# Why is Tamiflu not over the counter? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 28, 2009, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-tamiflu-not-over-the-counter/494618 "2009-04-28T15:00:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![GanipGanop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@GanipGanop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GanipGanop)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2009, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-tamiflu-not-over-the-counter/494618/1 "2009-04-28T15:00:29Z")
My boss recently couldn’t even get her doctor to give her an antibiotic. Now we have to beg a doctor to give us Tamiflu? They say you should take it at the first signs of the flu. Why don’t they just sell it over the counter? If it’s a controlled substance, why not sell it like they sell pseudoeffendrine? ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2009, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-tamiflu-not-over-the-counter/494618/2 "2009-04-28T15:10:18Z")
Because when such meds are used inappropriately (and they all-too-often are), resistance quickly develops and the medication becomes virtually useless. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2009, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-tamiflu-not-over-the-counter/494618/3 "2009-04-28T15:18:09Z")
Why would she want an antibiotic anyway, if the doctor doesn’t think she needs it? ---
**Author:** ![HorseloverFat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8e8cbc/32.png) [@HorseloverFat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HorseloverFat)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2009, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-tamiflu-not-over-the-counter/494618/4 "2009-04-28T16:16:11Z")
What antibiotic would she need that a doctor would deny? Too many people think cold == antibiotic treatment, which is wrong and why we have things like MRSA everywhere. Why should tamiflu be OTC? It has pretty hefty side-effects and requires x2 a day treatment for several days. Its for serious infections and outbreaks. While I sympathize with the lack of healthcare access that a lot of people experience I dont think making everything OTC is necessarily the best solution. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2009, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-tamiflu-not-over-the-counter/494618/5 "2009-04-28T16:34:13Z")
> [@GanipGanop](#): > > My boss recently couldn’t even get her doctor to give her an antibiotic. Now we have to beg a doctor to give us Tamiflu? They say you should take it at the first signs of the flu. Why don’t they just sell it over the counter? If it’s a controlled substance, why not sell it like they sell pseudoeffendrine? “Prescription Only” =/= “controlled substance” =/= restricted sales. Pseudoephedrine \*\*\*itself \*\*\*is not a controlled substance, but is under restricted-sales even though it comes in nonprescription strength because it can be used as a precursor to meth. A “controlled substance” means that the product has been declared a high risk of abuse and dependency/addiction vs. its medical utility, and medical use, _if any_, must be under strict supervision. That determination may itself be scientific or social/legalistic (e.g. marijuana) Prescription-only or “legend” drug means the substance itself, _or a certain dose thereof,_ should only be used under instructions from a professional who has determined the right indications for the case, since unsupervised use can make things worse. In the case of antibiotics and antivirals, doctor\*\* Qadgop\*\* has told us why you can’t just grab a handful and start gulping it down. For reference, back in the Great Anthrax Scare of 2001, ciprofloxacin was recommended to be given to the people who were or could be \*potentially exposed \*to the spores, not to the general population at large. ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2009, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-tamiflu-not-over-the-counter/494618/6 "2009-04-28T20:54:14Z")
From [http://www.tamiflu.com/isi.aspx](http://www.tamiflu.com/isi.aspx) > [@](#): > > Before taking TAMIFLU, tell your doctor if you are pregnant or nursing, or if you have kidney disease, heart disease, respiratory disease, or other serious health conditions. Also, let your doctor know if you are taking any other medications or if you have received nasally administered influenza virus vaccine during the past two weeks. > > If you develop an allergic reaction or a severe rash, stop taking TAMIFLU and contact your healthcare professional immediately, as it may be very serious. People with the flu, particularly children and adolescents, may be at an increased risk of self injury and confusion shortly after taking TAMIFLU and should be closely monitored for signs of unusual behavior. A healthcare professional should be contacted immediately if the patient taking TAMIFLU shows any signs of unusual behavior. > The most common side effects are mild to moderate nausea and vomiting. Sounds like that’s enough to sensibly make it a prescription drug. And as others have suggested, if your boss couldn’t get her doctor to prescribe an antibiotic for something, why do you think she needed an antibiotic? ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2009, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-tamiflu-not-over-the-counter/494618/7 "2009-04-28T21:44:06Z")
I have seen lots of dental problems where dentists won’t give antibiotics. It’s stupid to go to the dentist then have to go back (and get charged again) for an additional antibiotic. In the past I’ve had doctors say, “If it don’t clear up, come back and I’ll give you an antibiotic” This results in another doctor’s fee. My personal physican is a lot better. He says “If you don’t get better, call me and I’ll phone it in.” No fee. There are lots of reasons why some drugs aren’t over the counter even when safe. Look at the Claritan example. I think what the OP may bet getting at also is the difficulty of getting a doctor to see you. If you have to take Tamiflu at the first signs and it’ll take you three or four days to get in to see your doctor it’s problematic. Again, I am lucky, my doctor does his best to accomodate. If I call and say I really need to see him, he’ll say, “Just come on in and wait and I’ll see you when I can.” The one time I did this, I had to wait six hours in his office, but he did see me. I have had a lot of other doctors say, “Sorry, if it’s that bad go to the emergency room.” In my case a swollen leg didn’t need an ER but it hurt enough to where I wanted a doctor to look at it. (Was just sprained. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2009, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-tamiflu-not-over-the-counter/494618/8 "2009-04-28T23:11:38Z")
> [@Markxxx](#): > > My personal physican is a lot better. He says “If you don’t get better, call me and I’ll phone it in.” No fee. Last time I went to see the doctor, she wrote a script, handed it to me, and said “I don’t think you’ll need this, but if it’s not better in 3 days, start taking this.” Pretty good customer service. Luckily, I didn’t need it.