Taming of the flu By now you've probably already made the decision about whether or not to get a flu shot. But the jury may still be out on how you'll treat the flu if you or someone in your family does happen to come down with it. So a word to the wise before you find yourself in that situation: DON'T take Tamiflu. And -- even more importantly -- don't let your pediatrician give it to your kids or grandkids either. While warnings haven't been added to the labels just yet, the FDA started reviewing the safety of Tamiflu back in 2005 after reports started filtering in about hallucinations, convulsions, and other neurological disturbances occurring in children taking it. And Tamiflu's cousin Relenza isn't much better: The only thing it has going for it is that it hasn't actually killed any kids, unlike the 25 deaths attributed to Tamiflu. And if the threat these two flu drugs pose to children isn't enough to turn your stomach and keep you from taking them yourself, consider this: Just because these events have only been recorded in children doesn't mean they can't -- or won't -- occur in adults too. Of course, true to form, rather than yanking them off the market or outlawing their prescription to people under the age of 21, the FDA is considering (that's right, considering -- not requiring) having the manufacturers, Glaxo and Roche, add warnings of "hallucinations, delirium, and abnormal behavior" to the drugs' labels. I think I'd rather take my chances with the achy chills and fever that come along with the flu. But the good news is none of us have to. Back in October of last year, Dr. Wright wrote a feature article in Nutrition & Healing detailing four of the cold and flu remedies he's found to be most effective over the years. Subscribers can download this issue for free by visiting www.wrightnewsletter.com and logging on to the Archives section of the website with the username and password listed on page 8 of your most recent newsletter. And make sure to print out a copy to keep on hand for next year: The article also covers techniques for making sure you don't get the flu to begin with (and avoiding the flu shot in the process). Source: "FDA wants warnings on flu drugs for kids," MSNBC (www.msnbc.com), 11/23/07 | 
