November 18, 2009 4:52 PM
- Text
Can Taking Tamiflu Unnecessarily Hurt You?
(CBS)
At pediatricians' offices, parents are worried.
"We wanted to make sure our young ones are safe," said Beverly Thiagarajan, a concerned parent.
Doctors like Nicole Nourmand in Los Angeles said patients are asking about one thing.
"A lot of families are calling and asking for a prescription to Tamiflu even if their children are not sick because they want to have it just in case," Nourmand said.
The antiviral drugs Tamiflu and Relenza, are the only known treatments for H1N1, reports CBS News correspondent Hattie Kauffman.
The CDC said only patients who were exposed to the flu need medication. Dr. Martin Blaser, of New York University, said taking Tamiflu unnecessarily creates a public health danger.
"It's not a good idea to have it at home just in case because the more people who have it, the more people who use it, the sooner resistance will emerge," Blaser said.
But some who can't get the drugs from a doctor are turning to the Internet. Online Pharmacy Direct Response Marketing said sales of Tamiflu have spiked 800 percent in the last week. AccessRx reports a 62 percent increase in sales.
To buy Tamiflu in a pharmacy you need a prescription - online you may not. Kauffman's producer ordered Tamiflu with just a few clicks of a mouse and a $160 charge on a credit card. Kauffman and her producer just typed in we had fever and flu, checked the informed consent agreement saying they consulted a doctor.
An online doctor supposedly reviewed the case and CBS News purchase. But nobody called or even e-mailed with questions, Kauffman reports. A few days later, they had the drug in hand.
The CDC said other Web sites, are falsely claiming their medicines prevent H1N1. And reselling Tamiflu on sites like Craigslist is illegal.
Doctors say patients should be careful what they buy online, because like all medicines, Tamiflu and Relenza have potential side effects.
"The one I've experienced with patients is delirium so it's kind of scary to see your kid hallucinate," Normaund said. "If you're doing that for no reason other than paranoia it's silly."
That's why most doctors are refusing to prescribe the drugs unless a patient is sick.
"We wanted to make sure our young ones are safe," said Beverly Thiagarajan, a concerned parent.
Doctors like Nicole Nourmand in Los Angeles said patients are asking about one thing.
"A lot of families are calling and asking for a prescription to Tamiflu even if their children are not sick because they want to have it just in case," Nourmand said.
The antiviral drugs Tamiflu and Relenza, are the only known treatments for H1N1, reports CBS News correspondent Hattie Kauffman.
The CDC said only patients who were exposed to the flu need medication. Dr. Martin Blaser, of New York University, said taking Tamiflu unnecessarily creates a public health danger.
"It's not a good idea to have it at home just in case because the more people who have it, the more people who use it, the sooner resistance will emerge," Blaser said.
But some who can't get the drugs from a doctor are turning to the Internet. Online Pharmacy Direct Response Marketing said sales of Tamiflu have spiked 800 percent in the last week. AccessRx reports a 62 percent increase in sales.
To buy Tamiflu in a pharmacy you need a prescription - online you may not. Kauffman's producer ordered Tamiflu with just a few clicks of a mouse and a $160 charge on a credit card. Kauffman and her producer just typed in we had fever and flu, checked the informed consent agreement saying they consulted a doctor.
An online doctor supposedly reviewed the case and CBS News purchase. But nobody called or even e-mailed with questions, Kauffman reports. A few days later, they had the drug in hand.
The CDC said other Web sites, are falsely claiming their medicines prevent H1N1. And reselling Tamiflu on sites like Craigslist is illegal.
Doctors say patients should be careful what they buy online, because like all medicines, Tamiflu and Relenza have potential side effects.
"The one I've experienced with patients is delirium so it's kind of scary to see your kid hallucinate," Normaund said. "If you're doing that for no reason other than paranoia it's silly."
That's why most doctors are refusing to prescribe the drugs unless a patient is sick.
Latest Now in CBS Evening News
- Evening News Online, 02.11.12
- Catholic votes and the Obama contraceptive quarrel
- Making the 1st ever US women's Olympic boxing team
- Ohio unemployment hits 3-year-low
- Who's really winning the 2012 GOP race?
- Mitt Romney wins Maine GOP caucuses
- In focus: The crisis in Syria
- Syrian forces launch new round of deadly attacks
- Some glimmer of hope in Ohio employment
- Boxing her way into history
- Evening News Online, 02.10.12
- Diplomat: U.S. military not the answer in Syria
- On the Road: Noah's Dream Catcher Network
- Salvaging the Costa Concordia
- Bank deal won't protect federal mortgages
- Ambassador Ford on military help in Syria
- Rare moment of relief in Syria
Latest CBS News Headlines
on Facebook
on CBS News
- Reactions to Whitney Houston's death
- Report: Japan emperor to have heart bypass surgery
- Man to face Alabama trial in wife's diving death
- Jokinen, Iginla lift Flames over Canucks in SO
on Facebook
- Adele sings a cappella for Anderson Cooper
- Occupy protestors kicked out of CPAC
- CPAC: Will Sarah Palin spring a surprise?
- Beyonce and Jay-Z post first photos of Blue Ivy Carter
on CBS News
