FDA warns physicians, pharmacists of Tamiflu dosing errors

ROCKVILLE, Md. The Food and Drug Administration is warning physicians and pharmacists about potential dosing errors with a drug used to treat flu infections.

The FDA said healthcare providers usually write prescriptions for liquid medicines in milliliters, but Roche’s drug Tamiflu (oseltamivir phosphate) is dosed in milligrams, and the dosing dispenser that comes with the drug has markings in 30 mg, 45 mg and 60 mg.

The agency said it had received reports of dosing errors in which prescribed dosages did not match quantities on the dosing dispenser.