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Antiviral flu medications: are they necessary?
Medical expert of the article
Last reviewed: 07.07.2025
Influenza refers to illnesses caused by a virus. So it is logical to assume that people fight the flu with antiviral drugs. If left untreated, the flu can cause various types of illnesses, ranging from mild cold symptoms typical of the flu to life-threatening pneumonia, bacterial infections, and other serious complications.
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Antiviral drugs against influenza
There are a number of antiviral drugs approved by medical experts for the treatment and prevention of influenza. Vaccination is the main means of preventing and combating influenza.
- Seasonal flu vaccine
- Other flu vaccines
It is advisable to vaccinate children up to six months and adults up to 59 years every year to reduce the risk of contracting the flu. The vaccine makes the body's immune system stronger and helps it fight the flu by destroying its viruses. The flu vaccine starts working two weeks after the injection and its effect lasts up to a year.
Use of antiviral drugs to treat influenza
Influenza outbreaks occur every year and usually reach epidemic levels during the flu season (which begins around October). Uncomplicated influenza usually goes away without treatment, but it can cause significant discomfort and limit a person's activities. Complications of influenza can include bacterial infections, viral pneumonia, heart disease, and other organ and system disorders. People with chronic medical conditions may be at increased risk for complications from influenza.
Many other illnesses, including a rapidly progressing blood infection, can begin with flu-like symptoms. Lab tests can help determine whether it is the flu or not. However, a negative result does not rule out the possibility of influenza infection or other illnesses.
Many people with uncomplicated flu can simply get more sleep and drink plenty of fluids to help reduce flu symptoms. Sometimes they take over-the-counter medications. But prescription antiviral drugs can shorten the time it takes for symptoms to improve, and they're also used in some situations to reduce the chances of people who've been exposed to the flu getting sick.
Different types of flu treatment
Treatment of complications of influenza and other illnesses that resemble influenza may require different types of treatment, and in some cases, urgent medical care. It is worth knowing that antiviral drugs do not eliminate the risk of complications, so they can be supplemented with other drugs.
Some flu complications can be life-threatening. This is because flu viruses can become resistant to specific flu antiviral drugs, and all of them can cause side effects. If you develop new symptoms during treatment, or your symptoms persist or worsen during treatment, you should contact your doctor immediately.
Depending on the strain of the flu virus, antiviral drugs can be very effective or, on the contrary, useless. So do not treat yourself with them, but consult a doctor. And by the way: antiviral drugs against flu are not a substitute for the vaccine. They are used in addition to the vaccine to fight the flu.
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Tamiflu (oseltamivir phosphate) and Relenza (zanamivir) are two effective antiviral drugs recommended for use against recently circulating influenza viruses.
The older drugs amantadine and rimantadine are approved by the medical community to treat and prevent influenza A. But many strains of influenza, including the 2009 H1N1 flu, are now resistant to these two drugs. Medical experts recommend using these two drugs only when specific strains of the virus are likely to be susceptible to them.
Dosage of antiviral drugs
Be sure to take into account that the dosage and regimen for each drug are different. They depend on the age, weight, and health condition of the adult or child. In addition, the total daily dose and duration of administration for the treatment of acute diseases may differ from the dosage and duration of administration for the prevention of influenza and should be adjusted accordingly by the doctor.
The packaging of the drug always contains information about side effects and the manufacturer of each drug. The doctor's decision to use these drugs should be based on an individual risk assessment. Treatment with antiviral drugs should only be carried out under the supervision of a therapist to avoid possible uncontrolled deviations.
Antiviral flu medications can help prevent the disease or reduce the severity of its symptoms or speed up the treatment period. But it is important to remember that self-medication is unacceptable for a good effect from these drugs.
Attention!
To simplify the perception of information, this instruction for use of the drug "Antiviral flu medications: are they necessary?" translated and presented in a special form on the basis of the official instructions for medical use of the drug. Before use read the annotation that came directly to medicines.
Description provided for informational purposes and is not a guide to self-healing. The need for this drug, the purpose of the treatment regimen, methods and dose of the drug is determined solely by the attending physician. Self-medication is dangerous for your health.