Tamiflu prescriptions up 640% from last year: 3 things to know

Prescriptions for Tamiflu have seen a more than six-fold increase this flu season compared to last year, according to an analysis from GoodRx.

Here are three things to know.

1. Researchers examined a large sample of U.S. pharmacy fills and found prescriptions for Tamiflu are up 640 percent from the same time last year.

2. In 2017, fills for Tamiflu peaked in February, suggesting prescriptions could keep increasing over the next few weeks.

3. The South and Midwest are experiencing particularly large increases, with Tamiflu prescriptions up 20-fold or more in Arizona, Indiana, Kentucky and Arkansas.

4. Physicians and pharmacists nationwide have struggled to acquire Tamiflu for patients amid increased demand for the drug, although the FDA has not yet confirmed an official shortage.

Editor's note: This article was updated Jan. 30 to include additional information.

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