What antibiotic is used to treat the flu?

Answer 1

You would not be given any antibiotic for use to treat a cold or flu. They are both viral infections, not bacterial infections. Antibiotics are only for bacterial infections. If you have a secondary bacterial infection with a viral infection, you might be prescribed an antibiotic to treat that secondary infection, but not for the virus itself.

Answer 2

You can not treat the flu with antibiotics. They are only effective against bacteria and the flu is only caused by viruses. There are antiviral medications that your physician may prescribe for the flu or there are over the counter symptomatic treatments, such as cough medicine, anti-inflammatory medicines and fever reducers (e.g., NSAIDS like acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and aspirin, although aspirin should not be given to children with the flu or other viral infections). Bacteria and viruses are "killed" by different methods and, therefore, different medicines.