Flu Treatment With Antiviral Drugs

Antiviral drugs are prescription medications that may help prevent flu complications or shorten the severity and duration of flu once you have it. Here are the latest antiviral drug recommendations. After you read this, talk to your doctor to see if antiviral drugs can help you feel better.

What Are Antiviral Drugs?

Antiviral drugs are medicines that decrease the ability of flu viruses to reproduce. When used as directed, antiviral drugs may help reduce the duration of flu symptoms in otherwise healthy children and adults and may reduce the severity of common flu symptoms.

When Are Antiviral Drugs Recommended?

Antiviral drugs are recommended for both treatment and prevention of flu. Antiviral drugs work best when taken within 48 hours of onset of flu symptoms, but they may still offer benefits when taken later. These medications may reduce the duration of flu by one to two days and prevent severe flu complications.

How Are Antivirals Used in Preventing Flu?

Your doctor may prescribe an antiviral if you come in close contact with family members or others who have the flu and you want to try to avoid getting sick. However, the CDC discourages this practice, as it can lead to drug-resistant strains of the virus. Instead, the CDC recommends that people at risk of severe flu --  such as pregnant women or people with asthma, diabetes, or heart disease -- begin antiviral treatment as soon as flu symptoms appear.

It's important, however, to remember that vaccination is the most effective way to prevent flu.

Which Antiviral Drugs Are Recommended for Both Treatment and Prevention of the Flu?

The CDC recommends the antiviral drugs Relenza and Tamiflu. Tamiflu, which is taken by mouth, is approved for treating flu is those over 2 weeks of age and preventing flu in people one year of age and older. Relenza is approved for treating flu in people 7 years and older and for preventing flu in people 5 years and older. Relenza is inhaled through the mouth.

Both Relenza and Tamiflu are most effective when given within 48 hours of the onset of flu symptoms, although they may still prevent severe flu complications when given more than 48 hours after symptoms appear.

Do Antiviral Drugs for Flu Have Side Effects?

Side effects of antivirals include nausea, vomiting, runny nose, stuffy nose, cough, diarrhea, and behavioral changes. Relenza is not recommended for individuals who have asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or other lung disease. Based on your individual health status, your doctor will prescribe the antiviral drug that's safest for you.

When Do I Call the Doctor About Flu Antiviral Drugs?

Ideally, you should talk to your doctor about the flu vaccine and antiviral drugs, including side effects, before the flu season begins.

When you do get flu symptoms, it's important to call your doctor soon after symptoms appear. Flu drugs are most effective when taken within the first 48 hours of flu symptoms, although they may help prevent severe disease when taken later.

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Flu Treatment

Need help deciding which treatments are effective for the flu? Wonder how you can manage the flu? There are treatments that can help relieve common flu symptoms such as fever, aches, and cough, and may shorten the time you have flu symptoms. Keep in mind that you should not give over-the-counter cough and cold medicines to children under age 4.

Which treatments should I take for flu symptoms?

The flu treatment you should take depends on your symptoms. For example, if you have nasal or sinus congestion, then a decongestant can be helpful.

Decongestants come oral or nasal spray forms. Decongestants are used to reduce swelling in the nasal passageways. However, nasal spray decongestants should not be used for more than a few days because, if they are used too long and then stopped, they can cause rebound symptoms.

If you have a runny nose, postnasal drip, or itchy, watery eyes -- then an antihistamine may be helpful for your flu symptoms. Antihistamines block the effect of "histamine," and help relieve such annoying symptoms as sneezing, itching, and nasal discharge.

Over-the-counter antihistamines often make people drowsy, whereas decongestants can make people hyper or keep them awake. Keep in mind that both decongestants and antihistamines can interact with other drugs you may be taking, and they may aggravate some conditions. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about which flu symptom treatment is best for you.

Which treatment should I use for nasal congestion?

If you need immediate relief for swollen, congested nasal passages, you may get relief with an over-the-counter decongestant nasal spray. It is important to stop using decongestant nasal sprays after three to five days to avoid the development of rebound congestion.

