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AN FDA advisory panel has recommended stronger warnings on two influenza drugs after reviewing evidence linking them to neurological and psychiatric problems that have led to deaths in some cases.

The current warning on Roche Laboratories’ Tamiflu (generic name oseltamivir) urges close monitoring of flu patients, particularly children, for “increased risk of self injury and confusion shortly after taking Tamiflu.” The panel recommended that this warning be strengthened to say that “in some cases, these behaviors resulted in serious injuries, including death, in adult and pediatric patients.”

The label of Glaxo SmithKline’s Relenza (generic name zanamivir), the panel said, should be strengthened to mention “reports of hallucinations, delirium and abnormal behavior.” The panel said that both labels should mention that some flu patients not taking the drugs have also experienced such symptoms. More

South Korea says it will double its stockpile of the antiviral drug Tamiflu as bird flu spreads among poultry across the country. The office of President Lee Myung-bak said Saturday the government plans to store enough Tamiflu by the end of this year to treat 2.5 million people. Currently, South Korea has enough Tamiflu only for 1.23 million people. The country’s population is 48 million. Read more