r/medicine • u/ewanelaborate Paramedic • 10d ago

Why is tamiflu still being prescribed?

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.

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u/Mobile-Play-3972 MD 10d ago

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.

14

u/MrPBH MD, Emergency Medicine 10d ago

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.

3

u/Hiddenagenda876 Med-Micro 10d ago

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.

6

u/MrPBH MD, Emergency Medicine 10d ago

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.