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FDA warns of possible dosing errors with oral suspension oseltamivir
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The FDA issued an alert today warning health care providers and pharmacists to be aware of potential dosing errors with oseltamivir for oral suspension after reports that errors occurred when dosing instructions for patients did not match the dosing dispenser provided.
Most liquid formulation prescriptions are written in milliliters or teaspoons, but oseltamivir (Tamiflu, Roche) package inserts give dosing information in milligrams, and the dosing dispenser packaged with the medication has markings for 30 mg, 45 mg and 60 mg only.
The FDA reminded physicians to write doses in milligrams if the dosing dispenser provided with the drug measures in milligrams. The agency also reminded pharmacists to ensure the units of measure on the prescription instructions match the dosing device provided.
Although the FDA advises against prescribing oseltamivir oral suspension in teaspoons, if this is the case, pharmacists should convert the volume to milliliters, discard the dosing dispenser packaged with the drug and provide patients with an oral syringe calibrated in milliliters.