GoodRx Holdings Inc.
09/09/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/09/2024 17:31
Tamiflu Dosages for Kids and Adults: Your GoodRx Guide
Key takeaways:
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Tamiflu (oseltamivir) is an antiviral medication that treats the flu. The recommended Tamiflu dosage for adults is 75 mg twice daily for 5 days. It should be started within 48 hours of flu-symptom onset.
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You can also take Tamiflu to prevent the flu if you're exposed to the influenza virus. The recommended Tamiflu dosage for adults for flu prevention is 75 mg once daily for at least 7-10 days.
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Tamiflu dosing in kids younger than 13 years old is based on age and body weight. Your kidney health can also affect your dose.
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Table of contents
Tamiflu (oseltamivir) is an antiviral medication that's effective at treating and preventing influenza (the flu). It's a go-to medication if you or a loved one end up catching the flu and need quicker relief from your symptoms. What's more, Tamiflu is generally well-tolerated by kids and adults who take it.
If you need a course of Tamiflu, you and your healthcare professional have two dosage forms to choose from: capsules and an oral suspension (liquid). Tamiflu capsules are more common, and they come in 30 mg, 45 mg, and 75 mg doses. The Tamiflu oral suspension is preferred for young kids and people who have difficulty swallowing pills. It's a 60 mL bottle that contains 6 mg/mL of liquid.
Regardless of your Tamiflu dosage form, it's important to know how to take it. Taking it properly can help maximize its benefits and reduce complications.
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What's the typical Tamiflu dosage for adults?
The two-day rule is important for Tamiflu. For the treatment of flu, you should start taking Tamiflu within 48 hours (2 days) of feeling your first symptoms. If you're taking Tamiflu to prevent the flu, you should start it within 48 hours of being exposed to a person infected with the virus.
You don't need to take Tamiflu with food, but it may help to do so if the medication upsets your stomach. Specific Tamiflu dosages vary by what you're taking it for.
Flu treatment
For adults and teens ages 13 years and older, the recommended Tamiflu dosage for flu treatment is 75 mg (1 capsule) twice daily for 5 days. If you're taking the oral suspension, it's recommended to take 12.5 mL per dose for the same frequency and duration.
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Flu prevention
The recommended Tamiflu prophylaxis dose for adults and adolescents ages 13 years and older is 75 mg once daily. If you're taking the oral suspension, you should take 12.5 mL per dose.
The duration of taking Tamiflu for flu prevention can vary. If you come in close contact with the flu, it's recommended to take the medication for at least 7 to 10 days. If your local community has a flu outbreak, you may take it for up to 6 weeks. But if you or a loved one have a weakened immune system, you may be told to take Tamiflu for up to 12 weeks (3 months).
What's the typical Tamiflu dosage for children?
Tamiflu can treat and prevent the flu in children too. But compared to adults, Tamiflu is dosed in a different way. For kids, the medication's dosing is based on age and body weight.
Flu treatment
Tamiflu is approved to treat the flu in children ages 2 weeks and older. Regardless of age or weight, Tamiflu is given twice daily for 5 days for the treatment of flu.
Kids ages 2 weeks to less than 1 year old
|
Body weight |
Dose |
Volume of oral suspension |
|
Any weight |
3 mg/kg |
0.5 mL/kg |
Kids ages 1-12 years old
|
Body weight |
Dose |
Volume of oral suspension |
|
15 kg or less (less than 33 lbs) |
30 mg |
5 mL |
|
15.1 kg to 23 kg (33 to 50 lbs) |
45 mg |
7.5 mL |
|
23.1 kg to 40 kg (51 to 88 lbs) |
60 mg |
10 mL |
|
40.1 kg or more (more than 88 lbs) |
75 mg |
12.5 mL |
Your child's pediatrician can determine the right dose for your child based on their age and body weight.
Flu prevention
Tamiflu's minimum age is a bit higher for flu prevention. It's only approved for flu prevention in kids ages 1 year and older. It's typically given once daily for at least 7 to 10 days.
|
Body weight |
Dose |
Volume of oral suspension |
|
15 kg or less (less than 33 lbs) |
30 mg |
5 mL |
|
15.1 kg to 23 kg (33 to 50 lbs) |
45 mg |
7.5 mL |
|
23.1 kg to 40 kg (51 to 88 lbs) |
60 mg |
10 mL |
|
40.1 kg or more (more than 88 lbs) |
75 mg |
12.5 mL |
Are there any dosage adjustments for medical conditions?
Yes. Tamiflu dose adjustments are required for people who have kidney problems. The medication isn't recommended for people who are living with end-stage renal disease that aren't undergoing dialysis.
However, if the right safeguards are followed, Tamiflu can still be given to people with kidney failure, or end-stage renal disease, who are undergoing dialysis.
Dosage for people with kidney problems
Tamiflu doses should be lowered for people who have kidney problems. But how much your dose is changed depends on how well your kidneys are working.
The recommended dose of Tamiflu is based on your creatinine clearance which is a standard lab measurement used to assess kidney health. The lower your creatinine clearance, the less efficient your kidneys are.
