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Antiviral Medicines
Antiviral medicines are an important second line of defense against the flu.
If you do get the flu, antiviral medicines are an important treatment option. (They are not a substitute for vaccination.)
Antiviral medicines are prescription medicines (pills, liquid or an inhaler) that fight against the flu by keeping flu viruses from reproducing in your body.
Antiviral mediciness can make your illness milder and make you feel better faster.
They may also prevent serious flu complications. This could be especially important for people at high risk.For treatment, antiviral medicines work best if started soon after getting sick (within 2 days of symptoms).
There are four flu antiviral medicines approved for use in the United States. CDC has issued interim guidance on which antiviral medicines to use during the 2008-09 flu season: The four antiviral medicines are:
Oseltamivir is approved to both treat and prevent influenza A and B virus infection in people one year of age and older.
Zanamivir is approved to treat influenza A and B virus infection in people 7 years and older and to prevent influenza A and B virus infection in people 5 years and older.
Amantadine is approved to treat and prevent only influenza A viruses in people older than 1 year.
Rimantadine is approved to prevent only influenza A virus infection among people older than 1 year.
It is approved to treat only influenza A virus infections in people 13 and older.
Antiviral medicines differ in terms of who can take them, how they are given, their dose (which can vary depending on a person’s age or medical conditions), and side effects.
For more information, see “Information for Health Care Professionals: Using Antiviral Agents for Seasonal Influenza” or consult the package insert for each medicines. Your doctor can help decide whether you should take an antiviral medicines this flu season and which one you should use.