If the flu has struck you or your family this season, it's not too late to stop it in its tracks. The government's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued its list of four drugs to combat flu viruses for the 2008-2009 flu season.
These antiviral drugs all must be prescribed by a physician and come in the form of pills, liquid or inhaler. Their action is to "decrease the ability of flu viruses to reproduce," according to the CDC website. These drugs are not vaccines, however, there is a 70% to 90% possibility that these same drugs might prevent the flu, says the CDC. The agency strongly encourages U.S. citizens to get a flu vaccine for prevention.
The CDC advises that the antiviral drugs be taken within two days of the start of flu symptoms, and states that the drugs are effective in reducing the duration of the flu by one or two days. This is welcomed relief for anyone who has suffered the debilitating aches, the feverish nights and the lost days of work as a result of the flu.
The four flu antiviral drugs approved by the CDC include oseltamivir (brand name Tamiflu ), zanamivir (brand name Relenza ), amantadine (Symmetrel, generic), and rimantadine (Flumadine, generic).
Each drug has its own set of side effects and physicians have been issued advisories by the CDC to determine the correct prescription for individual patients. The CDC recommends these antivirals for persons who are unable to take the flu vaccine because of a weakened immune system or because they have previously suffered allergic reactions to the flu vaccine. No medical test is required for individuals to receive a prescription for an antiviral.
Two of the drugs on the CDC list (Tamiflu and Relenza) are classified as neuraminidase inhibitors and combat both influenza A and B viruses. Tamiflu has been in use since 1999; its common side effects include nausea and vomiting, which can be reduced if the antiviral is taken with food. There are also reports of self-injury and delirious behavior among users of the neuraminidase inhibitors, and as a result, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires package labeling which call for monitoring of individuals who take these drugs. Children are at highest risk.
Relenza has also been in use since 1999, and has a long list of side effects. The most serious to be reported include shortness of breath and wheezing. Runny nose, sinusitis, diarrhea, headache, dizziness, and infections of the ear, nose and throat are also listed. Person with chronic lung diseases such as asthma or COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) should not take Relenza.
The remaining two antivirals (Symmetrel and Flumadine) fight influenza A viruses only. These drugs are known as adamantanes and their side effects are related to central nervous system (CNS) issues. Anxiety, nervousness, difficulty in concentration and lightheadedness have all been reported. Their more serious effects include delirium, seizures and hallucinations.
Influenza viruses are spread from person to person, primarily when an infected individual sneezes or coughs. Contact with contaminated surfaces is another mode of transmission. The uncomplicated symptoms usually last from three to seven days although the cough and malaise can continue for up to two weeks. The average incubation period for viruses is two days and infected persons can spread the virus from the day before symptoms begin up to ten days after the onset of the illness.
According to a report issued by the CDC, the most effective means of controlling influenza is through the annual vaccine. However, for those who did not get their flu shots, the four antivirals can shorten the length of suffering substantially.