Is An Antiviral Drug A Commonly Used Flu Treatment
Antiviral flu drugs are taken to decrease the severity and duration of flu symptoms. In some cases they may be used to prevent flu. They includeà baloxavir marboxil ,à oseltamivir , peramivir , or zanamivir .
Ideally, the first dose should be taken within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms. Talk to your doctor, if you are at increased risk for complications from the flu. People at high risk include infants, elderly, those with chronic illnesses, pregnant women, those with weak immune systems. Native American and Alaskan Natives. Most antivirals do have side effects.
Runny Nose And Sneezing
OTC DrugsAntihistamines, such as cetirizine , chlorpheniramine , diphenhydramine , fexofenadine , and loratadine
How effective are they? Very, when symptoms stem from allergies, but a 2015 review of 18 trials concluded that the drugs have little benefit when symptoms are from a cold.
What are the risks? Drowsiness, nausea, blurred vision, and difficulty urinating, and, with diphenhydramine, impaired coordination.
What they can interact with: Taking chlorpheniramine or diphenhydramine with narcotics, sleeping pills, or alcohol makes sedation more likely. Taking cetirizine, fexofenadine, or loratadine with certain antifungals or antibiotics increases the risk of side effects. Antacids with aluminum or magnesium, and grapefruit and certain other juices can make fexofenadine less effective.
Home RemediesHonestly, theres not much you can do besides stocking up on tissues. But note that a runny nose and sneezing help rid your body of germs. If you find yourself without a tissue in hand, sneeze into your elbow so that the germs dont end up across the room infecting an innocent bystander.
What About Herbal Remedies
Every flu season, people ask their pharmacists if things like vitamin C, echinacea, or probiotics will prevent them from getting sick. Sadly, most of the claims about these products arent supported by much evidence.
One product said to help prevent the flu is Oscillococcinum, a homeopathic remedy made from wild duck heart and liver extracts. Research shows there is no difference between taking Oscillococcinum and a placebo pill .
Another commonly asked about product is echinacea, which is said to boost your immune system. The research available focuses on if it wards off the common cold, but those studies show echinacea doesnt protect you any better than a placebo.
Two natural remedies that may be helpful if you have the flu are elderberry syrup and honey. In a small study, people who took elderberry syrup felt better 4 days earlier than those who didnt. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding as well as children under 18 should avoid this product because we dont know if its safe for them to use it. As for honey, it is just as effective at quieting a cough as dextromethorphan. Honey should never be given to infants under 1 year old, though, and if you have diabetes, it could raise your blood sugar levels.
Always ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist if taking herbal supplements is OK. They have side effects and can interact with other medications. To read more in depth about herbal treatments and the flu, click here.
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Will An Antibiotic Work For The Flu
The short answer is simply this: no. The flu is caused by a virus, Dr. Blad says. Antibiotics are utilized for treating infections caused by bacteria and are not effective for treating the flu.
Dr. Wilkes agrees, and adds that antiviral medicationslike the ones listed abovecan improve symptoms and decrease the severity and duration of influenza.
Flu Treatment #: Use Zinc For An Immune System Boost
According to The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health , Oral zinc lozenges may reduce the duration of the common cold , when started within 24 hours and taken for a time period of less than 2 weeks. They advise against the use of intranasal zinc. Some clinicians warn, however, that side effects can result from use with several medications. Limit zinc use to one week only, and stop if you get side effects.
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Which Flu Treatment Is Best For My Sore Throat
Drinking lots of fluids and using salt water gargles can often be helpful for easing the pain of a sore throat. Over-the-counter pain relievers and medicated lozenges and gargles can also temporarily soothe a sore throat. Get your doctor’s approval before using any medications, including over-the-counter drugs, and don’t use lozenges or gargles for more than a few days. Call your doctor if your throat is still sore after a couple of days or if it is severe.The medications could mask signs of strep throat, a bacterial infection that should be treated with antibiotics.
The Dos And Donts Of Easing Cold Symptoms
At the first sign of cold symptoms, you may look to stock up on any number of remedies. But what actually works? While there is no cure for the common cold, there are some proven ways to treat your symptoms. Heres a guide to what works and what to avoid.
Stay hydrated. Whether its tea, warm water with lemon or broth, drinking warm liquids can be soothing, prevent dehydration and ease congestion. Avoid salty foods, alcohol, coffee and sugary drinks, which can be dehydrating. Ice chips are another simple way to stay hydrated and calm a scratchy throat.
