- Antiviral
drugs are prescription
medicines (pills, liquid or an
inhaler) that can be used to
treat flu, or to prevent
infection with flu viruses.
These medications must be
prescribed by a health care
professional.
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- If
you get sick, antiviral drugs
can make your illness milder
and make you feel better
faster. They may also prevent
serious influenza
complications. The sooner a
sick person is treated with an
antiviral, the greater effect
it will have on the patient's
recovery.
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- IInfluenza
antiviral drugs also can be
used to prevent influenza when
they are given to a person who
is not ill, but who has been
or may be near a person with
influenza. When used to
prevent the flu, antiviral
drugs are about 70% to 90%
effective.
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- There
are four influenza antiviral
drugs approved for use in the
United States (oseltamivir,
zanamivir, amantadine and
rimantadine).
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