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Table of Contents
Home Treatments
Medication
When to Consider Antivirals
Which Is Best?
Vaccines
Next in Flu Guide
Influenza, commonly called the flu, is a viral illness that causes respiratory symptoms as well as muscle aches, fever, headache, and fatigue. Rest and at-home self-care often relieveflu symptomswith time.However, people with a high risk of flu complications or extremely sick from the flu may need to take antiviral medications.
Influenza Home Treatment to Get Over Flu
If you have the flu, the most important thing to do is stay home and get plenty of rest and sleep. This will help you get better quickly and prevent you from spreading the virus to others.
Other ways to take care of yourself and improve your symptoms when you have the flu include:
Some people believe that natural remedies, such asechinacea, vitamin C,probiotics, elderberry,ginseng, andzinc, may help to prevent or treat viral illnesses like colds and flu. However, the evidence of their effectiveness is mixed and controversial.
How Long to Stay Home With the Flu
When you have the flu, it’s typically best to stay home and avoid direct contact with other people until you haven’t had a fever and your symptoms have improved for at least 24 hours.
Over-the-Counter Medications for Symptoms
Several over-the-counter (OTC) medications may help to alleviate influenza symptoms. Examples include:
Make sure to let your healthcare provider know if you’re planning on taking any of these OTC medications and are worried about side effects. It’s especially important to talk to your healthcare provider before taking any medication if you’re pregnant or nursing.
In rare cases, the flu can lead to serious or even life-threatening complications. Examples include pneumonia, seizures,myocarditis(inflammation of the heart), andencephalitis(inflammation of the brain).
If any of these circumstances apply to you or you have severe flu symptoms, such as an extremely high fever, your healthcare provider may recommend taking antiviral drugs. Antiviral drugs don’t “cure” the flu but can lessen its duration and severity.
Typically, your healthcare provider will recommend that you start taking antiviral drugs within two days of your first flu symptoms. Xofluza works in one dose, while Tamiflu and Relenza are taken for five days. Rapivab is administered intravenously.
Side Effects of Antiviral MedicationsAntiviral drugs typically don’t cause serious side effects for most people. Some of the most common side effects from FDA-approved antiviral medications for the flu include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and bronchospasms (tightening of the airways).
Side Effects of Antiviral Medications
Antiviral drugs typically don’t cause serious side effects for most people. Some of the most common side effects from FDA-approved antiviral medications for the flu include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and bronchospasms (tightening of the airways).
Does Any Flu Treatment Work Best?
For most people, the flu goes away on its own within two weeks. Mostfeverslast up to three or four days. Rest, fluids, and OTC medications (if needed)may speed up the process slightlyor make you more comfortable while you recover.
In terms of prescription treatments for the flu, antiviral drugs are currently the only FDA-approved option. All four have been found to be safe and effective for most people.
One 2021 systematic review and network meta-analysis found that Relenza was most effective in shortening the length of the illness. Meanwhile, Xofluza had the highest chance of reducing the risk of influenza complications.
Is the Flu Vaccine Treatment?
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), almost everyone over 6 months old should get the seasonal flu vaccine.
Theflu shotworks to prevent flu and related complications, especially for people with a higher risk of getting very sick from influenza viruses. However, it doesn’t treat the flu, and you shouldn’t get the vaccine when you are seriously ill.
When Is Flu Season?In the United States, flu season typically lasts from October to April. For most people, it’s best to get vaccinated fairly early in flu season (i.e., in September or October).
When Is Flu Season?
In the United States, flu season typically lasts from October to April. For most people, it’s best to get vaccinated fairly early in flu season (i.e., in September or October).
Summary
Most people can recover from the flu within two weeks with rest and self-care options, such as drinking plenty of fluids, consuming honey, avoiding drinking and smoking, breathing in warm steam, and using cough drops and a humidifier. Some people also benefit from taking over-the-counter (OTC) medications, such as pain relievers and cough and cold medicines.
Your healthcare provider might prescribe antiviral drugs if you have a high risk of serious flu complications due to age, pregnancy, illness, or a chronic condition. These medications can shorten the length of your sickness and make it less likely that you’ll need to be hospitalized for complications like pneumonia.
9 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia.Flu.U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.What you should know about influenza (flu) antiviral drugs.U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Treatment of flu.U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Manage common cold.National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.5 tips: natural products for the flu and colds: what does the science say?U.S. Food & Drug Administration.Influenza (flu) antiviral drugs and related information.National Institutes of Health.Cold, flu, or allergy? Know the difference for best treatment.Liu JW, Lin SH, Wang LC, Chiu HY, Lee JA.Comparison of antiviral agents for seasonal influenza outcomes in healthy adults and children: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.JAMA Netw Open. 2021;4(8):e2119151. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.19151U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Key facts about seasonal flu vaccine.
9 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia.Flu.U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.What you should know about influenza (flu) antiviral drugs.U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Treatment of flu.U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Manage common cold.National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.5 tips: natural products for the flu and colds: what does the science say?U.S. Food & Drug Administration.Influenza (flu) antiviral drugs and related information.National Institutes of Health.Cold, flu, or allergy? Know the difference for best treatment.Liu JW, Lin SH, Wang LC, Chiu HY, Lee JA.Comparison of antiviral agents for seasonal influenza outcomes in healthy adults and children: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.JAMA Netw Open. 2021;4(8):e2119151. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.19151U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Key facts about seasonal flu vaccine.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia.Flu.U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.What you should know about influenza (flu) antiviral drugs.U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Treatment of flu.U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Manage common cold.National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.5 tips: natural products for the flu and colds: what does the science say?U.S. Food & Drug Administration.Influenza (flu) antiviral drugs and related information.National Institutes of Health.Cold, flu, or allergy? Know the difference for best treatment.Liu JW, Lin SH, Wang LC, Chiu HY, Lee JA.Comparison of antiviral agents for seasonal influenza outcomes in healthy adults and children: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.JAMA Netw Open. 2021;4(8):e2119151. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.19151U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Key facts about seasonal flu vaccine.
MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia.Flu.
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.What you should know about influenza (flu) antiviral drugs.
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Treatment of flu.
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Manage common cold.
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.5 tips: natural products for the flu and colds: what does the science say?
U.S. Food & Drug Administration.Influenza (flu) antiviral drugs and related information.
National Institutes of Health.Cold, flu, or allergy? Know the difference for best treatment.
Liu JW, Lin SH, Wang LC, Chiu HY, Lee JA.Comparison of antiviral agents for seasonal influenza outcomes in healthy adults and children: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.JAMA Netw Open. 2021;4(8):e2119151. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.19151
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Key facts about seasonal flu vaccine.
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