 reports received within the UK up until 23 July mention 241 separate side effects, most of which were mild and already recognised as linked with the anti-viral drug.

They include “mild allergic and gastrointestinal events”, such as diarrhoea and vomiting. There were five reports involving nine suspected adverse reactions to Relenza, the rival drug to Tamiflu which is taken by inhalation and is less widely used.

Full article here

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