Summary Safety Review - Tamiflu (oseltamivir) and generics - Assessing the Potential Risk of Haemorrhages
Review decision
A Summary Safety Review complements other safety related information to help Canadians make informed decisions about their use of health products. Each summary outlines what was assessed in Health Canada’s review, what was found and what action was taken by Health Canada, if any.
Issued: 2021-01-08
Product
Tamiflu (oseltamivir) and generics
Potential Safety Issue
Bleeding (haemorrhages)
Overview
Use in Canada
- Oseltamivir is a prescription drug authorized for sale in Canada to treat or prevent the onset of flu.
- Oseltamivir has been marketed in Canada since 1999 under the brand name Tamiflu and is currently available as 30 mg, 45 mg, and 75 mg capsules, and as a 6 mg/mL powder for oral suspension. Generic versions of Tamiflu are also available for sale in Canada.
- There were about 1 million prescriptions for oseltamivir filled in Canada between 2015 and 2019.
Safety Review Findings
- Health Canada reviewed the available information from searches of the Canada Vigilance database a, international databases, and published literature.
- Health Canada reviewed 59 case reports (4 Canadian, 55 international) of bleeding in patients receiving oseltamivir. Of the 59 case reports, 42 reports showed a possible link between oseltamivir use and haemorrhages, with 22 of these involving bleeding in the lower gut (gastrointestinal bleeding). Three cases were unlikely to be linked to oseltamivir use, and 14 cases (4 Canadian) could not be assessed due to several contributing factors such as incomplete information about pre-existing medical conditions, lack of detailed information in the reports, and co-existing infections that may have contributed to the adverse event.
- Health Canada also reviewed 5 articles published in the scientific literature on the risk of bleeding and oseltamivir use. There was limited information to support a link between the potential risk of bleeding and the use of oseltamivir in 4 of the 5 articles.
- In addition, Health Canada reviewed 4 articles from the published scientific literature for a potential interaction between oseltamivir and warfarin, a blood thinner medication that may cause bleeding. Overall, the review did not find evidence to support an interaction between oseltamivir and warfarin leading to increased bleeding.
- The information reviewed was inconclusive regarding the risk of bleeding in general. However, the review concluded that there may be a link between the use of oseltamivir and the risk of lower gastrointestinal bleeding.
Conclusions and actions
- Health Canada's review of the available information concluded that there may be a link between the use of oseltamivir and the risk of lower gastrointestinal haemorrhages. The Canadian product safety information for oseltamivir already includes information on the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding. Therefore, the safety information for oseltamivir is appropriate at this time.
- Health Canada encourages consumers and healthcare professionals to report any side effects related to the use of oseltamivir and other health products to the Canada Vigilance program.
- Health Canada will continue to monitor safety information involving oseltamivir to identify and assess potential risks, as it does for all health products on the Canadian market. Health Canada will take appropriate and timely action should new health risks be identified.
Additional information
The analysis that contributed to this safety review included scientific and medical literature, Canadian and international adverse reaction reports and what is known about the use of oseltamivir both in Canada and internationally.
For additional information, contact the Marketed Health Products Directorate.
Footnotes
- Canadian reports can be accessed through the Canada Vigilance Online Database.