 |
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
 |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Medicines for fluPublished by Bupa's health information team, July 2008. This factsheet is for people who would like information about medicines for preventing or treating influenza (flu). Flu is an illness caused by infection of the breathing system by the influenza viruses. Most people will get better from flu without the need for medicines. Vulnerable groups, including the elderly, should be vaccinated against flu each year.
Why would I take flu medicines?For healthy people, flu is usually an unpleasant illness with symptoms that include:
Over the course of a few days, your body's own immune system fights off the virus. You may find it helps to take painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen (eg Nurofen) to relieve the symptoms. Always read the patient information leaflet that comes with your medicine and if you have any questions, ask your pharmacist. If you are over 65 or have a weakened immune system, for example if you have HIV/AIDS, or a chronic disease such as diabetes, a bout of flu can become much more serious. There is a risk that you may develop inflammation of the lungs (pneumonia) or other complications of flu. There are two main types of flu virus, influenza A and influenza B. Influenza A tends to cause a more serious illness than influenza B. Once you have had flu, you will have some natural protection against the virus that caused it. However, each year the viruses change and new strains appear. So even if you have had flu before or have been vaccinated, you may not have complete protection from the current virus. You will only be prescribed flu medicines if you are at risk of developing complications. In the UK, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has issued advice about the specific groups of people who are eligible to receive these medicines. These include people who:
If you are in one of these groups, it's also important that you have the flu vaccine as this provides the best protection. However, if you are one of these people but haven't had the vaccine or it hasn't been effective and you have been exposed to flu or develop it, you will be prescribed one of the following medicines. You are unlikely to be prescribed an antiviral medicine if you are otherwise healthy. What are the main types of flu medicine?There are two medicines currently recommended for preventing and treating flu. These are zanamivir (Relenza) and oseltamivir (Tamiflu). They work to treat both influenza A and B. How do flu medicines work?Zanamivir and oseltamivir are a group of antiviral medicines called neuraminidase inhibitors. When a virus infects your body, it multiplies inside your cells. It needs various chemicals to be able to attach and get inside your cells. Once a new virus has been made, it needs further proteins to get out of your cells and spread the infection. One of these proteins is neuraminidase. Scientists think that the neuraminidase inhibitor medicines block the action of neuraminidase and stop the virus from breaking out of cells. How to take flu medicinesZanamivir comes as a 'puffer' - an inhaler similar to the type used for asthma. Each puff contains a small amount of the medicine. To treat flu, you need to take it twice a day for five days. To prevent flu after you have been exposed to someone with the illness you will need to take it once a day for 10 days. Zanamivir isn't suitable for children under five. If there is an epidemic of flu, you may be prescribed zanamivir for up to 28 days to prevent the illness spreading. It's possible that you will have side-effects as a result of taking zanamivir. Rarely it can cause breathing problems or a rash. Zanamivir isn't usually recommended if you have an underlying medical condition that affects your breathing system, such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Oseltamivir comes as capsules or a syrup. You will need to take one capsule twice a day for five days to treat flu. Doctors prescribe lower doses for children over one year old, depending on how much they weigh. To prevent flu, you will need to take a capsule once a day for 10 days after exposure to the virus or for up to six weeks during an epidemic. For oseltamivir and zanamivir to be effective, you need to start taking them within 48 hours of your symptoms first appearing. Special careIf you have advanced kidney disease, you may not be able to take oseltamivir. Oseltamivir and zanamivir may be harmful to your baby if you are or think you may be pregnant or are breastfeeding. Always ask your GP for advice and read the patient information leaflet that comes with your medicine. Side-effects of flu medicinesYou may have some side-effects from both medicines including:
There have been some very rare reports that oseltamivir can harm the brain and nervous system in children. Resistance to flu medicinesBecause the influenza virus is continually changing, strains can develop that aren't controlled by antiviral medicines. This is called resistance. For instance, in early 2008, there were reports from several countries in Europe, including the UK, of strains of influenza A that were resistant to oseltamivir. These resistant strains can still be treated with zanamivir. Buying flu medicines onlineIt's possible to buy zanamivir and oseltamivir over the internet, often from overseas. Be careful if you are considering buying medicines this way, particularly prescription-only medicines. If you buy medicines over the internet, there is a risk that they are from unregulated or illegal websites. If they are, there will be no guarantee of safety, quality or effectiveness of the medicines provided. It's illegal to sell medicines on the internet in the UK. To protect patient safety, the law states they must be prescribed by a doctor and dispensed by a pharmacist. If you do wish to buy medicines online, speak to your GP first. Flu vaccinationThe main way of managing flu is through vaccination. If you are in one of the groups of people who are considered at risk of complications from flu, you should be vaccinated against it. This includes adults over 65, as well as children (over six months) and adults who have:
In 2006, the UK authorities also offered flu vaccination to people who work with poultry. This is a protective measure against the possibility of someone getting avian flu (bird flu) and human flu at the same time. This would be to prevent the possibility of a new virus developing that could spread easily in humans. It's also possible that you will be offered the flu vaccine if you live in a residential or care home. This is because infection can spread rapidly in these environments. You may also be offered the vaccine if your work brings you into direct contact with vulnerable people, for example if you are a health professional or carer. Flu vaccinations are ordinarily done in the autumn so that you are protected for the main flu season which is usually from December to March. If you think you may be in one of the groups of people who are most at risk of complications from flu, contact your GP about getting the flu vaccine. Having the vaccine is the most effective way of protecting yourself from flu. Antiviral medicines shouldn't be used instead of the vaccine to prevent flu. Further information
Related topicsSources
This information was published by Bupa's health information team and is based on reputable sources of medical evidence. It has been peer reviewed by Dr WH Simpson, MBBS, General Practitioner, and by Bupa doctors. The content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional. Publication date: July 2008.
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
![Print-friendly version [opens in a new window]](/images/icons/icn_printer.gif){kind=icon}
|
|
|
||||
 |
 |
|||||
| ||||||
 |
 |
|
 |
|
|