Tamiflu and Headaches: What Users Say

• JJi...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 17, 2014

For Influenza "Tamiflu rocks! Had horrible chills, headache, cough, body aches, and temperatures over 101. Took my first pill on the second day of the flu and was 60% better the following morning and feeling almost normal by that afternoon. No side effects that I could tell. I had a flu shot but got it anyway. Just my luck."

• Sal...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 12, 2020

For Influenza "I was prescribed this for influenza A. I almost didn't take it because my symptoms, while tough, were not THAT severe. No high fever, no bad cough, etc. But since the doctor prescribed it, I decided to take it. Basically, I spent $50 to feel WORSE. About an hour after taking it, I started to have a serious headache, and then the nausea and stomach pain started. I was up literally all night vomiting and clutching my stomach. This morning I was so out of it and was dehydrated due to the vomiting. I am not taking any additional doses. What a waste of money and a dangerous drug."

• Sam...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 22, 2024

For Influenza "I am 55 yrs old, and on Thursday, I was at work, and suddenly I was very sick: terrible headache, throat burning, congestion, and very weak. By Saturday morning, I was about to go to the hospital. I had my husband buy a flu test, and it was positive for influenza type A. Called Teladoc, was prescribed Tamiflu. After only 2 pills, I felt so much better. It was amazing, it worked phenomenally well for me."

• bri...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 15, 2013

For Influenza "Tuesday 2 AM chills, sweats, fever, horrible body aches, headache. Got in to see the doctor on Wednesday 10 AM and tested positive for influenza. Took the first dose of Tamiflu right after the doctor's appointment, and it's now Friday 11 AM, and I'm feeling different. I can actually get around the house, no fever, sweats, chills, headache, etc., just still draggy and tired, but still 2 days of medicine left. I will say it definitely works!"

• wha...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 2, 2015

For Influenza "Symptoms began on a Monday. Tested positive for influenza A on Wednesday and started Tamiflu. It's Friday, and I feel worse than I did yesterday. Fever returned today, slept poorly last night, headache worse, terrible taste in my mouth. Hate to run back to the doctor already. Maybe it was too late for the Tamiflu?"

• Nic...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 11, 2019

For Influenza "Be aware of the side effects before taking this medication. The doctor said I had the flu and prescribed me Tamiflu, 75 mg every 12 hours. I started having headaches, and shortly after that, I started vomiting severely with intense abdominal pain. I had to rush to the hospital because the stomach pain was unbearable. When I got to the hospital, the doctor told me to stop taking Tamiflu. I’m still feeling the abdominal pain, but not as bad, and still can’t eat anything. Never again will I be taking this medication!!"

• Mar...
• February 22, 2015

For Influenza "Fever 103, tested positive for flu B, started Tamiflu. Fever broke, but had horrible headaches, insomnia, and total loss of appetite. Headache was horrible. Stopped taking it at day 4 and still have a headache and feel 'off', not right."

• 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!"

• Fee...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 12, 2020

For Influenza "Over the course of 6 hours, I went from mild neck pain to full 9/10 body pain, a splitting headache, and 101.5 fever. Stopped at urgent care, where I laid for three hours. Tested positive for Flu A. Given Tamiflu and recommended to alternate Advil and Tylenol. Took first dose on an empty stomach, had a night of cold sweats (but still slept well), and woke up with only a mild headache and low-grade fever. Having not eaten for 24 hours, took the next dose with soup and crackers. I’m now on dose 6 of 10. Fever and headache are gone, even without Advil/Tylenol. No other symptoms have cropped up—GI or respiratory. I’ve been mostly in bed resting for two days straight, but feel good enough to join the family again today. Tamiflu was a true godsend. I thought that was it for me two days ago, and now I’m on my feet again like nothing happened."

• J76...
• January 18, 2016

For Influenza "I had flu symptoms, so my doctor prescribed me Tamiflu. Every time I took it, I felt like I was going to vomit. I haven't felt like eating, so luckily I couldn't vomit. It sort of made me dizzy, and it gave me a headache. I wouldn't recommend the medicine to anybody."

• Sun...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 2, 2019

For Influenza "After two days on Tamiflu, I feel worse. The nausea, headaches, and insomnia are unbearable. I also had horrible stomach cramps after the first night of taking this med. I have a loss of appetite and a weird taste in my mouth as well. The nausea is hideous. This medication is much too strong. I feel more sick having taken Tamiflu. I will stick to ibuprofen and ride out the rest of this flu. I do not recommend Tamiflu. Seems a bit risky to me."

• 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."

• Cas...
• February 1, 2013

For Influenza "Came home from college classes at 10:15 a.m., got out of my car and felt the chills coming. Went upstairs to rest and figured that I'm sick. Called my doc and scheduled an appointment. He prescribed me Tamiflu, and I thought, 'Anything that makes this cruddy feeling go away is better than nothing.' Took one when I got home at 4 p.m. and one at 9 p.m. Woke up the next morning feeling way better than the day before. Fever went down, slight headache persisted. Otherwise, a champion of a medicine!"

• Kim...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 15, 2018

For Influenza "Tamiflu should be off the market, and I will never, ever take it! It is hard to believe that some people had absolutely no side effects or just a little. I had to go back to Quick Care on the 4th day taking it because I thought I developed something really bad, and because I was not able to distinguish between flu symptoms and side effects anymore. What I feel now is worse than when I got the flu. The constant nausea, headache, body aches, rash that I developed, swelling torso, insomnia, frequent crying, and bad thoughts about dying (yep, I know!) made me stay out of work for 5 days!"

