Drug Detail:Tamiflu (Oseltamivir [ os-el-tam-ih-veer ])
Generic Name: OSELTAMIVIR PHOSPHATE 30mg
Drug Class: Neuraminidase inhibitors
Dosage and Administration Overview
Administer TAMIFLU 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)] using:
- TAMIFLU capsules or
- TAMIFLU for oral suspension (supplied as a powder). This is the preferred formulation (6 mg per mL) for patients who cannot swallow capsules. Prior to use, the supplied TAMIFLU powder must be constituted with water by the pharmacist to produce the oral suspension [see Dosage and Administration (2.5)].
The capsules and oral suspension may be taken with or without food; however, tolerability may be enhanced if TAMIFLU is taken with food.
Adjust the TAMIFLU dosage in patients with moderate or severe renal impairment [see Dosage and Administration (2.4)].
For patients who cannot swallow capsules, TAMIFLU for oral suspension is the preferred formulation. When TAMIFLU for oral suspension is not available from wholesaler or the manufacturer, TAMIFLU capsules may be opened and mixed with sweetened liquids such as regular or sugar-free chocolate syrup, corn syrup, caramel topping, or light brown sugar (dissolved in water). During emergency situations and when neither the oral suspension or the age-appropriate strengths of TAMIFLU capsules to mix with sweetened liquids are available, then a pharmacist may prepare an emergency supply of oral suspension from TAMIFLU 75 mg capsules [see Dosage and Administration (2.6)].
Recommended Dosage for Treatment of Influenza
Initiate treatment with TAMIFLU within 48 hours of influenza symptom onset.
Recommended Dosage for Prophylaxis of Influenza
Initiate post-exposure prophylaxis with TAMIFLU within 48 hours following close contact with an infected individual. Initiate seasonal prophylaxis with TAMIFLU during a community outbreak.
Adults and Adolescents (13 years of age and older)
The recommended dosage of TAMIFLU for prophylaxis of influenza in adults and adolescents 13 years and older is 75 mg orally once daily (one 75 mg capsule or 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. In immunocompromised patients, TAMIFLU may be continued for up to 12 weeks [see Use in Specific Populations (8.9)]. The duration of protection lasts for as long as TAMIFLU dosing is continued.
Pediatric Patients (1 year to 12 years of age)
Table 1 displays the recommended oral dosage of TAMIFLU for prophylaxis of influenza in pediatric patients 1 year to 12 years of age based on body weight and provides information about prescribing the capsule or the formulation for oral suspension. Prophylaxis in pediatric patients is recommended for 10 days following close contact with an infected individual and up to 6 weeks during a community outbreak [see Use in Specific Populations (8.4) and Clinical Studies (14.2)].
| Weight | Treatment Dosage for 5 days | Prophylaxis Dosage for 10 days* | Volume of Oral Suspension (6 mg/mL) for each Dose† | Number of Bottles of Oral Suspension to Dispense | Number of Capsules to Dispense (Strength)‡ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|||||
| Patients from 2 Weeks to less than 1 Year of Age | |||||
| Any weight | 3 mg/kg twice daily | Not applicable | 0.5 mL/kg§ | 1 bottle | Not applicable |
| Patients 1 to 12 Years of Age Based on Body Weight | |||||
| 15 kg or less | 30 mg twice daily | 30 mg once daily | 5 mL | 1 bottle | 10 capsules (30 mg) |
| 15.1 kg to 23 kg | 45 mg twice daily | 45 mg once daily | 7.5 mL | 2 bottles | 10 capsules (45 mg) |
| 23.1 kg to 40 kg | 60 mg twice daily | 60 mg once daily | 10 mL | 2 bottles | 20 capsules (30 mg) |
| 40.1 kg or more | 75 mg twice daily | 75 mg once daily | 12.5 mL | 3 bottles | 10 capsules (75 mg) |
Dosage in Patients with Renal Impairment
Table 2 displays the dosage recommendations for the treatment and prophylaxis of influenza in adults with various stages of renal impairment (estimated creatinine clearance of less than or equal to 90 mL per minute). Dosage modifications are recommended in adults with an estimated creatinine clearance less than or equal to 60 mL per minute [see Use in Specific Population (8.6) and Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].
| Renal Impairment (Creatinine Clearance) |
Recommended Treatment Regimen* | Recommended Prophylaxis Regimen*† |
|---|---|---|
|
||
| Mild (>60-90 mL/minute) |
75 mg twice daily for 5 days | 75 mg once daily |
| Moderate (>30-60 mL/minute) |
30 mg twice daily for 5 days | 30 mg once daily |
| Severe (>10-30 mL/minute) |
30 mg once daily for 5 days | 30 mg every other day |
| ESRD Patients on Hemodialysis (≤ 10 mL/minute) |
30 mg immediately and then 30 mg after every hemodialysis cycle (treatment duration not to exceed 5 days) |
30 mg immediately and then 30 mg after alternate hemodialysis cycles |
| ESRD Patients on Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis‡ (≤10 mL/minute) |
A single 30 mg dose administered immediately | 30 mg immediately and then 30 mg once weekly |
| ESRD Patients not on Dialysis | TAMIFLU is not recommended | TAMIFLU is not recommended |
Preparation and Storage of Constituted TAMIFLU Oral Suspension
Prior to dispensing to the patient, constitute TAMIFLU for oral suspension (supplied as powder):
- a)
- Tap the closed bottle containing the supplied TAMIFLU white powder several times to loosen the powder.
