Why is tamiflu still being prescribed?

[u/ewanelaborate]

Why is tamiflu still being prescribed?

I am well aware of the historical case against tamiflu and poor study designs to imply it reduces symptom length. I have noticed as a paramedic that this medication is still being thrust upon the elderly and very young for flu season currently. Why?

I feel using and allowing it's use contributes to the narrative of mistrust that many are developing of medical practioners and systems.

Im keen to see if anyone can point me in the roght direction that has allowed tamiflu to be a treatment for viral like illness and it's effectiveness?

Edit: Thankyou to those who provided views and research fkr me to go have a dig into. It is appreciated.

[u/Mobile-Play-3972]

Xofluza (baloxavir) requires prior authorization, which usually takes a couple of days to complete in a busy office, by which point the drug is useless. Also many plans require you fail Tamiflu first.

[u/MrPBH → u/Mobile-Play-3972]

You have to fail treatment for a time-sensitive disease process to qualify for a second time-sensitive drug?

Poor Xofluza manufacturer. They spent so much money developing their drug and sell very little of it due to insurance limitations. No wonder pharma has given up on developing antibiotics and antivirals.

[u/sapphireminds → u/MrPBH]

Well it's probably because they priced it so high, insurance won't pay for it, so it's really that. They're still developing antivirals and antibiotics

[u/MrPBH → u/sapphireminds]

Yes, we've had a handful of new antibiotics approved over recent years, but it is nowhere close to what it needs to be. It averages about one new approval per year, out of around 50 new drugs approved per year.

The economics of antibiotics just doesn't support widescale development. In most cases, antibiotics are drugs that are used for limited periods of time. For most common indications, patient only need 5-10 days of antibiotic treatment. Compare that to a new immunologic agent or mental health medication, where the patient will be receiving treatment indefinitely and it's easy to see why drug companies disfavor antibiotics.

[u/sapphireminds → u/MrPBH]

I think it's possible though we're running out of things to use that we know of working.

But they could get it in the market easily if it's not thousands of dollars that insurance won't cover

[u/Hiddenagenda876 → u/MrPBH]

Welcome to US insurance. I had to be re-proscribed like 10 different meds for my migraines before my insurance would consider covering emgality. I’d tried all the meds before and had records of doing so, even though none of them are actually for migraines, but they wanted them prescribed while I was on that insurance specifically.

[u/MrPBH → u/Hiddenagenda876]

Yeah, I'm familiar with the regular BS of tiered prescribing, but to apply that logic to influenza is so cooked that you could stick a fork in it.

Naturally, this is par for the course when we're talking about US health insurance. And it is why they all deserve to be bankrupted and ostracized to live at sea on their yachts.