How are antiviral medications used for the flu?
While getting a flu vaccine each year is the best way to protect you form the flu, antiviral drugs can be used as a second line of defense to treat the flu or to prevent flu infection. For treatment, antiviral drugs work best if started soon after getting sick (within 2 days of symptoms). When used this way, these drugs can reduce the severity of flu symptoms and shorten the time you are sick by 1 or 2 days. They also may make you less contagious to other people. Go back to top What should I do if I get sick? Most healthy people recover from the flu without complications. If you get the flu: • Stay home • Get lots of rest, drink plenty of liquids, and avoid using alcohol and tobacco • There are over-the-counter (OTC) medications to relieve the symptoms of the flu (but never give aspirin to children or teenagers who have flu-like symptom, particularly fever) • Remember that serious illness from the flu is more likely in certain groups of people including people 65 and older, pregnant wo
