Tamiflu and Diarrhea: What Users Say

• Wen...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 6, 2019

For Influenza "My husband was prescribed Tamiflu for influenza. Immediately, upon beginning the script, he got diarrhea. Everything he ate, including popsicles, would require an immediate trip to the bathroom. His doctor advised continuing the script anyway, so after two days of constant bathroom trips, he stopped eating for the remaining 3 days of the script. The medicine also caused insomnia for 48 hours and feelings of depression (which my husband is not normally subject to). I cannot imagine a scenario where I could recommend this medication. And nobody in our family will take it again."

• Edd...
• January 22, 2015

For Influenza "I came down with the flu while traveling for work, and a local clinic wrote me a prescription. The doctor told me it wouldn't make me feel better but rather shorten the duration. I figured I might as well try it. I've stopped after three doses - awful diarrhea and nausea. I'd rather let nature take its course than go through what I have for the last ten hours."

• Jan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 2, 2019

For Influenza "I started taking Tamiflu on the 3rd day of having the flu. It actually made the flu symptoms go away by the next day, but the side effects are not worth it. I got so dizzy I couldn’t even stand up. I had cold sweats and nausea from the dizziness. I also got horrible abdominal cramping and diarrhea. I stopped the medication after the 3rd dose because I couldn’t take care of my daughter or myself from the intense dizziness. I would not recommend this medication."

• TAA...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 1, 2019

For Influenza "Daughter was swabbed for the flu, which came back negative. However, based on symptoms, the Urgent Care doctor still prescribed Tamiflu. She took three pills and literally began sleeping in the bathroom due to the constant diarrhea. Was told to just take Pepto-Bismol. By day two, she had blood in her stools, sweating, and stomach/abdominal pains that have been so bad that she can't get out of bed. She's had a constant headache, to where she just needs to stop and hold her head. On day four since stopping the medicine and is still eating, still occasional diarrhea, and the stomach pains are still present. I have been forcing liquids to make sure she doesn't get dehydrated from the lack of eating and constant diarrhea. Never again will I allow her to even accept this medication from a doctor! This medicine needs to be taken off of the market!"

• Anonymous
• January 24, 2016

For Influenza "It helped with the respiratory issues quickly, but within a day of starting this, I've been experiencing dizziness, headaches, and nausea, later followed by stomach cramps and diarrhea. ...not sure I can finish the last 2 days of it...the dizziness is the worst."

• Ann...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 29, 2019

For Influenza "I ended up with sudden flu symptoms the Monday before Christmas. Spent Tuesday and Wednesday suffering with a high fever, chills, headache, runny nose, everything, and finally Thursday went to the doctor. Gave me Tamiflu, and I was hopeful because I felt like death. I ate dinner before my first dose, took it, had pretty moderate nausea. Decided to change it up and not eat the next morning. Bad decision. Had some of the worst nausea of my life while the cable man was fixing my internet. My 4th dose has led to me now having diarrhea. I can’t tell if the relief outweighs the nausea I felt for hours after each dose (though I do plan on stopping after my dose for tonight because I can’t handle any more nausea.)"

• Sic...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 28, 2016

For Influenza "Diagnosed with Flu Virus A. - This was the sickest I have ever been in my life. I felt like I was dying with all the major symptoms. My wife took me to the doctor for diagnoses and a prescription. Within 24 hours, I'm over 50% better. This is unbelievable. Today, hour to hour, I have been feeling better and better. - Side effect is loose stool, but I don't care! I don't feel like I'm dying anymore."

• Gan...
• January 4, 2020

For Influenza "Was too sick to get out of bed, so my paramedic daughter called 911. Fatigue was great, as was fever. Dr prescribed me Tamiflu. It gave me horrible diarrhea and painful vomiting. I begged my daughter to take me back to the ER. She said it is flu symptoms. Six days later, I still have diarrhea and no other symptoms. I know now that this is a side effect. I will miss my last 2 doses. It's too painful."

