How do prescription flu medications work?
The prescription drugs Tamiflu and Relenza were developed to cut short a bout with flu. They help relieve flu symptoms and may shorten recovery time by a few days. Tamiflu and Relenza work best when taken within 48 hours of the first symptoms. However, clinical studies show the drugs still offer benefits when treatment starts more than 48 hours after symptoms begin. The CDC discourages people from taking antiviral drugs to prevent flu, even in people at risk for severe disease who are exposed to a person with flu symptoms. Instead, the CDC advises such people to be alert for flu symptoms and to take Tamiflu or Relenza only after the first symptoms appear.
