As news of the H1N1 swine flu pandemic first broke, everyone scrambled for the drug Tamiflu. Governments released stockpiles, but still pharmacies frequently ran out of it.
Doctors prize Tamiflu because it is one of the few weapons that fights flu after a person has started showing symptoms.
But new research has suggested that the benefits of Tamiflu may have been overstated.
A British review found little evidence that the drug reduces serious complications of the flu, such as pneumonia, in otherwise healthy people. And overall, Tamiflu appears to cut the length of illness by less than one day.
However, a study on H1N1 patients in China suggested that Tamiflu may help stop the virus from spreading.
Patients treated with Tamiflu were more likely to have eliminated the virus from their systems within 5 days, meaning they would no longer pass it on.
So doctors still recommend the drug to high-risk groups -- such as those with chronic health problems like asthma or heart disease -- and to those who have close contact with them.
Doctors prize Tamiflu because it is one of the few weapons that fights flu after a person has started showing symptoms.
But new research has suggested that the benefits of Tamiflu may have been overstated.
A British review found little evidence that the drug reduces serious complications of the flu, such as pneumonia, in otherwise healthy people. And overall, Tamiflu appears to cut the length of illness by less than one day.
However, a study on H1N1 patients in China suggested that Tamiflu may help stop the virus from spreading.
Patients treated with Tamiflu were more likely to have eliminated the virus from their systems within 5 days, meaning they would no longer pass it on.
So doctors still recommend the drug to high-risk groups -- such as those with chronic health problems like asthma or heart disease -- and to those who have close contact with them.
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