Oseltamivir Phosphate

Oseltamivir Phosphate is an antiviral medicine used to treat and prevent influenza (flu) as well as, swine flu (H1N1 virus). It helps to relieve the symptoms of the flu virus infection like a stuffy or runny nose, sore throat, cough, body aches, tiredness, headache, fever, and chills.

Oseltamivir Phosphate prevents the flu virus from spreading inside the body. Influenza, commonly known as flu is an infection caused by a virus. This medicine should be taken only when prescribed by a doctor. It should be used in the dose and duration as advised by your doctor. It can be taken with or without food, although taking it with food can reduce the chance of feeling or being sick (nausea or vomiting).

Do not skip any doses and finish the full course of treatment even if you feel better. Stopping the medication too early may result in a relapse of the infection or failure to protect you from the flu.

Some common side effects include nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, and diarrhea. These side effects mostly occur after the first dose of the medicine and will usually stop as treatment continues. Please consult your doctor if these side effects persist for a longer duration.

Before taking it, tell your doctor if you have problems with your heart, liver or kidneys. Avoid drinking alcohol as it may increase your risk of liver damage. Pregnant or breastfeeding mothers should consult their doctor before using this medicine.

• Treatment of Influenza (flu)

Treatment of Influenza (flu)
Influenza is a viral infection that attacks your respiratory system (nose, throat and lungs). It is often called the flu. Oseltamivir Phosphate helps to prevent the spread of the infection by restricting the movement of infection causing viruses into uninfected parts of the body from the infected ones. Take Oseltamivir Phosphate as prescribed by the doctor to get maximum benefit.

Most side effects do not require any medical attention and disappear as your body adjusts to the medicine. Consult your doctor if they persist or if you’re worried about them

Common side effects of Oselflu

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Abdominal pain
• Diarrhea

Take this medicine in the dose and duration as advised by your doctor. Oseltamivir Phosphate may be taken with or without food, but it is better to take it at a fixed time.

Oseltamivir Phosphate is a neuraminidase inhibitor. It inhibits neuraminidase (influenza virus enzyme) that helps the viruses to enter into uninfected cells of the body to cause or spread influenza infection in the body. This is how it works against the virus to treat influenza (flu).

• Oseltamivir Phosphate helps in the treatment and prevention of flu.

• Do not skip any doses and finish the full course of treatment even if you feel better. Stopping it early may make the symptoms of flu to come back.

• Take it as soon as possible, ideally within two days of starting of flu symptoms.

• Take it with food to avoid stomach upset.

• It is not a substitute for flu vaccination. You might be prescribed both by your doctor.

• Inform your doctor if you notice any changes in mood or behaviour, especially in children and adolescents.

Acosta EP, Flexner C. Antiviral Agents (Nonretroviral). In: Brunton LL, Chabner BA, Knollmann BC, editors. Goodman & Gilman’s: The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics. New York, New York: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2011. pp. 1608-609.

Safrin S. Antiviral Agents. In: Katzung BG, Masters SB, Trevor AJ, editors. Basic and Clinical Pharmacology. 11th ed. New Delhi, India: Tata McGraw Hill Education Private Limited; 2009. p. 872.

Oseltamivir Phosphate. Foster City, California: Gilead Sciences; 1999 [revised Dec. 2012]. [Accessed 31 Mar. 2019] (online) Available from:

Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO). [Accessed 31 Mar. 2019] (online) Available from: