Tamiflu causing teen suicides?

Wow, i just read this article on MSNBC that claims that Japanese teenagers, who have been taking Tamiflu, are committing suicide.
What is up with the newer drugs that are coming out, like the SSRI's (anti-depressants) where one of the side effects is suicidal tendencies?
I thought that Tamiflu was just a type of antibiotic, supposedly the only
one that can combat Avian Flu?

Prospects for Tamiflu, Roche's blockbuster flu antiviral drug, were dealt a big blow on Tuesday after Japanese regulators called on doctors to stop prescribing it to teenagers.
The ministry of health and welfare in Tokyo asked Chugai, the local subsidiary of Roche of Switzerland, to change the labelling to say it should not be given to those between 10 and 20 years old, except for high-risk patients.

The rest of the story

With 42m people having taken tamiflu, and only a handfull of people commiting suicide, I would have to declare this a statistical anomaly, not a direct correlation.

If anyone on this were committing suicide, I would look at other areas other than the drug for the reason for their suicidal behavior.

Yes but how many of those 42 million are teens? They seem to think its enough of a problem to label it and restrict them giving it to kids from 10-20 years old.

That is what i found on the Roche site.

Some incidences of self-injury and delirium with the use of TAMIFLU in patients with the flu have been reported (mostly from Japan). The reports were primarily among children. The relationship of these reported events to TAMIFLU is not known. Pediatric patients with the flu should be closely monitored for signs of abnormal behavior throughout the treatment period.

So, what does it means. If a pharmaceutical industry take times to post on their web site a warning to practician, we should all be carefull before taken Tamiflu.

Important safety information:

Tamiflu is effective against influenza types A and B.
Tamiflu may cause dizziness or lightheadedness. These effects may be worse if you take it with alcohol or certain medicines. Use Tamiflu with caution. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it.
Tamiflu may cause dizziness or lightheadedness; alcohol, hot weather, exercise, or fever may increase these effects. To prevent them, sit up or stand slowly, especially in the morning. Sit or lie down at the first sign of any of these effects.
Tamiflu works only against influenza types A and B; it does not treat bacterial or other viral infections.
Patients with flu who take Tamiflu may have an increased risk of confusion and unusual behavioral changes. The risk may be greater in children. Contact your doctor if you notice symptoms of confusion or any other unusual behavioral changes.
Tell your doctor or dentist that you take Tamiflu before you receive any medical or dental care, emergency care, or surgery.
Tell your doctor that you take Tamiflu before you receive any vaccines, including the intranasal live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV).

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Tamiflu should be used with extreme caution in CHILDREN younger than 1 year old; safety and effectiveness in these children have not been confirmed.
PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you become pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Tamiflu while you are pregnant. It is not known if Tamiflu is found in breast milk. If you are or will be breast-feeding while you use Tamiflu , check with your doctor. Discuss any possible risks to your baby.
Possible side effects of Tamiflu :
All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

Nausea; vomiting.

Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:
Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); confusion or other unusual changes in behavior; fever or sore throat; reddened, blistered, or swollen skin; severe or persistent vomiting or diarrhea.

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions or need medical advice about side effects, contact your doctor or health care provider. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088) or at www.fda.gov...

so if the BF doesn't wipe the kids off the planet tamiflu will .. When a young child is already sick and then takes a reaction to a drug it gets very tricky ..
www.drugs.com...:

OMG Roche are the same people that make accutane which has been proven to cause suicides in teens, the drug is used to treat acne. But why would any company do this?