• Colds and the Flu - Medications
• Highlights
• Introduction
• Diagnosis
• Complications
• Risk Factors
• Prevention

Medications

Vaccines are available to prevent influenza (See Viral Influenza Vaccines section in this report).

For mild influenza, symptom relief is similar to that for colds.

Who Needs Antiviral Drugs

Two classes of antiviral agents have been developed to treat influenza: neuraminidase inhibitors and M2 inhibitors. These drugs can shorten symptoms but there is no indication that they can prevent or reduce complications such as pneumonia. They do not help if they are started after the first 36...