What is the name for the anti-viral medicine for swine flu?

Answer 1

The CDC recommends the use of oseltamivir (Tamiflu) or zanamivir (Relenza), both anti-viral medications for the treatment and/or prevention of infection by swine influenza viruses. These Antiviral drugs work by keeping flu viruses from reproducing in your body.

The best way to avoid the symptoms of the flu is to get vaccinated so you can't catch it in the first place. But if you do get the flu, then ask your doctor about these two of the anti-viral medications. They have proven safe and effective to speed the recovery and lessen the severity of symptoms. They have been underutilized in general by ordering physicians and could make you feel much better much faster.,

Answer 2

Antiviral Medications to lessen the severity of symptoms and stop virus reproduction to speed recovery:

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) information says that the Swine Flu can be treated if caught very early (even before symptoms in known exposures) with two of the anti-viral medications oseltamivir (Tamiflu/Fluvir) and zanamivir (Relenza). Tamiflu is for treatment in adults and children aged 1 year and older, and should be taken within 48 hours of the first symptom for maximum effect, however, your health care professional can determine if it is appropriate to start this treatment even after that date, so contact them for advice if you have been exposed or have symptoms.

There are currently 4 types of antiviral drugs that are licensed for use in the US for the treatment of influenza: Amantadine, Rimantadine, Oseltamivir and Zanamivir. While most swine influenza viruses have been susceptible to these drugs, the most recent swine-flu viruses isolated from humans, are resistant to Amantadine and Rimantadine.

None of these drugs prevent us from getting the virus in our bodies, but if given early (even before symptoms), in known or predicted exposures, they can prevent the virus from doing its rapid reproduction processes. This, in turn, can prevent the virus from getting much of a foothold before our body's immune system can get rid of it. If given after symptoms have begun, these medicines can help lessen the severity and shorten the duration of the symptoms.

As explained above, if prescribed within the first 40 hours of symptoms, Tamiflu can also be used to prevent the H1N1/09 viral infection in some cases. It is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for this prophylactic (preventative) use. For prevention, this may be prescribed to other members of a household when one person is known to have the pandemic influenza.

Drugs for treatment are not a substitute for proper preventive hygiene techniques (good hand washing) and other recommended ways to avoid getting the swine flu in the first place, and should be used in combination with these other measures.