SYMPTOMS OF FLU

Information for Healthcare Professionals
(o-sill-o-cox-see-num)
Use
Advantages
For temporary relief of flu symptoms such as fever,
No adverse reactions have been reported to the FDA
chills, and body aches and pains.
during Oscillococcinum’s 23 years of use in the U.S.
SYMPTOMS OF FLU
Fever, Chills, Body Aches and Pains
Oscillococcinum has not been studied for its effects
Directions
Adults and children 2 years of age and older: take one
dose at onset of symptoms. Dissolve entire contents of
one tube in the mouth for sublingual absorption. Repeat
for two more doses at 6-hour intervals.
during pregnancy and breast-feeding. Based on the
method of preparation, everything seems to indicate
that Oscillococcinum does not pharmacologically interfere
with flu vaccination, concomitant medications or fetal
development, nor would it be present in the milk of
women who are breast-feeding.
• Easy to prescribe or to recommend (one dose every
6 hours), and doesn’t require lengthy checking for
drug interactions or contraindications
• Oscillococcinum can be safely given to children,
breast-feeding or pregnant women, elderly patients,
Warnings
• Do not use if the label sealing the cap is broken
• Ask a doctor before use in children under
2 years of age
• Stop using this product and consult a physician if
symptoms persist for more than 3 days or worsen
• As with any drug, ask a healthcare
professional before use
• Diabetics: each dose contains 0.85g of sucrose
and 0.15g of lactose
• Keep out of the reach of children
patients who cannot be vaccinated, and patients with
long-term treatments or chronic diseases
• Safe for use by patients in occupations that
prohibit the use of traditional OTC flu medicines,
such as truck drivers, machine operators and pilots
• No interaction with other drugs or vaccines
• Does not contain artificial additives or preservatives
• Oscillococcinum has been used successfully by
millions of patients in more than 40 countries
How supplied
Boxes of three unit-dose tubes and six unit-dose tubes
Active Ingredient
Anas barbariae hepatis et cordis extractum 200CK HPUS
Each year, millions of people contract influenza and flu-like symptoms in the United States, resulting in
more than 200,000 hospitalizations and approximately 36,000 deaths. Most patients recover after 1 to 2 weeks;
however, the elderly and people with chronic diseases often develop serious complications.
Three classic therapeutic approaches are used to counteract the pathology:
Homeopathic preparation of the liver and heart of the
Muscovy duck is prepared according to the method
described in the Homeopathic Pharmacopeia of the
• Vaccines are formulated in an attempt to match that year’s viral antigenic shifts
• Antiviral drugs interfere with viral replication
• Symptomatic drugs, perhaps the most common form of treatment, ease aches and shivers,
and decrease fever
United States.
I0477-MD - rev. 01/07
Inactive Ingredients
0.85 g sucrose, 0.15 g lactose (USP)
Questions, Comments?
Homeopathic Medicines are
manufactured and marketed in the
U.S. under the regulatory authority
of the Food and Drug Administration.4
Visit us at www.boironusa.com
E-mail us at: info@boiron.com
Call us toll-free at: 1-888-264-7668
Write us at:
Boiron Information Center
6 Campus Blvd.
Newtown Square, PA 19073-3267
Oscillococcinum®, (o-sill-o-cox-see-num), used by 14 million people worldwide, is becoming
increasingly popular in the United States. This homeopathic medicine has been shown to decrease the
duration and severity of flu symptoms, such as fever, chills, and body aches and pains. Because of its safety,
Oscillococcinum is a good first-line of defense in treating flu.
Advantages
Side Effects / Disadvantages
Decreases the duration
and severity of influenza
symptoms, including fever,
chills, and body aches and
pains
Can be used with existing medical conditions or medications;
no known drug interactions or
side effects; convenient dosing;
economical
No known
REDUCES THE SEVERITY AND SHORTENS THE DURATION OF FLU
Antivirals
Zanamivir (Relenza®)
Oseltamivir phosphate
(Tamiflu®)
Rimatadine (Flumadine®)
Amantadine (Symmetrel®)
Vaccine
Possible inhibition of
virus neuraminidase,
and alteration of virus
aggregation and release
Shortens duration of flu
if taken before 2nd day of
symptoms
Possible inhibition of
virus neuraminidase,
and alteration of virus
aggregation and release
Shortens duration of flu
if taken within 2 days of
symptoms
Inhibits type A virus
replication at an early stage
Reserved for high-risk patients
when vaccination is not possible
For prophylactic use only
Administration by inhalor
potentially inconvenient; nausea,
diarrhea and sinusitis may occur
100%
60%
40%
Nausea and vomiting may occur
20%
0%
Best coverage for exposed or
high-risk people
Insomnia and nausea may occur
Not a cure
Stimulates the immune
system
Existing clinical studies show
controversial results
Non-toxic; may decrease
severity and duration of flu
symptoms
Aspirin, NSAIDs
Acetaminophen
Anti-inflammatory,
antipyretic and
analgesic action
Antipyretic and
analgesic action
Temporarily reduces symptoms
Temporarily reduces symptoms
Symptomatic action only;
interacts with hepatotoxic drugs;
use with care in patients with
impaired kidney function
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
Placebo
Fever: 79% reduction vs. 40% placebo
Stiffness: 73% reduction vs. 42% with placebo
100%
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
Oscillococcinum
Reduction of Fever vs. Placebo3
Reduction of Stiffness vs. Placebo3
Overdosage induces diarrhea
Symptomatic activity only;
induces gastrointestinal
disturbances; interacts with
other drugs
Placebo
100%
“CLEAR IMPROVEMENT” AT 48 HOURS,
63% RECOVERY VS. 49% WITH PLACEBO1
Do not use for more than
10 days (curative) or 3 weeks
(prophylactic); use with caution
when kidney function is
impaired, or when patient is
allergic to herbs from the daisy
family; preventive efficacy not
clearly demonstrated
Symptomatic medicines for aches and fever
Oscillococcinum
In a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, the recovery rate
within 48 hours of treatment was significantly greater in the group
that received the active drug than in the placebo group (p = 0.03)2
reduction of symptoms
Vitamin C
Non-specific
immunostimulant
Oscillococcinum has been shown to reduce common flu
symptoms such as chills, stiffness and fever.
Chills: 85.7% reduction vs. 57.1% with placebo
80%
Herbs, Vitamins
Echinacea
(E. angustifolia,
E. purpurea)
Taken at the First Sign of Flu,
Oscillococcinum Significantly
Reduces Symptoms3
“Clear Improvement” of Flu Symptoms
Within 48 hours (N=334)1
reduction of symptoms
Oscillococcinum,
(o-sill-o-cox-see-num)
also called Oscillo
How it Works
reduction of symptoms
Product
Oscillococcinum
Placebo
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
Oscillococcinum
Placebo
References:
1. Papp R. et al. Oscillococcinum in patients with influenza-like syndromes: a placebo-controlled, double-blind evaluation.
Br Homeopath J. 1998;87:69-76.
2. Ferley JP. et al. A controlled evaluation of a homeopathic preparation in the treatment of influenza-like symptoms. Br J Clin Pharmacol.
1989;27:329-335.
3. Casanova P. et al. The evaluation of 100 randomized observations of Oscillococcinum® / placebo in the influenza syndrome. Data on file, Boiron.
4. U.S. Food and Drug Adminstration. Sec 400.400. Conditions under which homeopathic drugs may be marked (CPG7132.15). Available at:
http://www.fda.gov/ora/compliance_ref/cpg.cpgdrg/cpg400-400.html.