Tamiflu is an antiviral medication used to treat or prevent the symptoms of the flu (influenza).
Tamiflu can protect you from catching the flu, and stops you getting sick after you’ve been exposed to the virus. Tamiflu can also help you get better faster when you have the flu by relieving symptoms like body aches, headaches, stuffy or runny noses, and tiredness.
This is important during flu epidemics, when there are other infections going round that can cause serious health issues (such as coronavirus), or if you have risk factors that make the flu more dangerous for you.
Tamiflu is not a substitute for the flu vaccine, so we recommend that you should get vaccinated if you can. The flu vaccine will give you antibodies against the flu, which is a safer and more effective way to prevent yourself from getting infected.
It’s also important to note that Tamiflu doesn’t treat coronavirus, or any other lung or breathing problems.
People who are at-risk and can benefit from Tamiflu treatment include those who:
- Are over 65
- Have weakened immune systems
- Are pregnant, including up to 2 weeks after giving birth
- Are obese
- Have any of the following health conditions:
- Nerve, liver, kidney, lung, or chronic heart diseases
- Diabetes
- Asthma, if preventer inhalers are needed
Can you get Tamiflu over the counter?
No. Tamiflu is a prescription-only medication, so you can’t buy it over the counter at a pharmacy. If you want to take Tamiflu, a doctor needs to approve treatment for you first.
You can order Tamiflu from Superdrug Online Doctor without needing a prescription first, as our doctors can prescribe medication online.
Is Tamiflu an antibiotic?
No. Tamiflu is an antiviral medication. The flu is caused by the influenza virus, which can only be treated by antiviral medications like Tamiflu. Antibiotics are used to treat infections caused by bacteria.
What doses of Tamiflu are there?
Tamiflu comes in 5 different doses – 3mg, 30mg, 45mg, 60mg, and 75mg. The ‘dose’ tells you how much of the active ingredient, oseltamivir phosphate, is in the medication.
The dose you need, and how long you take it for depends on:
- Age
- Weight
- Whether your immune system is weakened
The table below covers all the doses of Tamiflu and who they’re for.
Dose |
Who is it for? |
3mg |
Children aged 1 - 11 months old |
30mg |
Children aged 1 to 12 years old who weigh up to 15kg |
45mg |
Children aged 1 to 12 years old who weigh 16kg to 23kg |
60mg |
Children over 1 year old and adults who weight 24kg to 40kg |
75mg |
Children over 1 year old and adults who weigh 41kg or more |
At Superdrug Online Doctor, we only offer Tamiflu 75mg.
Can you get Tamiflu on the NHS?
Yes. The NHS follows guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and so does offer prescriptions for Tamiflu, but they only offer them to people if:
- Type A or B flu is in circulation
- You have risk factors (listed above)
- You see them less than 48 hours after you get symptoms
The NHS does not typically offer Tamiflu if you do not currently have symptoms of the flu, so you may not be able to get it to protect yourself from a future infection. Superdrug Online Doctor is offering Tamiflu for future use to try and reduce the burden on the NHS this flu season, due to increased pressures from coronavirus.
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