Gargle with salt water. A saltwater gargle with about 1 teaspoon of salt per cup of warm water can help reduce the pain and swelling of a sore throat.
Over-the-counter medications : Over-the-counter decongestants, antihistamines and pain relievers, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen, can reduce some cold symptoms. Children younger than 6 should not use over-the-counter medications. Talk to your doctor for more details.
Humidify the air . Cold air holds less moisture than warm air. Dry nostrils are more prone to viruses, and if youre already sick, dry air can worsen a sore throat. Try using a humidifier. If you dont have one, leave a shallow bowl of water out, particularly near a heat source. As the water evaporates, itll slowly humidify the room.
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Major Considerations When Buying Flu Medicine
While we all experience flu the same way, our bodies react differently to the treatment options available: this means that while a certain product may work wonders for you, it may not work at all for someone else.
To select the best flu medicine for your particular needs and preferences, here is some important information that will help you choose.
- Multi-Symptom Relief. When you say flu, youre referring to a group of symptoms associated with the influenza virus. Most of these symptoms resemble those present during a cold, but it pays to remember that those that come with the flu are often much more pronounced.
It is important that you purchase a flu medicine that targets all the symptoms you are experiencing. Most commonly, flu medicine is formulated for these purposes:
- Pain Reliever. The main distinction between the flu and a common cold is the presence of body pain. Pain in the joints and muscles, and even headaches and sinus pain are common. An effective flu medicine should have a pain relief ingredient incorporated into the formulation for fast and effective relief.
- When you develop the flu, your body produces more mucus to coat the foreign contaminant and prevent it from causing more damage to your system: this can cause widespread congestion throughout your sinus and chest.
- Expectorant. To help relieve the body of excess mucus, an expectorant ingredient helps encourage the body to expel mucus from the system for clear airways and easy breathing.
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Ohco Cold Snap Powder Ease Cold And Flu Symptons
For those seeking an herbal remedy for flu, OHCO Cold Snap Herbal Supplement Powder for Cold and Flu Symptoms is the best and most effective all-natural product available. This formulation works well to target all the symptoms of flu, and is safe to use for children and pregnant women.
The all-around formulation is highly effective and has been proven a safe solution for all of its users. The only issue is that preparing the formulation can be quite tedious, which can make it relatively inconvenient for some users.
You’re Hit With Flu Virus Symptoms: What To Do Keep Our List Of 7 Flu Treatments Handyand Get Back On Your Feet Asap
Ughit arrives every year. Prevention, of course, is the goal, but if we fall prey to influenza, we need to know the most effective, reliable flu treatments to get us back on our feet.
Influenzabetter known as the flu, is a nasty viral infection that strikes millions every year, both in the winter and spring. If you have full-blown flu, you will likely feel very unwell and may be confined to bed for a day or three. And you may be lookinglike all of usfor the best flu treatments.
This flu season is shaping up to be bad one, if Australia is anything to go by. Flu is highly contagious and can spread through a workplace or school like wildfire. Though debilitating, flue is usually self-limiting, with most people recovering within a week or so. It is the young, the elderly, and the chronically sick who need to worry most about flu, for it can cause them serious complicationsand can even be fatal.
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What Else Can I Do To Prevent Getting Colds And The Flu
Wash your hands frequently with soap and water or alcoholic hand wipes. Cold and flu viruses are spread by touching your nose or mouth after touching an infected person, breathing in the air of an infected person’s sneeze or cough, or touching objects that have come in contact with the virus and then touching your nose.
Other prevention tips are to eat healthy, exercise, get plenty of sleep, drink plenty of liquids , and avoid close contact with people who have colds. Also, get an annual flu vaccine.
What Treatment Options Are Safe During Pregnancy
According to the Cleveland Clinic, natural remedies like saline nasal drops and warm salt-water gargling are ideal cold and flu treatments during pregnancy.
Vicks VapoRub and cough drops are also considered safe during pregnancy.
Women who are pregnant or trying to get pregnant should check with their healthcare provider before taking any drug. While no medication can be considered 100 percent safe for pregnant women, the Cleveland Clinic lists the following as among those generally considered to be okay:
- Acetaminophen
- Guaifenesin
Note: Do not take the sustained action or multisymptom forms of these drugs.
As for the decongestant pseudoephedrine, the Cleveland Clinic recommends that pregnant women avoid it in the first trimester , while a review published in the journal American Family Physician concluded that women should use it only sparingly later in pregnancy.
For pregnant women with the flu, oseltamivir is the preferred medication because it has the best safety and efficacy record, according to the CDC.