• Tam...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 18, 2019

For Influenza "I work with children, so I get the occasional cold, but this time it wouldn’t remit with the normal over-the-counter stuff, so three days ago, off I go to Urgent Care. The doc gave me Tamiflu. Day one, liquids and just in bed, no energy, almost no food. Day two, chills, sweats, no energy. Day three, I’m feeling worse: chills, sweats. Now I’m visiting the Oval Office (bathroom) every 20-45 minutes: diarrhea/nausea, so you cough and, well, you throw up. I can’t sleep, I’m tired, it’s 4:30 a.m., and if I close my eyes, I have nightmares in a semi-sleep. Irritability or plain anxiety... okay, that’s where I stop. I started reading about Tamiflu, this drug is no joke, it’s strong, and side effects are real. Now I wonder how long before I flush this out of my system. For me, it helped with symptoms, but the side effects are WAY STRONG. Cost of doctor visit + meds: $300! And now I feel worse..."

• Buy...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 30, 2018

For Influenza "Do your research on this drug. I am thoroughly convinced that many of these high ratings are not real consumers of the product. I was prescribed Tamiflu to avoid further flu complications (I’m pregnant). Within an hour of taking one pill, I was vomiting every half hour. I got diarrhea and severe abdominal pain. It would have been safer to have not taken the drug. In fact, my stomach pain was so bad, I considered going to the ER. I’m taking the time to write this in hopes I can save at least one other person from my experience. There is no scientific evidence this drug is effective, and the original trials were never fully released by the creators of the drug (for a reason)."

• Don...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 2, 2013

For Influenza "Starting to feel bad on Sunday, went to my doctor. On Monday, she said I had the flu, so I started Tamiflu. It seems to have helped me a lot and pretty quickly. I just have had a terrible headache for 2 days and diarrhea. Other than that, it's been great. Just can't handle this headache."

• Jen...
• October 30, 2018

For Influenza "I am on the second day with Tamiflu, 3 more days to go. Had not been able to sleep at all even if I managed to, I will have nightmares. Had diarrhea and no appetite. What kind of medication is this? I am paying so much for it! Wonder if I should stop taking it."

• Kar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 26, 2015

For Influenza "Felt achy, feverish, and developed a cough out of nowhere for about a day. That night, extremely fatigued. Went to the doctor on my second day, diagnosed with the flu after a swab. Started Tamiflu that night, learned not to take on an empty stomach, horrible diarrhea. After day three, no more fever, fatigue almost gone. Still have stuffy nose and cough a lot better. It works, and it works well. Just remember to drink fluids and eat something before taking it, even if it's a slice of bread. No other side effects."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 1, 2015

For Influenza Prophylaxis "I came down with the flu TYPE B, a local clinic wrote me a prescription. The Dr. told me it wouldn't make me feel better, but rather shorten the duration. I figured I might as well try it. I've stopped after 3 doses-awful diarrhea and nausea. I'd rather let nature take its course than go through what I have for the last 10 hours."

• Nee...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 13, 2020

For Influenza "Felt extremely weak with chills, fever, and body aches on Tuesday. Went to doctor on Wednesday. Diagnosis: influenza A. Prescribed Tamiflu. By Thursday, I began to feel somewhat normal. By Saturday, I was up and about. I would definitely take it again. I will say that it is imperative that you address the symptoms immediately in order for Tamiflu to fully work. The major side effect that I experienced was diarrhea. I’m now a week and 2 days out, and my stomach is still experiencing issues, but overall this worked well."

• Flu...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 15, 2017

For Influenza "Started having headache and body aches on the night of January 10. I never had experienced such intense body ache before. Had low fever, 101F, on January 11, but I couldn't get a doctor's appointment till January 12. She did a nose swab, and results confirmed influenza A. I started Aleve to alleviate body ache at the same time as when I started Tamiflu, between light breakfast and lunch. I noticed diarrhea later that day but thought it was flu related, so I started diarrhea medication. Body aches dissipated through that night, and by next morning I could stop Aleve. Flu symptoms cleared since January 14, except for a slight dry cough with no chest involvement and slight allergy-like cold. Tamiflu worked for me, but has side effects of diarrhea and slight nausea."

