Flu Medicine: An Overview
Although the
flu vaccine is the best
flu prevention method, antiviral flu medicine is also available by prescription.
Flu medicines include:
Tamiflu, Flumadine and Symmetrel may be used by adults and children who are 1 year of age and older. Flu medicine can be used for both prevention and to reduce the duration of fever and other
flu symptoms.
How Does Flu Medicine Work?
Flumadine and Sympetral were the first two flu medicines approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These flu medicines act against
influenza A viruses but not against influenza B viruses. Flu medicines inhibit the activity of the
influenza virus M2 protein, which forms a channel in the virus membrane. As a result, the virus cannot replicate (make copies of itself) after it enters a cell.
In 1999, the FDA approved two additional drugs to fight the flu: Relenza (zanamivir) and Tamiflu (oseltamivir), which were the first of a new class of flu medicine called neuraminidase inhibitors.
The surfaces of influenza viruses are dotted with neuraminidase proteins. Neuraminidase, an enzyme, breaks the bonds that hold new virus particles to the outside of an infected cell. Once the enzyme breaks these bonds, this sets free new viruses that can infect other cells and spread infection. Neuraminidase inhibitors block the enzyme's activity and prevent new virus particles from being released. This limits the spread of infection.
Add this article to your Favorites
Email this article
Print