I got this great question from a reader about my “What is Tamiflu?” article:

 

“It sounds like the main reason for taking Tamiflu is to prevent coming down with the flu. If your cousin does get the flu, what should she do?”

 

So, here is my answer to her question (and a little extra)!

 

Tamiflu is used to both treat the flu and to keep you from getting it.  The drug is given to patients to get rid of the flu just as often as it is given to avoid the flu.

 

Here is an example of how Tamiflu would be used for both reasons – When one person in a family gets the flu they would be given Tamiflu to help them get better, and the rest of the family would be given the drug to keep them from getting the illness. 

 

When the drug is used to treat the flu, it should definitely be started within 2 days of when you come down with the symptoms.  If you start Tamiflu later than 2 days after you begin to feel ill, there will be little to no chance that it will work for you.

 

If it has been 7 days or lesssince you have had contact with an infected person, you should start taking Tamiflu to keep you from getting the virus – after this amount of time, it is not necessary to take the drug (there is a good chance you will not end up with the flu!).

 

However, when trying to avoid the flu, Tamiflu should only be used in people that would be in a lot of danger if they got the illness – it is possible that the drug will eventually not be able to work on the flu virus if it is used too much (just like with antibiotics).  Healthy adults should not need Tamiflu, but there are high-risk situations where your doctor may think it’s a good idea for you to take the drug (even if you are the healthiest person on Earth!).

 

You would take Tamiflu twice a day for 5 days to treat the flu and once a day for 10 days to keep you from getting it.  

 

Tamiflu is safe for children to take (even the really young ones), and it comes in a liquid so it will be easier for your child to swallow.  Your child will take the drug for as many days as the adult would.

 

So, about my cousin….even though she is very healthy, since she is at a camp with a lot of people there is a higher chance she would get the swine flu from the infected counselors. 

 

If she does get the swine flu, she should treat it like any other flu infection – get lots of rest, drink plenty of fluids, and take an OTC pain reliever for fever and aches. 

 

She should go see a doctor if she is having trouble breathing or you cannot catch her breath, or if she has a fever for more than 3 days.  Tamiflu is also an option she could use to treat her flu, but it would not be necessary in her case.  

 

Tamiflu is not the only drug around for use against the flu – a drug called Relenza is an option too.   Soak up the Tamiflu information first, and I’ll be back soon to help you learn about Relenza!

 

P.S.  Please see our All About the Flu series to learn more about the flu!

Don’t forget to comment on this post or to e-mail me at cate@getpharmacyadvice.com – I’ll be waiting to hear from you!