What is the dosing for Tamiflu (Oseltamivir)?

From the Guidelines

The dosing for Tamiflu (Oseltamivir) is as follows:

• Adults: 75 mg, twice daily for 5 days for treatment, and 75 mg, once daily for 10 days for chemoprophylaxis 1.
• Children:
  • 12 months and older:
    • ≤15 kg (≤33 lb): 30 mg, twice daily for treatment, and 30 mg, once daily for chemoprophylaxis

    • 15 kg–23 kg (>33 lb–51 lb): 45 mg, twice daily for treatment, and 45 mg, once daily for chemoprophylaxis

    • 23 kg–40 kg (>51 lb–88 lb): 60 mg, twice daily for treatment, and 60 mg, once daily for chemoprophylaxis

    • 40 kg (>88 lb): 75 mg, twice daily for treatment, and 75 mg, once daily for chemoprophylaxis

  • Infants 9–11 months: 3.5 mg/kg per dose, twice daily for treatment, and 3.5 mg/kg per dose, once daily for chemoprophylaxis
  • Term infants 0–8 months: 3 mg/kg per dose, twice daily for treatment, and 3 mg/kg per dose, once daily for chemoprophylaxis for infants 3–8 months old
  • Preterm infants:
    • <38 weeks postmenstrual age: 1.0 mg/kg per dose, twice daily for treatment
    • 38 through 40 weeks postmenstrual age: 1.5 mg/kg per dose, twice daily for treatment

    • 40 weeks postmenstrual age: 3.0 mg/kg per dose, twice daily for treatment 1.

Important considerations:

• Oseltamivir is administered orally without regard to meals, although administration with meals may improve gastrointestinal tolerability 1.
• In patients with renal insufficiency, the dose should be adjusted on the basis of creatinine clearance 1.
• Oseltamivir is available as Tamiflu in 30-mg, 45-mg, and 75-mg capsules and as a powder for oral suspension that is reconstituted to provide a final concentration of 6 mg/mL 1.

From the FDA Drug Label

2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION

2.1 Dosage and Administration Overview Administer oseltamivir phosphate for oral suspension for the treatment of influenza in patients 2 weeks of age or older [see Dosage and Administration (2.2)] or for prophylaxis of influenza in patients 1 year and older [see Dosage and Administration (2. 3)] 2.2 Recommended Dosage for Treatment of Influenza Initiate treatment with oseltamivir phosphate for oral suspension within 48 hours of influenza symptom onset. Adults and Adolescents (13 years of age and older) The recommended oral dosage of oseltamivir phosphate for oral suspension for treatment of influenza in adults and adolescents 13 years and older is 75 mg twice daily (12. 5 mL of oral suspension twice daily) for 5 days. Pediatric Patients (2 weeks of age through 12 years of age) Table 1 displays the recommended oral dosage of oseltamivir phosphate for oral suspension for treatment of influenza in pediatric patients 2 weeks of age through 12 years of age and provides information about prescribing the formulation for oral suspension. 2.3 Recommended Dosage for Prophylaxis of Influenza Initiate post-exposure prophylaxis with oseltamivir phosphate for oral suspension within 48 hours following close contact with an infected individual. Initiate seasonal prophylaxis with oseltamivir phosphate for oral suspension during a community outbreak Adults and Adolescents (13 years of age and older) The recommended dosage of oseltamivir phosphate for oral suspension for prophylaxis of influenza in adults and adolescents 13 years and older is 75 mg orally once daily (12. 5 mL of oral suspension once daily) for at least 10 days following close contact with an infected individual and up to 6 weeks during a community outbreak.

The dosing for Tamiflu (Oseltamivir) is as follows:

• Treatment of Influenza:
  • Adults and Adolescents (13 years and older): 75 mg twice daily for 5 days
  • Pediatric Patients (2 weeks to 12 years): dosage based on weight (see Table 1)
• Prophylaxis of Influenza:
  • Adults and Adolescents (13 years and older): 75 mg once daily for at least 10 days following close contact with an infected individual and up to 6 weeks during a community outbreak
  • Pediatric Patients (1 year to 12 years): dosage based on weight (see Table 1) 2

From the Research

Dosing for Tamiflu (Oseltamivir)

• The standard adult dose for treatment is 75 mg twice a day for five days 3
• The dose for prophylaxis is 75 mg once daily for at least seven days following contact with an infected individual 3
• For children, a liquid formulation of oseltamivir (2 mg/kg twice daily for 5 days) has been shown to be effective in the treatment of children with influenza 4
• In immunocompromised pediatric patients, an oseltamivir dosage recommendation is the conventional dose (75 mg twice daily, age- and weight-adjusted for children <13 years) for 10 days 5
• The dose needs to be adjusted in patients with renal failure, but no adjustments are required in patients with hepatic impairment 3

Special Considerations

• Oseltamivir is suitable for use in diverse patient populations, including young children and elderly patients, various ethnic groups, and those with renal or hepatic impairment 6
• The potential for drug interactions is low, making oseltamivir suitable for use in patients with co-morbid conditions who are likely to be receiving concomitant medications 6

Efficacy and Safety

• Oseltamivir has been shown to be effective in reducing the duration and severity of influenza symptoms in adults and children 4, 7
• Oseltamivir is generally well-tolerated, with nausea and vomiting being the most commonly reported adverse effects 4, 3, 7