Your healthcare professional will prescribe an appropriate dose based on your creatinine clearance and overall kidney health. If you're receiving dialysis, your kidney doctor can tell you how to time your doses with your dialysis sessions.
|
Kidney impairment (creatinine clearance) |
Recommended treatment dose |
Recommended prevention dose |
|
Mild (>60 to 90 mL/min) |
75 mg twice daily |
75 mg once daily |
|
Moderate (>30 to 60 mL/min) |
30 mg twice daily |
30 mg once daily |
|
Severe (>10 to 30 mL/min) |
30 mg once daily |
30 mg every other day |
Good to know: Kidney problems aside, it's not necessary to adjust your Tamiflu dosage for other health conditions.
What happens if you miss a dose of Tamiflu?
If you forget to take a dose of Tamiflu, take your missed dose as soon as possible. But skip the missed dose altogether if you're supposed to take your next scheduled dose within the next 2 hours. You should keep taking your following doses as they were originally scheduled.
Do not take an extra dose or double up on a dose to make up for a missed dose. Contact your healthcare professional if you've missed several doses. And since the flu can cause nausea, you should also contact your healthcare professional if you throw up soon after taking a Tamiflu dose. You may need to take a replacement dose.
What should you do if you take too much Tamiflu?
Although Tamiflu overdose cases have been reported, they usually don't result in any adverse reactions.
So, if you think you accidentally took too much Tamiflu, don't panic. There's a good chance any side effects you may experience would mimic Tamiflu's side effects at normal doses. Common side effects of Tamiflu include nausea, vomiting, or headache. But if you experience a skin rash, signs of an allergic reaction, or a sudden change in your behavior, contact your healthcare professional right away.
How to save on Tamiflu
There are ways to save on Tamiflu, which is available as both a brand-name and generic medication. GoodRx can help you save over 80% off the average retail price of the generic version.
Generic Tamiflu's price for a 10-count pack of 75 mg capsules at certain pharmacies is as low as $18.00with a free GoodRx discount. A bottle of the generic oral suspension costs as little as $23.79with a free GoodRx discount.
Frequently asked questions
Can you take Tamiflu for bird flu?
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Yes, you can take Tamiflu for bird flu caused by avian influenza A (H5N1) - the strain of the virus that's making headlines in 2024.
In May 2024, the CDC released instructions for taking Tamiflu for bird flu. You can take it if you have a suspected or confirmed case - especially if your symptoms are severe. You can also take Tamiflu as a precautionary measure if you think you were exposed to H5N1.
Call a healthcare professional right away if you're concerned about bird flu. Starting treatment as soon as possible helps boost Tamiflu's effectiveness.
Can you take Tamiflu doses less than 12 hours apart?
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When taken for flu treatment, Tamiflu doses should be spaced apart by about 12 hours. This consistency helps the medication work as intended. However, there is some flexibility in case you forget a dose or have a hectic day planned. If you occasionally miss this mark by a couple of hours, it shouldn't be a huge issue. Just make sure to skip the dose if your next scheduled dose is less than 2 hours away.
Do you have to finish Tamiflu?
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Yes, you should finish your full course of Tamiflu. This is true even if you feel better before you finish it. Stopping it too soon could lead to a return in your symptoms. It could also make Tamiflu less effective for future spells of the flu.
In most cases, you should only stop taking Tamiflu early if your prescriber tells you to or you think you're having an allergic reaction to the medication.
The bottom line
Tamiflu (oseltamivir) is FDA approved to treat and prevent the flu. For adults and adolescents ages 13 years and older, the typical Tamiflu dosage is 75 mg twice daily for 5 days. The typical Tamiflu dosage for flu prevention for adults and adolescents ages 13 years and older is 75 mg once daily for 10 days. Kids, and certain people with kidney problems, usually take lower doses.
Why trust our experts?
Written by:
Cassandra Pardini, PharmD, MS
Cassandra Pardini has been a freelance medical writer for 7 years. In that time, she has concentrated on publishing articles on medication-related information for healthcare professionals and patients.
Edited by:
Joshua Murdock, PharmD, BCBBS
Joshua Murdock, PharmD, BCBBS, is a licensed pharmacist in Arizona, Colorado, and Rhode Island. He has worked in the pharmacy industry for more than 8 years and currently serves as a pharmacy editor for GoodRx.
Reviewed by:
Stacia Woodcock, PharmD
Stacia Woodcock, PharmD, is a pharmacy editor for GoodRx. She earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Kentucky and is licensed in New York and Massachusetts.
References
American Kidney Fund. (2022). Kidney failure (ESRD) - symptoms, causes, and treatment options.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2016). Antiviral drug resistance among influenza viruses.
View All References (6)
expand_more
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Emergency use instructions (EUI) fact sheet for healthcare providers: Oseltamivir for treatment or post-exposure prophylaxis of novel influenza A.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). H5 bird flu: Current situation.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Interim guidance on the use of antiviral medications for treatment of human infections with novel influenza A viruses associated with severe human disease.
Genentech, Inc. (2023). Tamiflu- oseltamivir phosphate capsule [package insert]. DailyMed.
Proficient Rx LP. (2022). Oseltamivir phosphate [package insert].
Shahbaz, H., et al. (2024). Creatinine clearance. StatPearls.
GoodRx Health has strict sourcing policies and relies on primary sources such as medical organizations, governmental agencies, academic institutions, and peer-reviewed scientific journals. Learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate, thorough, and unbiased by reading our editorial guidelines.
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