What are the treatment benefits of influenza antiviral drugs?
For treatment, antiviral drugs should be started within 2 days after becoming sick. These drugs can reduce the severity of flu symptoms and shorten the time you are sick by 1 or 2 days. They also may prevent serious flu complications. Studies of oseltamivir treatment of hospitalized patients with seasonal influenza have indicated benefit, including reductions in mortality or duration of hospitalization even for patients whose treatment was started more than 48 hours after illness onset.
