Is it safe to take antiviral medicines like Tamiflu for swine flu during pregnancy?
Adapted from swine flu information provided by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Antiviral medicines have not been thoroughly tested in pregnant women – but U.S. government health agencies are recommending antivirals for moms-to-be at all stages of pregnancy to prevent serious complications from swine flu (H1N1 flu). The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) says there are no studies suggesting that antiviral medicines are harmful to pregnant women or their babies. Studies in pregnant animals also have not found any reason for concern about taking antiviral medicines. While these studies aren’t conclusive, the CDC suggests that women weigh what it considers the very small chance of harm from antivirals against the very real dangers of flu. These drugs are very effective against flu. Right now the antiviral drug Tamiflu (oseltamivir) is considered the most effective medicine for treating women with swine flu (H1N1 flu) who are at any stage of pregnancy, have given birth, or h
