Flu Medicine as a Prevention Method
Key information about flu medicine that is used for
flu prevention includes:
- Flu medicine may help prevent the flu if you take it for at least 2 weeks during the outbreak of flu in your community.
- You may use flu medicine if you are in close contact with family members or others who have the flu.
- You may use flu medicine if you are in close contact with people who have been vaccinated but whom you want to give added protection from getting the flu.
- You may use flu medicine immediately following flu vaccination during a flu epidemic to protect you during the 2- to 4-week period before antibodies (proteins from your immune system that protect you from the flu virus) develop.
- You may use flu medicine when a flu epidemic is caused by virus strains other than those covered by the vaccine.
- Flumadine and Symmetrel have unpleasant side effects. You should discuss the flu vaccine and medicines with your healthcare provider before flu season begins, because your healthcare provider can help you decide which medicine is best for you.
Flu Medicine as a Treatment Method
If you do get the flu and want to take flu medicine to treat it, your healthcare provider may prescribe one of the four available antiviral medicines. In order for the flu medicine to work well, you must take it within 48 hours after the flu begins. The flu medicine reduces the length of time fever and other
flu symptoms last and allow you to return to your daily routine quicker.
Tamiflu (Oseltamivir) and Relenza (Zanamivir)
Tamiflu is for adults and children who are 1 year of age and older.
Relenza is for adults and children who are 7 years of age and older, who have an uncomplicated flu infection, and who have had
symptoms of influenza for no more than 2 days. Both of these flu medicines treat
influenza type A and type B infections.
Previous
Add this article to your Favorites
Email this article
Print