Parents can't find liquid TAMIFLU for their kids

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By Nicole Johnson bio | email | twitter

CHARLESTON, SC (WCSC) - There's a shortage of the liquid version of TAMIFLU for kids. Several pharmacies in the area say they've run out or the drug is on back order. Some pharmacies are making adult pills safe for kids by compounding it.

The compounding pharmacist breaks open the TAMIFLU capsule and grinds up a kids size dosage. Then the drug is mixed with a sweet liquid, and it's put in a bottle and the medication is now in liquid or oral suspension form.

Only a few area pharmacies can do the compounding.

"Those pharmacies know that we compound and they will transfer those prescriptions, those patients to us. These folks are desperate to get the medication for themselves or their children," Richardson said.

Kim Richardson from Pitt Street Pharmacy says several area pharmacies have experienced a shortage of the liquid version of TAMIFLU, his own pharmacy included. So he's been staying busy in the compounding room.

The CDC says if the oral suspension is not available, TAMIFLU capsules may be opened and mixed with sweetened liquids such as regular or sugar-free chocolate syrup.

Richardson says the process is safe, and people young or old who take the compounded version of the drug will get the same benefits -- lessening the severity of symptoms and shortening the number of days a person has the flu.

"When we're doing something like TAMIFLU, we're making each individual prescription one at a time, making sure it's done exactly properly, and everybody is usually on a little different does. It's dosed on the weight of the child," Richardson said.

Another drug recommended by the CDC for the treatment of both seasonal and swine flu is Relenza. It also reduces the chance of getting the flu.

"Relenza does come in a spray form and again it's a different form of an anti-viral drug, similar to TAMIFLU," Richardson said.

Because TAMIFLU is on backorder from the manufacturer Roche Labs and some pharmacies are running out of the drug, some doctors say the drug may only be prescribed to people with more serious flu cases.

Not everyone can take the antiviral drug TAMIFLU including:

- people younger than one year old

- people with symptoms for more than two days

- people with a complicated illness requiring hospitalization

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