Tamiflu or not? WWYD?

mags2041

I posted earlier that while visiting my brother in the ICU a 30wk pg woman died of a respiratory illness.  Turns out she had swine flu.  She was an otherwise healthy 24yo, admitted on a Weds and died on Sunday. My mom (an internal medicine doc) is adament that I take Tamiflu just in case (I've had a sore throat for a couple of days).  She sent me home with Tamiflu a couple of weeks ago.  Today, another pg woman was admitted into the ICU with the flu and there are at least 3 others in the town where I was just visiting.

I called my OB to check and the nurse said that its a class c drug and to take it only if I feel comfortable.  She said that I was probably ok, but should load up on vitamin C and rest.  After reading the Tamiflu pamphlet, I told my mom I wasn't comfortable taking it.  She's now emailing me all sorts of medical journal articles about H1N1 and anti-virals and highlighting the areas that say its more dangerous the further along in pregnancy you are.  All articles suggest that pg women (2nd & 3rd tri) take an antiviral if there is suspected exposure.  The OB nurse just looked up Tamiflu while I was on the phone with her, my mother has been researching this for a couple of hours.

Here's the text that she just sent me: "Risk vs benefit - the lady died and you were within feet of her and people taking care of her were in and out of kenny's room- be practical!"

So, if you think you had been exposed to H1N1 and were in your 2nd tri, would you take Tamiflu?

alpineflower

No, I would not take it.

august0605bride

I would NOT take it.?

mags2041

 I forgot to add - the articles that she sent me all state that though all anti-virals are class c drugs, there have been no adverse effects reported in the fetuses of pregnant women who have taken them.

august0605bride

IDK-- my dad gave us TamiFlu, too, but I'd probably not take it if I didn't know I had the flu, KWIM?

MommyofAlissa

I would be worried about developing an immunity to the drug. For example, what if you really do just have a cold and take the Tamiflu...then, heaven forbid, you really do come in contact, then what? Will tamiflu work as well?

I mean, it is possible you have been exposed, but I am such a worrywart that the other possibilities would be running through my head too.

mags2041

MommyofAlissa:

I would be worried about developing an immunity to the drug. For example, what if you really do just have a cold and take the Tamiflu...then, heaven forbid, you really do come in contact, then what? Will tamiflu work as well?

I mean, it is possible you have been exposed, but I am such a worrywart that the other possibilities would be running through my head too.

No, Tamiflu can be taken as a preventative measure... if you think you've been exposed then you can take it to prevent getting sick.  Anti-virals are different than antibiotics.

MrsSledge

At what point would a GP prescribe Tamiflu?  Would a GP prescribe Tamiflu if a person was exposed, or would they wait until the first symptoms?  If it possible for you to a get flu test yet?

According to SafeFetus, there have been incidence of skeletal abnormailities in animals in high doses, but I'd have to ask what they consider high?

I don't think your mom would suggest you take it if she believed there was a risk to the baby, but I would probably wait until you showed more symptoms, and get a flu test at the slightest sneeze, ache, fever etc.  In other words, I'd be at the dr every other day for a couple of weeks getting flu tests.

mags2041

august0605bride:

IDK-- my dad gave us TamiFlu, too, but I'd probably not take it if I didn't know I had the flu, KWIM?

Even though I'm not sick, she wants me to take it as a preventative measure.

MommyofAlissa

mags2041:

MommyofAlissa:

I would be worried about developing an immunity to the drug. For example, what if you really do just have a cold and take the Tamiflu...then, heaven forbid, you really do come in contact, then what? Will tamiflu work as well?

I mean, it is possible you have been exposed, but I am such a worrywart that the other possibilities would be running through my head too.

No, Tamiflu can be taken as a preventative measure... if you think you've been exposed then you can take it to prevent getting sick.  Anti-virals are different than antibiotics.

I wasn't aware of that. Good to know.

august0605bride

Take it then-- I mean she's your mom, and she has your best interests at heart more than your OB does even. ?

?

MrsSledge

I think I'd be more worried about if you needed to take it again.  I'd want to limit the baby's exposure to the drug as much as possible.

michaeltrish

I would take it.  I think your mom is spot-on with this one.

Kelly Madonna

mags2041:

All articles suggest that pg women (2nd & 3rd tri) take an antiviral if there is suspected exposure. 

I would normally have said no, but this sentence makes me say yes.

Jen2124

I think I would do what my gut told me. I am not sure what that is though since I am not in the situation.