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Several drugs just approved by the FDA in 2000, can help ease symptoms and can actually shorten the duration of the influenza virus by a couple of days. 70 million people in the U.S. will get the flu this year and this is an important announcement.
There are many reasons to stop the flu short besides just getting relief from miserable symptoms and being able to go back to work earlier. In adults that have flu for an
extended length of time 75% will develop bacterial pneumonia. Cutting short the length of time you have the flu will lower your risk of pneumonia.
The new flu medications are Relenza, Tamiflu, and Flumadine. The new flu drugs interfere with the release of the influenza virus on the surface of the lungs, interrupting the spread of the infection in the respiratory tract. Relenza is the first drug approved in the U.S. for treating both influenza A and B in adults. Tamiflu gained FDA approval in October and is also a neuraminidase inhibitor. Flumadine was approved in the early 90's
for use against the flu and it prevents the flu virus from penetrating the cells of the lungs.
These medications usually aren't covered by insurance because they just alleviate flu symptoms and don't provide a cure. Each drug is around $ 40.00 or $ 50.00. That is why
it is important that you know if you truly have the flu and not food poisoning or a cold before you buy the drug.
There are symptoms you should look for to know if you truly have influenza. The flu will hit you suddenly and hard with sudden fever, chills, aches and pains and maybe a
sore throat and cough; while a cold often comes on slowly and may start with a runny nose. A doctor can usually diagnose the flu by looking at the symptoms, but if you want to make sure you actually have the flu, your doctor can perform a new test for diagnosing influenza A and B. The ZstatFlu test can be done with a throat swab culture.
Test results are available within 30 minutes.
All anti-flu drugs are effective only if taken soon after symptoms appear. Otherwise, you're throwing away money. It's important to start taking the medication within two days of the onset of the flu and sometimes this is hard to catch.
The Flu Shot (yearly flu vaccine) is still your best defense against the flu. Each year a new flu vaccine if formulated specifically for the flu that scientists believe will be plaguing us. Doctors recommend getting the flu shot in the fall so you will be protected for the entire flu season. Skipping the flu shot is unwise if you are thinking of using the new flu medications as a preventive measure because these drugs are still expensive, not
covered by insurance and you have to get them at the beginning of your bout with the flu.
The new flu medications are a break through in medical science and indicate that better options to suffering from the flu are on the horizon.
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