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Page: << Prev | 1 | 2 | 3 | Next >> The drug's label mentions reports of delirium and self-injury, primarily among children in Japan, but the advisory panel said the language should state that several patients died as a result of these behaviors, AP reported.
A spokeswoman for Roche said Wednesday that all flu patients, not just those taking Tamiflu, should be warned that the illness posed a risk of psychiatric problems. She stressed there was no causal relationship between Tamiflu and the reported cases of delirium and hallucinations, AP reported.
In addition, the FDA panel recommended that labeling for the flu drug Relenza, (zanamivir), should also reflect reports of abnormal behavior, according to Bloomberg.
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The FDA is not obliged to follow its expert panels' recommendation, but it usually does. A safety review released Friday by the FDA's Division of Antiviral Products urged stronger label warnings for both flu drugs, including stricter monitoring of children taking these drugs.
According to the FDA safety review, there have been 596 reported cases of psychiatric behavior associated with Tamiflu use. Most of these cases happened among patients aged 21 or younger. The majority (75 percent) occurred in Japan.
Fifty-nine of the cases were classified as delirium with impulsive behavior and self-injury. Delirium, delusions, hallucinations or psychosis accounted for another 225 cases. In total, five children died "as a result of falls from windows or balconies or running into traffic," the safety review found, and three adults committed suicide. So far, there haven't been any such cases reported in the United States, according to the FDA.
The FDA safety review also reported that in cases involving Relenza, mostly in Japan, there have been 115 reports of "delirium with impulsive behavior and self-injury in which the patient expressed 'fear' and attempted to flee or expressed a desire to 'jump,'" the agency said. There were no deaths associated with Relenza.
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