When it comes to influenza, two FDA-approved drugs were found to be effective treatments for the 2009-20010 flu season---oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza). Two other flu drugs have been approved by the FDA, rimantadine (Flumadine) and amantadine (Symmetrel), but they were not recommended last flu season because they were found to be ineffective against the H1N1 pandemic strain.
Start Treatment Early
Both oseltamivir and zanamivirof are prescription drugs that attack viruses that cause influenza. These antiviral drugs are most effective when initiated immediately after the start of symptoms. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says studies of oseltamivir used in hospitalized patients showed some benefit even when the drug was started more than 48 hours after illness onset. Influenza usually has a sudden onset and may include symptoms such as a high fever, headache, extreme tiredness, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, aches and diarrhea or vomiting, which is more common in children than adults.
Flu Drugs OK for Children
Oseltamivir, which comes in capsules or a liquid, has been used in children as young as one year old. Zanamivir, which is administered in the form of powder delivered with a disk inhaler, has been approved for children seven and older, and NOT for people with underlying heart disease or respiratory disease such as asthma.
During the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic, public health authorities set priorities for these these drugs, saying they should be used first on hospitalized patients and patients with underlying medical conditions that made them susceptible to complications from the flu.
Antivirals Lose Potency
As public health officials learned during the H1N1 pandemic, antiviral drugs such as rimantadine often become less effective over time. This happens when the flu virus changes, and the drug no longer works against it. This drug resistance is more likely to occur when a drug is widely used. That's one reason that experts prioritized the use of antiviral drugs during the 2009 pandemic; they wanted them to be effective for the very ill and not loose its potency through overuse.
Treat Symptoms
In addition of antiviral drugs, there are many over-the-counter medications that can be used to treat influenza symptoms. For instance, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends treating fever in children with acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil). The academy warns not to give children aspirin-containing products since they can cause a serious condition called Reye's syndrome. Doctors also encourage flu patients to drink liquids, to prevent dehydration. And, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, chicken soup not only provides liquid, it also has been found to alleviate symptoms.
Prevention Is Best Medicine
Drug resistance is another reason why the CDC says the best flu treatment is prevention. That can be best accomplished with an annual immunization before or early in the flu season. The vaccine makeup is changed annually to match strains of flu viruses that are expected to be circulating.
