Antiviral drugs are prescription medicines (pills, liquid or an inhaled powder) that fight against the flu in your body. While CDC recommends flu vaccine as the first and most important step in preventing flu, antiviral drugs are a second line of defense against the flu. Antiviral drugs are not sold over-the-counter and are different from antibiotics. You can only get them if you have a prescription from your doctor or health care provider.
There are two antiviral drugs recommended by CDC this season. The brand names for these are Tamiflu?? and Relenza?? (The generic names for these drugs are oseltamivir and zanamivir). Tamiflu?? is available as a pill or liquid and Relenza?? is a powder that is inhaled.
Ita??s very important that antiviral drugs be used early to treat flu in people who are very sick with flu (for example people who are in the hospital) and people who are sick with flu and have a greater chance of getting serious flu complications (see box). Other people may also be treated with antiviral drugs by their doctor this season. Most healthy people with flu, however, do not need to be treated with antiviral drugs.
When used for treatment, these drugs can make you feel better and shorten the time you are sick by 1 or 2 days. They can also prevent serious flu complications.
Studies have shown that flu antiviral drugs work best for treatment if they are started within 2 days of getting sick. There may still be benefit in treating people with antiviral drugs even after two days have gone by, especially if the sick person has a greater change of serious flu complications (see box) or if the person has certain symptoms (such as shortness of breath, chest pain/pressure, dizziness, or confusion) or is in the hospital because of the flu.
To treat flu, Tamiflu?? and Relenza?? are usually taken for 5 days, although people hospitalized with flu may need the medicine for longer than 5 days.
Yes. Children can take antiviral drugs.
Yes. At this time, there are no studies suggesting harm to a pregnant woman or her unborn baby if she takes antiviral medicine. The flu can cause severe illness and even death in pregnant women. Taking antiviral medicine can help prevent these complications. At this time, Tamiflu?? is the best medicine to treat pregnant women who have the flu.
Side effects differ for each antiviral drug.
Tamiflu?? has been in use since 1999. The most common side effects are nausea or vomiting which usually happen in the first 2 days of treatment. Taking Tamiflu?? with food can reduce the chance of getting these side effects.
Relenza?? has been in use since 1999. The most common side effects are dizziness, sinusitis, runny or stuffy nose, cough, diarrhea, nausea, or headache. Relenza?? may also cause wheezing and trouble breathing in people with lung disease.
Confusion and abnormal behavior leading to injury has been observed rarely in people with the flu, mostly children, who were treated with Tamiflu?? or Relenza??. Flu can also cause these behaviors. But persons taking these drugs should be closely monitored for signs of unusual behavior or problems thinking clearly. This behavior should be immediately reported to a health care provider.
If an antiviral drug has been prescribed for you, ask your doctor to explain how to use the drug and any possible side effects.