The flu ‘treatment’ that’s worse than the flu itself

Over a decade ago, the feds conducted one of the biggest government handouts ever, all in the name of keeping Americans safe from a global flu outbreak.

That was when billions of our tax dollars were spent to stockpile “oseltamivir phosphate,” a.k.a. Tamiflu.

But since that time, we’ve learned a whole lot more about this drug.

Namely — it doesn’t work, and it’s incredibly dangerous.

That little detail, however, hasn’t stopped the FDA from recently approving two cheaper, generic versions of the med, the latest one just last week.

Of course, what that will do is put this risky dud drug in the hands (and mouths) of even more people, including babies as young as two weeks old!

While the FDA acts as if it’s extending Tamiflu’s reach to help even more people, the truth of the matter is that this whole story is more like a fairy tale — only without the happy ending.

‘Down the drain’
The pumpkin spice lattés have arrived… and that means you’re going to be seeing Tamiflu commercials over and over, and doctors will start handing out prescriptions for it like it’s Halloween candy.

But that’s a practice that should have come to a screeching halt over three years ago — when British researchers finally got their hands on secret data that Roche, which makes the brand-name version, had hidden away in a vault for years.

And after experts at the highly respected Cochrane Review panel examined those formerly hidden Tamiflu studies, it became very clear why they were socked away!

T hey discovered that there is “no credible way” this drug could prevent a pandemic.” And all that cash spent to buy it up and stockpile it? A lead investigator for the review called it money simply “thrown down the drain.”

Pandemics aside, what about your typical flu virus that we’re advised to run out and get a Tamiflu Rx for as soon as we get the slightest symptom?

Well, it doesn’t exactly work for that either.

As for the drug’s biggest selling point, that it will prevent high-risk patients from being hospitalized with flu complications, that’s about as real as Monopoly money.

Which brings me back to the latest FDA Tamiflu decision.

Not only did the agency just give the green light to another Tamiflu generic, but a spokesman said this version is of “particular importance,” as many patients who can’t swallow tablets — including infants just a few weeks old — will be able to take it.

Well, thanks for nothing, FDA!

Of course, it would be bad enough if we were simply throwing our hard-earned money at something that doesn’t work.

But while Tamiflu benefits are slim to none, its side effects are quite robust.

I’m talking about reactions such as nausea, vomiting, headache, and pain, which are, in fact, very much like flu symptoms! Then there are “serious skin” reactions that can include horrible blistering and peeling, along with “delirium,” hallucinations,” and “abnormal behavior,” which can result in “fatal outcomes.”

That’s a whole lot to risk for perhaps shortening your bout with the flu by half a day — maybe.

Of course, the best way to handle the flu is not to come down with it in the first place!

And you can up your odds of that substantially by keeping your immune system strong. Load up on probiotics, zinc, and vitamin C, along with plenty of immune-enhancing foods such as coconut oil and raw honey.

But as far as Tamiflu goes, don’t be tempted to give it a try — no matter how often the commercials start playing!

“Generic for liquid Tamiflu approved” John Gever, September 15, 2017, MedPage Today, medpagetoday.com