Oseltamivir oral capsule interactions: A detailed guide

This article describes possible interactions with oseltamivir oral capsule. Interactions can cause a drug to have a different effect on the body than expected. Interactions can occur due to medications, alcohol, or certain health conditions.

Oseltamivir comes as capsules that you swallow. It’s also available as a solution that you swallow.

Other drugs and oseltamivir

The drug in the list below may interact with oseltamivir oral capsule. This article doesn’t include all drugs that may interact with oseltamivir.

• dichlorphenamide (Keveyis)
  • what might happen: can increase the risk of side effects of oseltamivir

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When to avoid oseltamivir

Certain health conditions or other factors could increase some risks with oseltamivir oral capsule. Because of this, doctors may not prescribe oseltamivir in these cases. These health conditions or other factors are called contraindications.

Below is an oseltamivir contraindication for the oral capsule:

• Past allergic reaction to oseltamivir. If you’ve ever had an allergic reaction to oseltamivir oral capsule, taking it again may cause another allergic reaction.

Before you start taking oseltamivir, tell your doctor if anything listed above relates to you. They can recommend whether you should take oseltamivir.

Alcohol and oseltamivir

No oseltamivir interactions with alcohol are known, including with the oral capsule.

If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about whether it’s safe to consume it while taking oseltamivir oral capsule.

Other interactions and oseltamivir

Interactions can occur with supplements, foods, vaccines, and some lab tests. Below you can learn whether oseltamivir oral capsule has these interactions.

The information below doesn’t include all other interactions possible with oseltamivir.

Oseltamivir and supplements

Before taking oseltamivir oral capsule, tell your doctor and pharmacist about any herbs you take, as well as vitamins and supplements. Doing so may help you avoid interactions.

If you have questions about interactions that may affect you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Oseltamivir interactions with herbs

Oseltamivir oral capsule isn’t known to interact with any herbs. But this doesn’t mean interactions with herbs can’t happen or won’t be identified later.

Because of this, ask your doctor or pharmacist before taking any of these products while taking oseltamivir oral capsule.

Oseltamivir interactions with vitamins

Oseltamivir oral capsule isn’t known to interact with any vitamins. But this doesn’t mean interactions with vitamins can’t happen or won’t be identified later.

Because of this, ask your doctor or pharmacist before taking any of these products while taking oseltamivir oral capsule.

Oseltamivir and food

Oseltamivir oral capsule isn’t known to interact with foods. But this doesn’t mean interactions with foods can’t happen or won’t be identified later.

Because of this, talk with your doctor or pharmacist about what foods you should avoid while taking oseltamivir oral capsule.

Oseltamivir and vaccines

Oseltamivir oral capsule may interact with the intranasal flu vaccine. This vaccine helps prevent flu.

Taking oseltamivir and receiving this vaccine may cause the vaccine not to work. This interaction happens because the intranasal flu vaccine is a live vaccine. That means it contains a live flu virus that helps your immune system protect against the flu.

On the other hand, oseltamivir is taken to prevent or treat flu. So oseltamivir may destroy the virus in the vaccine.

It’s recommended that you avoid receiving the intranasal vaccine 2 weeks before taking oseltamivir. You should also avoid receiving the vaccine at least 48 hours after your last dose of oseltamivir.

Because of this, talk with your doctor or pharmacist before receiving any vaccines while taking oseltamivir oral capsule. You can also learn about flu vaccines that don’t interact with oseltamivir. See the “Questions about oseltamivir and interactions” section of this article.

Oseltamivir and lab tests

Oseltamivir oral capsule isn’t known to interact with lab tests. But this doesn’t mean interactions with lab tests can’t happen or won’t be identified later.

Because of this, talk with your doctor or pharmacist before having any tests while taking oseltamivir oral capsule.

Oseltamivir and cannabis or CBD

Oseltamivir oral capsule isn’t known to interact with cannabis (commonly called marijuana) or cannabis products such as cannabidiol (CBD). But this doesn’t mean interactions can’t happen or won’t be identified later.

As with any drug or supplement, tell your doctor before taking cannabis with oseltamivir.

Note: Cannabis is illegal at a federal level but is legal in many states to varying degrees.

Health factors and oseltamivir

Certain medical conditions or other health factors may increase the risk of interactions with oseltamivir oral capsule. Keep in mind that interactions could lead to side effects or affect how well the drug works. Before taking oseltamivir, tell your doctor about your health history. They’ll determine whether oseltamivir is right for you.

These health conditions or other factors might interact with oseltamivir oral capsule:

• difficulty swallowing pills*
• kidney condition, such as chronic kidney disease
• pregnancy or breastfeeding
• past allergic reaction to oseltamivir

* If you have difficulty swallowing pills, including capsules, your doctor might prescribe you a different form of oseltamivir. It’s also available in a suspension, which is a type of liquid mixture that you swallow.

Questions about oseltamivir and interactions

Here you’ll find answers to some common questions about oseltamivir and possible interactions.

Does oseltamivir oral capsule have interactions different from oseltamivir oral suspension?

No, oseltamivir oral capsules and oseltamivir oral suspension don’t have different interactions. Different forms of some drugs do have different interactions, but this isn’t the case for oseltamivir.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have other questions about how these two oseltamivir forms compare.

Are there flu vaccines that don‘t interact with oseltamivir?

Yes, several flu vaccines don’t interact with oseltamivir. In fact, it’s safe to receive any inactivated flu vaccine if you’re taking or have recently taken oseltamivir. “Inactivated” means the vaccine does not contain a live version of the flu virus.

In fact, only one flu vaccine is known to interact with oseltamivir: intranasal flu vaccine. This is a live vaccine. That means it contains a live version of the flu virus that the vaccine protects against. This vaccine may not work if oseltamivir is taken too close before or after getting the vaccine. To learn more about this interaction, see the “Other interactions and oseltamivir” section in this article.

Ask your pharmacist or doctor which flu vaccine is safe for you if you’ve recently taken oseltamivir.

Preventing oseltamivir interactions

You may be able to help avoid certain interactions with oseltamivir oral capsule. Before taking this drug, you may want to discuss possible interactions with your doctor and pharmacist.

Things to consider include:

• Whether you drink alcohol or use cannabis.
• Other medications and herbs you take, as well as vitamins and supplements. Your doctor or pharmacist can help you fill out a medication list.
• What to do if you’re prescribed a new drug while taking oseltamivir oral capsule.

Taking oseltamivir exactly as prescribed also can help prevent interactions.

What to ask your doctor

If you have questions about oseltamivir and possible interactions, talk with your doctor.

Questions you may want to ask your doctor include:

• Is it safe to take probenecid while I’m taking oseltamivir oral capsule?
• Besides the intranasal flu vaccine, is it safe to receive other live vaccines while I’m taking oseltamivir oral capsule?
• I received the intranasal flu vaccine recently. Do I need to receive a different treatment for the flu instead of oseltamivir oral capsule?
• If I have a kidney condition, how is it determined whether oseltamivir oral capsule is safe for me to take?

Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.