Health Canada adds warnings to Tamiflu

Recent research has suggested that Tamiflu induces hallucinations and abnormal behavior, including self harm, in patients taking the antiviral drug Tamiflu. These reports include children and teenagers, primarily from Japan. While the connection with the drug in these cases has not yet been proven, high fever or other complications of influenza can affect mental state.

According to Health Canada, since November there have been 84 reports of adverse events occurring in Canadian patients using Tamiflu, including 10 which reported a fatal outcome. There have been seven Canadian reports of psychiatric adverse events, suspected by those reporting the events, due to Tamiflu.

Health Canada commented that it continues to monitor the safety of Tamiflu and will continue to inform Canadians if new safety information arises.

The link between the drug and the adverse reactions and deaths has not been confirmed said the health authority.