• Jen...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 24, 2019

For Influenza "I started taking Tamiflu 36 hours into having the flu. While I did not have as many of the side effects as others have experienced, I did have horrible diarrhea almost immediately after taking the drug. Additionally, I experienced 2 sleepless nights, tossing, turning, backaches, and insomnia. With that said, my flu symptoms dissipated within 24 hours of taking the drug, so I do feel like it shortened the duration of the flu. Also, the drug was expensive... over $100. My insurance barely paid for any of it. I think you have to ask yourself, are you OK feeling bad for an additional day or two in exchange for just having the flu, or are you willing to get back 24 hours of your life with the risk of some not-so-pleasant side effects? After 4 doses, I decided to go off. Hoping the flu doesn't return, as I am not going to finish the course my doctor prescribed. I want to get a good night's rest and not have to get up to go to the bathroom all the time. I'll roll the dice."

• Big...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 8, 2017

For Influenza "I was diagnosed with the flu. I was prescribed Tamiflu. The doses on the first day were okay. The first dose on the second day caused me to wish I never took it. It started with a headache, then diarrhea, then nausea, then vomiting, then bloody diarrhea. It started at 9:25 a.m. It's now 5:50 p.m., and no relief in sight! Whomever invented this 'drug' should be made to take it. I feel worse now than when I started having the flu!"

• Big...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 8, 2017

For Influenza "I was diagnosed with the flu. I was prescribed Tamiflu. The doses on the first day were okay. The first dose on the second day caused me to wish I never took it. It started with a headache, then diarrhea, then nausea, then vomiting, then bloody diarrhea. It started at 9:25 a.m. It's now 5:50 p.m., and no relief in sight! Whomever invented this 'drug' should be made to take it. I feel worse now than when I started having the flu!"

• Thr...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 27, 2022

For Influenza "This medication is horrible. My entire family came down with influenza A, my wife took it first. Within a few hours of her first dose, she was vomiting. She took one more dose and quit taking it. I came down with the flu and took it next. At first, it seemed great - took my 104.4 fever down to 97.7. I ended up taking 4 doses. First, I had diarrhea about 30 mins after taking each dose. I began to become extremely dizzy, which was not really a symptom I had of the flu prior to taking it. Last night, I took a dose with a full meal. My dizziness became unbearable, and I ended up violently dry heaving 10-15 times in a span of ten minutes. It's been about 16 hours since my last dose, and I am still dizzy. I will never take this again, and I will tell everyone I know not to take it."

• Kka...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 27, 2019

For Influenza Prophylaxis "On day two, can’t sleep as the abdominal pain is so severe. Had diarrhea today, no vomiting. Severely fatigued today but going to truck through as I am a severe asthmatic and death is worse than what I am going through now, so sucking it up. But I would say this medicine is horrible."

• acr...
• January 31, 2020

For Influenza "Took this medication to help treat the flu. I took this with food because I have a sensitive stomach. Almost immediately after taking, I began having extreme nausea and diarrhea. I’ve been throwing up since I took this medication and noticed that this is one of the most common side effects. I personally would not recommend."

• Mrs...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 27, 2019

For Influenza "I was feeling horrible for 2 days. I went to MedExpress, and there the doctor gave me Tamiflu. I have been on it for 3 days and no change, my cough has worsened, still stuffy nose, eyes burning, no appetite, and diarrhea. I don't recommend this to anyone."

• Anonymous
• January 14, 2018

For Influenza "After experiencing flu-like symptoms for two days, I went to the urgent care clinic. The doctor prescribed Tamiflu! After my first dose, I immediately experienced stomach cramps and diarrhea. That evening, I took my second dose, I experienced nausea and dizziness and broke out in a rash on my belly. The following morning, I was hesitant to take another dose, but the doctor had strict orders to finish the prescription. I was very disappointed when, after 30 minutes, I felt nauseated again, and this time, I vomited twice! That was it for me. It actually made me feel worse! I should have just let the flu run its course! However, I am a diabetic, and I did not want complications. I will never again use this poison nor recommend it."

• Pea...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 23, 2017

For Influenza "Terrible. I am a senior. I was not prescribed Tamiflu until 3 days of onset. No problem with diarrhea, but... I felt like I had been poisoned. A total of 4 doses, and the balance of the pills will never be taken again. Cough worsened, fever worsened, overall aches and pains increased with each dose. Unable to sleep, and now a pounding headache. Maybe I should not have been prescribed Tamiflu so late into my symptoms. Horrible experience."