Influenza - ANTIVIRAL MEDICATIONS
What are antiviral medications?
Influenza antiviral drugs are prescription drugs (pills, liquid, or inhaler) that decrease the ability of flu viruses to reproduce. While getting a flu vaccine each year is the first and most important step in protecting against flu, antiviral drugs are a second line of defense in the prevention and treatment of flu. The antiviral drugs typically usually used are Tamiflu® (oseltamivir) and Relenza® (zanamivir).
It’s important to remember that flu antiviral drugs are not a substitute for getting a flu vaccine and they do not reduce infectiousness.
Who will benefit most from influenza antiviral drugs?
Most people ill with influenza will recover without complications. People at increased risk for influenza complications are prioritized for treatment with influenza antiviral drugs. If people in these groups have an Influenza-Like-Illness they are encouraged to contact their health care providers as soon as possible. People at higher risk are:
- Children younger than 2 years of age
- Adults 65 years and older
- Pregnant women
- People of any age with certain chronic medical or immunosuppressive conditions
- People younger than 19 years of age who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy
Children 2 - 4 years old are more likely to require hospitalization or urgent medical evaluation for influenza compared with children over 4 years of age. They are at much lower risk than children 0 - 2. Children aged 2 - 4 years old,without high risk conditions and with mild illness do not necessarily require antiviral treatment.
Physicians may also decide not to treat some people in these groups and/or treat people who are not in these groups based on their clinical judgment.
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What are the treatment benefits of influenza antiviral drugs?
If antiviral drugs are started within 2 days after becoming sick, they can reduce the severity of flu symptoms and shorten the time you are sick by 1 or 2 days. They may also prevent serious flu complications.
How effective are antiviral drugs at preventing the flu?
When used to prevent the flu, antiviral drugs are about 70% to 90% effective against susceptible viruses (i.e., viruses that are not resistant to the antiviral medication). It’s important to remember that flu antiviral drugs are not a substitute for getting a flu vaccine and they do not reduce infectiousness.
Source: CDC - Antiviral Medications
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