Tamiflu is not a 'miracle flu cure' that 'just take it and you'll get well quickly'

I am a doctor and I recently contracted influenza A, experiencing extreme fatigue for four days. When my relatives saw I had the flu, they asked, "Doctor, you have plenty of other medications, why didn't you take Tamiflu? Wouldn't you have recovered faster?"

Tamiflu - the "miracle drug" for flu in the eyes of many people - Illustration photo.

I contracted influenza A right after finishing some communication activities about influenza A at work. Influenza A caused me to have a high fever for several days, a constant cough, and of course, body aches all over, like I was being whipped. I was incredibly tired for four days, but now I'm recovering.

But my niece wondered, "The doctor has plenty of other medicines, so why doesn't he prescribe Tamiflu? Wouldn't he have recovered faster if he had taken it?"

I didn't take it, because I knew perfectly well that this time I wouldn't need Tamiflu – the "miracle drug" for the flu in the eyes of many people.

Flu, when to use Tamiflu?

1. Influenza, also known as seasonal flu, is an acute infectious disease characterized by fever, headache, muscle aches, fatigue, runny nose, sore throat, and cough. The main causative agents are influenza A(H3N2), influenza A(H1N1), influenza B, and influenza C viruses.

The disease is highly contagious and spreads rapidly through the respiratory tract via droplets of saliva or nasal and throat secretions from sneezing, coughing, or spitting.

2. Not all flu patients need Tamiflu:

* 80-90% of influenza cases are mild and can resolve on their own. Only cases with prolonged, persistent high fever or lung damage require hospitalization. In addition to Tamiflu, doctors will use a combination of other medications for treatment.

In cases of influenza where only symptoms such as cough, runny nose, and mild fever are present, and chest X-rays show no lung damage, outpatient treatment and improving overall health are sufficient for the illness to resolve on its own.

Tamiflu is an antiviral drug, but unlike most antibiotics, it does not kill the influenza virus. Tamiflu inhibits the neurominidase enzyme of the influenza virus.

After the influenza virus enters the body, it travels to cells and replicates. Then, this enzyme helps the influenza virus detach, leave the host cell, and seek out new cells. Tamiflu inhibits this viral replication, reducing the spread of the influenza virus in the body.

However, Tamiflu is only effective if influenza is diagnosed early within the first 48 hours, with symptoms of prolonged, continuous high fever, lung damage, and as prescribed by a doctor. After 48 hours, patients are primarily treated for fever reduction and care to prevent complications.

Those who need treatment with Tamiflu

Influenza patients present with clear symptoms such as high, prolonged, and persistent fever, and lung damage.

Those at higher risk of severe flu complications include children under 2 years old and the elderly over 65, as well as patients with chronic conditions such as asthma, heart disease, and weakened immune systems.

In addition, Tamiflu can cause some side effects, the most common being vomiting. Other side effects include diarrhea, headache, and nephrotoxicity in people with kidney disease.

Tamiflu is not a "miracle cure" for the flu. Worryingly, the misuse of Tamiflu can lead to many health consequences, such as the increasing phenomenon of resistance to this drug.

Recommendations for preventing influenza

1. Instead of waiting until they get sick to take medicine, people can proactively prevent the flu by getting the seasonal flu vaccine annually to boost their immunity against the flu.

2. Ensure personal hygiene, cover your mouth when sneezing; wash your hands frequently with soap and clean water; clean your nose and throat daily with saline solution.

3. In particular, everyone needs to keep their body warm and eat enough nutrients to improve their health.

4. Limit contact with flu patients or suspected cases when unnecessary; use a medical mask when necessary.

5. People should not buy and use antiviral flu medications like Tamiflu on their own, but should follow the instructions and prescriptions of a doctor.

6. If you experience symptoms such as cough, fever, runny nose, headache, or fatigue, you should immediately go to a medical facility for examination and timely treatment.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/thuoc-tamiflu-khong-phai-than-duoc-tri-cum-de-cu-uong-la-nhanh-khoi-20250210152012517.htm