Some doctors suggest using a saline spray instead of a medicated spray. Saline sprays loosen thick mucus in the nasal passageways but have no rebound effect. They may be used for extended periods of time without significant side effects.

Is it safe to take a decongestant if I have high blood pressure?

Decongestants can increase blood pressure and heart rate. Pseudoephedrine and phenylephrine are oral decongestants commonly available in over-the-counter products. In general, if your blood pressure is well controlled with medications, then a decongestant shouldn't be a problem as long as you monitor your blood pressure. This may not be true, however, with certain types of blood pressure medications. Check with your doctor or pharmacist about safety.

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Flu Test: Detecting Flu Viruses

In most cases, a doctor can diagnosis the flu based on symptoms, especially when these symptoms occur during the peak flu season. But sometimes your doctor may want to perform an influenza rapid diagnostic test to be sure the influenza virus is responsible for your symptoms and not another health problem.

Why Is a Flu Test Helpful?

When your doctor distinguishes the flu virus from other viral infections, antiviral drugs can be prescribed early in the illness when they are most effective. If the flu is diagnosed early (within 48 hours of showing flu symptoms), the antiviral drugs may alleviate the severity of the flu symptoms. After 48 hours, these drugs may not have any benefit in reducing flu symptoms. 

In addition, a flu test may help reduce the incidence of antibiotics being inappropriately used for the flu virus.

How Does a Flu Test Work?

First, your doctor will take a sample from the back of your nose or throat. To collect this sample, the doctor will swab your nasal passage or throat. The doctor will then seal the sample in a packet and  run a rapid test on site or send it to a lab for testing.

How Long Does It Take to Get Flu Test Results?

The rapid diagnostic flu tests usually provide results within 15 minutes.

What Does the Flu Test Detect?

Some rapid flu tests can help distinguish between influenza A and B virus. As with any tests, the accuracy of the test depends on the quality of the manufacturer’s test, sample collection method, and how much viral sample a person is shedding at the time of testing. 

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When to Call the Doctor About Flu?

If you've just come down with miserable flu symptoms, you may wonder when to call the doctor. Sooner is better than later in case your doctor thinks you would benefit from flumedications that may help shorten the duration of your illness.

What Are Common Flu Symptoms?

The first challenge is determining if you have the flu. If you have any of these symptoms, give your doctor a call. Common symptoms of the flu include:

• Fever (though not everyone with the flu will have a fever)
• Headache
• Extreme tiredness
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Muscle aches
• Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea (much more common among children than adults)

In addition, if you've had the flu for a few days and then get worse, call your doctor immediately. These symptoms may indicate a secondary or bacterial infection with flu. Call your doctor right away if:

• Your fever returns
• Your fever lasts for longer than 3 days
• You have difficulty breathing (Call 911 if you have any trouble breathing.)
• You cannot stop vomiting and can't keep liquids down
• You wheeze when you breathe
• Your flu symptoms are worsening each day
• An infant or young child has any fever or symptoms of the flu
• If you have a chronic medical condition such as heart disease, asthma, COPD, diabetes, or HIV/AIDS, it's important to call your doctor when the first flu symptoms appear, as flu might increase the risk of serious problems associated with your chronic condition. For instance, if you have asthma and flu, you may need to boost yourasthma medications and asthma inhalers to prevent an asthma attack. Your doctor can instruct you.

Also, seek emergency medical help if you or a loved one has a severe headache or stiff neck.

What Flu Tests Will My Doctor Use?

Most of the time, a flu diagnosis is made by the person's symptoms. In some cases, your doctor may also run flu tests to make an accurate flu diagnosis. These tests usually involve taking a swab from your mouth and culturing this to identify the flu virus. Rapid flu tests may give your doctor results in about five to 30 minutes. Your doctor may prefer to use a rapid flu test before prescribing flu drugs, which must be taken within 48 hours of the first flu symptoms.

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Symptoms & Types

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