- b)
- Measure 55 mL of water in a graduated cylinder.
- c)
- Add the total amount of water for constitution to the bottle.
- d)
- Close bottle with child-resistant cap tightly and shake the closed bottle well for 15 seconds.
- e)
- Label the bottle with instructions to "Shake Well Before Use".
- f)
- The constituted oral suspension contains 360 mg of oseltamivir base per 60 mL of volume (6 mg per mL) and is white, tutti-frutti–flavored). Use the constituted oral suspension within 17 days of preparation when stored under refrigeration, 2º to 8ºC (36º to 46ºF), or within 10 days if stored at controlled room temperature, 25ºC (77ºF). Write the expiration date of the constituted oral suspension on the bottle label.
- g)
- Ensure patients have an oral dosing dispenser that measures the appropriate volume in milliliters. Counsel patients on how to utilize the oral dosing dispenser and correctly measure the oral suspension as prescribed (see Tables 1 and 2).
Emergency Preparation of Oral Suspension from 75 mg TAMIFLU Capsules
The following directions are provided for use only during emergency situations and when FDA-approved, commercially manufactured TAMIFLU for oral suspension is not available from wholesalers or the manufacturer.
The following emergency preparation instructions will provide one patient with enough TAMIFLU for a 5-day course of treatment of influenza or a 10-day course of prophylaxis of influenza:
Step #1: Determine the dosage of TAMIFLU for the patient [see Dosage and Administration (2.2, 2.3, and 2.4)] then determine the total volume of oral suspension needed to be prepared (see Table 3).
| TAMIFLU Dose* | Total Volume to Prepare per Patient |
|---|---|
|
|
| 15 mg or less | 37.5 mL |
| 30 mg | 75 mL |
| 45 mg | 100 mL |
| 60 mg | 125 mL |
| 75 mg | 150 mL |
Step #2: Preparation must be performed with only one of the following vehicles (other vehicles have not been studied): Cherry Syrup (Humco®), Ora-Sweet® SF (sugar-free) (Paddock Laboratories), or simple syrup. Determine the number of capsules and the amount of water and vehicle needed to prepare the total volume (see Table 3) of prepared oral suspension (6 mg per mL) for a complete treatment or prophylaxis course (see Table 4).
| Total Volume of Prepared Oral Suspension | 37.5 mL | 75 mL | 100 mL | 125 mL | 150 mL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|||||
| Number of TAMIFLU 75 mg Capsules (Total Strength)* | 3 (225 mg) | 6 (450 mg) | 8 (600 mg) | 10 (750 mg) | 12 (900 mg) |
| Amount of Water | 2.5 mL | 5 mL | 7 mL | 8 mL | 10 mL |
| Volume of Vehicle Cherry Syrup (Humco®) OR Ora-Sweet® SF (Paddock Laboratories) OR simple syrup |
34.5 mL | 69 mL | 91 mL | 115 mL | 137 mL |
Step #3: Follow the instructions below for preparing the 75 mg TAMIFLU capsules to produce the oral suspension (6 mg per mL):
- Place the specified amount of water into a polyethyleneterephthalate (PET) or glass bottle (see Table 4). Constitution in other bottle types is not recommended because there is no stability data with other bottle types.
- Carefully separate the capsule body and cap and pour the contents of the required number of TAMIFLU 75 mg capsules into the PET or glass bottle.
- Gently swirl the suspension to ensure adequate wetting of the TAMIFLU powder for at least 2 minutes.
- Slowly add the specified amount of vehicle to the bottle.
- Close the bottle using a child-resistant cap and shake well for 30 seconds to completely dissolve the active drug and to ensure homogeneous distribution of the dissolved drug in the resulting suspension. The active drug, oseltamivir phosphate, readily dissolves in the specified vehicles. The suspension is caused by inert ingredients of TAMIFLU capsules which are insoluble in these vehicles.
- Put an ancillary label on the bottle indicating "Shake Well Before Use."
- Instruct the parent or caregiver that any unused suspension remaining in the bottle following completion of therapy must be discarded by either affixing an ancillary label to the bottle or adding a statement to the pharmacy label instructions.
- Place a pharmacy label on the bottle that includes the patient's name, dosing instructions, drug name and any other required information to be in compliance with all State and Federal Pharmacy Regulations. Place an appropriate expiration date on the label according to storage conditions below.
- Include the recommended dosage on the pharmacy label as per Tables 1 and 2 [see Dosage and Administration (2.2, 2.3, and 2.4)].
- Store the prepared oral suspension in glass or PET bottles either:
- In a refrigerator [2° to 8°C (36° to 46°F)]: Stable for 5 weeks when stored in a refrigerator.
- At room temperature [25°C (77°F)]: Stable for 5 days when stored at room temperature.
