There is no scientific evidence that Tamiflu helps prevent serious complications of swine flu. This is what physician-epidemiologist Luc Bonneux writes on the website of the Dutch Journal of Medicine.
In addition, there is a lot to criticize about the study results that experts and the government cite to advise the use of Tamiflu, says Bonneux. This flu inhibitor, with the active ingredient oseltamivir, is produced by drug manufacturer Roche. Bonneux points out that this study was funded and conducted by the same manufacturer. "The results are presented as advantageously as possible," says the doctor.
Age The study group that received oseltamivir was on average younger than the control group that received nothing. The fact that the first group had fewer complications could therefore be partly explained by the age difference. Bonneux:“It is known that the chance of hospitalization for flu is six times greater in people between the ages of 50 and 64. The age difference may explain the 80 percent increase in complications,” Bonneux said.
Worse than the disease?
The doctor also points out that in many cases no complications occurred due to the Mexican flu in both healthy people and in people from risk groups. "The clinical significance of the data from the study is therefore limited," he says. The reported side effects of Tamiflu, on the other hand, are severe:headaches, extreme vomiting and diarrhea are common.
RIVM says that the research is sound and is not impressed by Bonneux's criticism.