• ABQ...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 12, 2017

For Influenza "Was able to get a prescription within 48 hours of my flu symptoms. Horrible body aches, headache, sore throat, cough, fever, and chills. The stuff has really worked! My symptoms were reduced considerably, including my fever after two dosages. I have not had any of the other problems mentioned in these reviews at this time, well into day two of taking the pills twice a day. Although I had absolutely no appetite, I made sure I ate a little something with the pill. This may be partially why I have not had digestive issues, I really have not been eating. Other than a little bit with the pill twice a day."

• Anonymous
• January 16, 2011

For Influenza "I was given Tamiflu by the hospital, and at first, it seemed to work. I didn't have such a bad runny nose or coughing. However, the side effects were just horrible. I had nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, headaches, and, as my friend describes it, I was 'just not with it.' I took it in pill form, and I think it was perhaps because of the plastic-feeling outer cover I was forced to swallow. I don't particularly recommend it, especially since it also gave me a little insomnia. That was a slight problem, having the flu and all, since sleeping is actually important if I want to heal."

• sas...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 8, 2017

For Influenza "Two weeks had flu symptoms. Went to the ER the next day with a horrible headache, fever, and body aches. Tested positive for the flu and prescribed Tamiflu. Took it right away with food and felt even worse! Throwing up, acid in my stomach, insomnia, and then got the panic attacks and depression. I did some reading, and there can be issues with this with Tamiflu. I am not on any anti-depression medication or anything. But I actually felt like I could die, and it would be better. The thoughts racing through my head were horrible. The doctor gave me Ativan to help me sleep and calm down. Only took half a pill at night to help sleep. I got over the flu after about five days. Another two days of feeling bad from the flu would have been better than what I experienced. Never again!"

• Mis...
• February 27, 2020

For Avian Influenza "Had sore throat 7P by 7A, was congested, achy, and coughing. 2 days later went to stat care, diagnosed with flu A, for which I was prescribed Tamiflu. Also at this time, I was taking prednisone and Duoneb. I continued to feel worse, not better: extreme back and leg pain and headache. The headache was so bad it hurt to stand up or bend down. I felt like I had ringing in my ears and pain in my jaw. I had insomnia, weird dreams/thoughts, slight confusion. I almost felt like I was losing my mind at times. Freaking out because I am having to miss more work because I’m not getting any better, when I come to find out after doing my research that the Tamiflu is making me sicker. There are a lot of side effects. Like other people, I assumed that if I took it as prescribed, that in 1-3 days I would start feeling better. That was not true at all. Each day I felt worse and worse and worse. I’m starting to think if there was something wrong with my brain, my mental functioning!! I did not take the last dose!"

• MMz...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 16, 2022

For Influenza "I'm unsure why this medication is prescribed. I wasn't warned about any of the side effects. I went to a clinic with moderate flu symptoms and was prescribed this and began taking it. After the third dose, I began vomiting uncontrollably and cannot keep anything down. I don't have an appetite, and I feel extremely nauseous, dizzy, and have a headache. I also have mental health conditions, which is why I find it very concerning that I was prescribed a medication that can cause suicide."

• Sar...
• September 9, 2018

For Influenza "I discovered an effective flu reliever in Tamiflu. I was at work and about to go home because my body felt heavy, my joints were quite aching, and my body temperature was hotter than usual. There seemed to be a flu attack going around our workplace because the staff were getting it one after the other. So I decided to see the GP and I’m diagnosed with Influenza A. Tamiflu was prescribed for twice a day. I took it, and it was definitely less than 8 hours before the onset of symptoms. I experienced fever, chills, and headache symptoms, but improved immediately. The good effects of Tamiflu. The next day, I was well and good and took my bath as I do every morning. Indeed, Tamiflu was very effective, and it did not give me any bad side effects at all."

• MAM...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 24, 2019

For Influenza "Going on day 3, and from the 1st dose, I have had abdominal pain!! Heartburn on fire, slight strange headache, cough. Stopping this stuff as not worth it! Should have known, but I thought I would try it. Never again."

• Dlt...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 3, 2015

For Influenza "Co-worker was diagnosed with the flu. Forty-eight hours later, I had fever, headache, joint aches, and cough, and went to the doctor. Nasal smear confirmed strain A. Within twenty-four hours of starting Tamiflu, symptoms were better. Three days after starting Tamiflu, feeling much better with no fever or headache. Still have cough, but getting better. First time I have taken this medicine. But it made me a believer!"

• Cla...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 2, 2020

For Influenza "If your flu symptoms are bad enough that you feel like it is the end, then this medicine is a godsend. But the side effects really do suck. I had a ton of sinus pressure, sneezing, body aches, and delirium from fever before I took this. These symptoms went from a 10 to a 5 overnight thanks to Tamiflu, but now I have nausea and headaches to deal with. The nausea especially is really bad. If your flu symptoms are mild, I would keep this in mind."

• 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."

• Hea...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 11, 2018

For Influenza "I took Tamiflu last year, 2 days after having flu symptoms and being recommended by my doctor. At first, it worked great, completely knocked out my fever and chills. Then, on day 2 of taking this drug, I got the worst headache of my life. I’ve never had migraines, but I’m certain this drug caused me to have one. I had to lay in the dark, with no sound or light for 4 days. I would have rather had the flu for a month than take this medication. I would highly recommend NOT taking this med, it’s not worth it."