A Few Things Parents Should Know About Tamiflu

The purpose of this article is to encourage the American people to read information on drugs they are being prescribed -- especially prescribed to their children -- and to read, read, read ingredients contained on labels -- especially what is being ingested by children.

(MYRTLE BEACH, S.C.) - Several weeks ago, I had a "personal experience" with a young teen being diagnosed with H1N1 aka "swine flu" by his pediatrician. The antiviral Tamiflu was prescribed for treatment of the H1N1 flu.

This writing is to alert parents to educate themselves about Tamiflu in the treatment of the H1N1 flu -- especially as it relates to children and make a competent decision with your pediatrician before filling that prescription -- weighing out what is safe for your child or loved one. The FDA warning on Tamiflu states, “People with the flu, particularly children, 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.”

It was noted that some children were struck with psychosis, delusions, and paranoia – all in formerly normal children. The FDA issued a warning about Tamiflu's potential for producing skin rashes.

It wasn't until reports surfaced of more than 100 new cases of delirium, hallucinations and other abnormal psychiatric behavior in children treated with Tamiflu that the FDA changed course and required Roche, the company that makes the drug, to include a warning label cautioning patients, doctors and parents to look out for strange behavior in anyone taking the drug. The patent for Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) is held by Gilead Sciences and is valid at least until 2016. Gilead licensed the exclusive rights to Roche in 1996. The drug does not enjoy patent protection in Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia and several other countries.

Gilead is politically well connected and is financially very rewarding to many. Donald Rumsfeld served as chairman from 1997 until he became U.S. Secretary of Defense in 2001; former Secretary of State George Shultz and the wife of former California Governor Pete Wilson, Gayle Wilson also had served on the board. By the way, this is the same Donald Rumsfeld who was CEO of Searle -- maker of Aspartame which is an artificial sweetener treated with much skepticism because of medical writings concerned with ties to increased cases of cancers, autism and parkinson's disease as well as a myriad of other physicial disabilities and diseases.

Aspartame is an additive in many diet soft drinks -- as well as other diet foods. When Searle was absorbed by Monsanto in 1985, Rumsfeld reportedly received a $12 million bonus. The "political" ties to what is affecting the American people in drug treatment as well as foods is concerning. Tamiflu and Aspartame tied to a former Secretary of Defense -- Rumsfeld and a Secretary of State -- Shultz.

An Internet TV station reporting to the American people on the dangers of what we put into our bodies and other timely issues -- Former Vice President, Al Gore. (This probably falls under a public service).

Oh and Rudy Giuliani's ties to the maker of OxyContin (Purdue Pharma). More on Rudy later -- especially since he is considering a run for the U.S. Senate. My hope is that he does announce his candidacy because I'm anxious to do that writing. The purpose of this article is to encourage the American people to read information on drugs they are being prescribed -- especially prescribed to their children -- and to read, read, read ingredients contained on labels -- especially what is being ingested by children.

There is a reason for the huge jump in autism in this country. An article I recently read said 1 in 100 children is diagnosed with autism in the U.S. Scary, isn't it? So if a former Secretary of Defense (Rumsfeld) was defending us against our enemies abroad -- who was defending us against Rumsfeld and his financial ties to the pharmaceutical industry?

Salem-News.com Reporter Marianne Skolek, is an Activist for Victims of OxyContin throughout the United States and Canada. In July 2007, she testified against Purdue Pharma in Federal Court in Virginia at the sentencing of their three CEO's who pled guilty to charges of marketing OxyContin as less likely to be addictive or abused to physicians and patients. She also testified against Purdue Pharma at a Judiciary Hearing of the U.S. Senate in July 2007. Marianne works with government agencies and private attorneys in having a voice for her daughter Jill, who died in 2002 after being prescribed OxyContin, as well as the voice for scores of victims of OxyContin. She has been involved in her work for the past 7-1/2 years and is currently working on a book that exposes Purdue Pharma for their continued criminal marketing of OxyContin.

Marianne is a nurse having graduated in 1991 as president of her graduating class. She also has a Paralegal certification. Marianne served on a Community Service Board for the Courier News, a Gannet newspaper in NJ writing articles predominantly regarding AIDS patients and their emotional issues. She was awarded a Community Service Award in 1993 by the Hunterdon County, NJ HIV/AIDS Task Force in recognition of and appreciation for the donated time, energy and love in facilitating a Support Group for persons with HIV/AIDS.

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sherri December 8, 2009 1:27 pm (Pacific time)

Tamiflu is not an antibiotic. .

Editor: Sherri, thanks so much for your help, Tamiflu is indeed not an antibiotic, it is an antiviral. Much appreciated!

jimmy November 24, 2009 9:32 am (Pacific time)

Good information here! Something else to consider with the Tamaflu that is getting over perscribed, is that it is making it through our bodies, down the drain, into the wastewater treatment plants where is IS NOT BROKEN DOWN. And then released into the environment where it provides a nice mechanism for creating Tamaflu resistant strains of diseases, something I'm sure Gilead really does not want you to hear.

lindro November 24, 2009 12:30 pm (Pacific time)

It's amazing that Gilead was in the red back in 2004 until it started making bird flu vaccine (which has yet to pass into human to human populations). the following year Rumsfeld made more than $90 million. (source: LosAngeles Times) My son, a soldier in Iraq had to take Vaccine A in 2004, and it almost killed him. He was excused thereafter but his mates weren't and after inoculations over the next 2 years, they suffered for days and have muscle fatigue and joint pain to this day. That Ohio pharmaceutical company that originally made Vaccine A has ownership ties to our ruling class along with powerful business people overseas. Profits, not good science motivates vaccine mandates.http://preventdisease.com/news/09/110309_profits_not_science_motivates_vaccines.shtml Oh, the latest stat on Autism is 1 out of 47.

Winder November 23, 2009 12:04 am (Pacific time)

Ersun makes a good point. My parents always eschewed antibiotics; my mother somehow instinctively sensed their potential for harm. My three siblings and I rarely get colds or flu viruses, even when all around us are coughing and sneezing away. That might also have something to do with our love of spicy foods like hot peppers. I think antibiotics and "remedies" such as Tamiflu are widely overprescribed to the point where they may actually be doing more harm than good. Marianne, I love your articles, and look forward to the one about Rudy Giuliani. He's a credit to his race -- the race of self-aggrandizing politicians who couldn't care less about their constituents. Thank you for your tireless work exposing the corrupt, selfish pharmaceutical profiteers who gain from our suffering. On a lighter note, I like your new bio photo! ;}

Ersun Warncke November 21, 2009 11:05 pm (Pacific time)

I am not making any scientific statements, or anything of the sort, but I would just like to share my own experience. I have never taken antibiotics in my life. I got diagnosed with strep once when I was a child, and I got prescribe antibiotics. My parents monitored my condition, and it never got worse, so I never took the drugs. I never got strep again. I have known many people who get strep and other infections on a chronic basis, and are taking antibiotics continually. I literally never get sick. In 7-8 years (I don't even remember) I have been sick once. I got sick after working an 18 hour shift in wet freezing weather. That is the only time. What is interesting about that is that whatever infection made me sick was already in my body. The only reason I got sick was because extreme environmental conditions, dehydration, and exhaustion weakened my immune system. I may be the exception to the rule, but I can't help but think that the fact that I don't get sick might have something to do with having never taken any drugs that interfere with my immune system.

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