The CDC recommends that pregnant women with a fever take acetominophen and contact their doctors immediately.
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What Are The Common Side Effects Of Stomach Flu Medicine
Stomach flu medications will vary in their side effects based on the type of drug, the dose, and the patients age. This is not a complete list of side effects, so consult with a health care provider about possible drug interactions or side effects.
Oral rehydration solutions have a long track record of safety. Rare side effects include nausea and diarrhea. It is possible, however, to overdo it. Taking too many electrolytes can throw the bodys balance of electrolytes off-kilter, causing potentially serious medical problems.
Antiemetics work by affecting a part of the brain involved with nausea and vomiting, so drowsiness, lightheadedness, sleepiness, restlessness, and agitation are the most common side effects. Dry mouth is a common complaint. The most serious side effect involves a hazardous change in the way the heart beats called QT prolongation. The risk is greatest when these drugs are taken over a long period.
The most commonly experienced side effect of antidiarrheal agents is constipation. Abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting are also possible.
Is Tamiflu Worth Taking
It can be. Most people do not need medication if they get the flu however, if you are in a high-risk group, are very sick, or are worried about your illness, antiviral medications are worth taking to make the illness milder and shorter and to reduce the risk of complications. And its important to remember that Tamiflu works best if you start taking it within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms, which is why seeking early medical attention is so important, Dr. Wilkes says.
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Can I Take Acetaminophen While Pregnant
Overall, acetaminophen is safe to take while pregnant, and it’s the most common pain reliever that most doctors allow pregnant women to take when they experience common aches and pains. If you are allergic to acetaminophen or have liver problems, do not take it. Always ask your doctor if taking acetaminophen is safe for you during your pregnancy. If they say it’s ok to take, always take as little as possible, only when needed, and for as short an amount of time as possible. Taking it daily for long periods of time, usually for a period of about 28 days or longer, may increase the risk of your baby developing mild developmental issues like ADHD. Minor aches and pains like headaches, backache, and muscle pain are normal during pregnancy. Taking acetaminophen is generally safe, as long as your doctor gives you the all clear to do so beforehand.
What Are The Best Cold And Flu Medicines For Me
When you feel the effects of the common cold or flu, which you will as theres no cure and it is contagious, you will be looking for relief from the symptoms.
These include a blocked or a runny nose, a sore throat, sneezing, a headache, a raised temperature, or a cough.
The good news is, there is a wide range of treatments out there that will help provide relief for these symptoms and help you get over the cold or flu.
The treatment that you will need will, of course, be dependent on the symptoms that you experience.
Some treatments will be able to tackle multiple types of the symptom as well.
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Can Colds And The Flu Be Cured With Medications
No medicines can “cure” colds and flu. However, there are many over-the-counter medicines that can ease the discomfort caused by the symptoms of colds and flu. In addition, there are prescription medicines and a vaccine that can treat and prevent the flu.
Note on antibiotics: Colds and the flu are causes by viruses and cannot be cured with antibiotics. Antibiotics are used to treat bacterial infections, such as strep throat and ear, skin and urinary tract infections. Using antibiotics for infections they are not able to treat makes the antibiotics less effective for infections they are supposed to treat . Never take antibiotics to treat colds and flu.
To ease the discomfort from specific cold and flu symptoms, consider using the following types of OTC medicines:
Prescription Medications For Colds Or Flu
The first line of treatment for the common cold and influenza is self-care as you allow these viral illnesses to simply run their course. But there are cases in which you may need a medical evaluation and prescription medication to tame severe symptoms, prevent a worsening of your condition, or avoid related complications.
Cough suppressants, antihistamines, decongestants, and nasal steroids are prescription cold and/or flu medications that can help provide you some symptom relief, while the main job of antivirals and antibiotics is to stop what’s causing your illness in its tracks.
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Contac Cold And Flu Night Caplet
Contac Cold and Flu Night Formula has been considered by many buyers as the best flu medicine on the market today. This formulation targets nasal congestion, sinus pressure, sore throat, body pain, and headaches, sneezing, runny nose, and fever making it a holistic solution for a full blown flu.
The night time remedy works well to make a person sleepy after a dosage. This side-effect is an intended feature of the formulation, allowing users to achieve a good nights sleep to aid in the recovery process.
At a very reasonable price, Contac Cold and Flu Night Formula is a budget-friendly flu remedy thats ideal for keeping in storage for those unexpected flu outbreaks at home or in the office.