Are you immune to influenza A if you take Tamiflu?

Answer 1

Tamiflu is an antiviral medicine and is mostly used to help you get better once you have already caught the flu. It shortens the duration of the symptoms and makes them less severe when taken within 48 hours of your first symptoms. So, the criteria for when you can consider yourself no longer contagious is the same with or without Tamiflu. But the length of time can vary from individual to individual. According to the CDC, you can consider yourself no longer contagious after 24 straight hours from your last fever (when not taking fever reducers). That will likely be sooner for someone taking tamiflu than it is for someone who is not.

Answer 2

Not necessarily, just being exposed does not guarantee that you will "catch" the flu. If, however, you have been infected through the exposure, then you will be able to spread the flu to others.

Answer 3

No, Tamiflu is an anti-viral medication that will cause viruses to be unable to reproduce. This allows your body to get rid of any that are already attached to your cells before you feel too sick (if you take it within two days of exposure or first symptoms). Tamiflu can be used to make the symptoms less severe and to shorten the time you feel sick from the flu. It is also approved for use as a preventive measure if others in your house have the flu. That does not make an immunity, it just makes it so that, for this exposure alone, you hopefully will not feel sick, but if you are exposed to the same virus later, and you don't use Tamiflu again then, you can catch the flu just like you never had the Tamiflu.

Only getting vaccinated with a flu vaccine will give you immunity, (other than having the disease which gives you lifetime immunity too).

Answer 4

Yes, if you have caught the virus from the exposure, then you could be contagious in around 4 days and you can pass it to others even before you know you have it. See the related question below for more details about the incubation period.

Answer 5

Since it is a prescription medication, that decision should be made between you and your health care professional and depends on your specific circumstances and health.

It is usually best to start it within 40 - 48 hours after the first symptoms for best effect in reducing the symptom severity and duration of the influenza. It does not prevent the flu like a vaccination does, it treats it after you already have been exposed. It does have some effect of prevention in family members exposed at home to an ill relative living in the same household, but that use may not be indicated in all situations.

All medications carry some risk of untoward effects, so your doctor can help you decide if the risk of the flu symptoms are greater than the risk of the medication side effects (in this case, that is fairly low risk for most people).

Given the choice of the flu symptoms or the side effects of the medicine, I would probably choose the medicine, but only if it is prescribed in time to have good effects and my physician recommends it.

Answer 6

Probably, yes. Tamiflu can be used as a preventive medicine if it is started before exposure, and it is sometimes used this way as soon as one member of a family living together has flu symptoms to help prevent the spread throughout the household. Your health care professional will make the determination if this will be helpful in your situation. It is a prescription medication and should be used only as directed.

Tamiflu is most helpful to treat the symptoms of the flu, rather than as a prophylactic measure. If it is started within 40 - 48 hours of the first symptoms, it can help lessen the intensity of symptoms and shorten their duration. It can be helpful in some cases even after 48 hours, but again, your health professional will make that decision.

Answer 7

Only if you have a confirmed case of influenza and only if you catch it within 72 hours of your first symptoms. Past 72 hours and it doesn't work.