Tamiflu (oseltamivir) for Oral Suspension: Potential Medication Errors
Audience: Pharmacists, pediatrics healthcare professionals
[UPDATED 09/25/2009] New links added to provide information on emergency use in infants less than 1 year of age and directions to pharmacists on emergency compounding of oral suspension from capsules.
[Posted 09/24/2009] FDA issued a Public Health Alert to notify prescribers and pharmacists about potential dosing errors with Tamiflu (oseltamivir) for Oral Suspension. U.S. health care providers usually write prescriptions for liquid medicines in milliliters (mL) or teaspoons, while Tamiflu is dosed in milligrams (mg). The dosing dispenser packaged with Tamiflu has markings only in 30, 45 and 60 mg. The Agency has received reports of errors where dosing instructions for the patient do not match the dosing dispenser. Health care providers should write doses in mg if the dosing dispenser with the drug is in mg. Pharmacists should ensure that the units of measure on the prescription instructions match the dosing device provided with the drug.
[09/25/2009 - Emergency Compounding of an Oral Suspension from Tamiflu 75 mg Capsules (Final Concentration 15 mg/mL) - FDA]
[09/25/2009 - Emergency Use of Tamiflu in Infants Less than 1 Year of Age - FDA]
[09/24/2009 - Public Health Alert - FDA]
[09/23/2009 - Dear Healthcare Professional Letter - Roche]
[09/23/2009 - Information for Pharmacists - CDC]
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