What Is It Like to Take Tamiflu to Treat the Flu?
Key takeaways:
Tamiflu, also known as oseltamivir, is a prescription antiviral medication commonly used to treat and prevent the flu (influenza). It can be prescribed for flu treatment to adults and children as young as 14 days old.
Tamiflu can shorten the amount of time it takes you to start feeling better by a few days.
Here’s how three people describe what it’s like to take Tamiflu.
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Tamiflu (oseltamivir) is a well-known antiviral medication that can be used to treat or prevent the flu (influenza) in kids and adults.
It is most effective when taken within the first 2 days of experiencing flu symptoms and can help reduce the severity and duration of the illness.
Experts say antiviral medications can help to shorten the recovery time of the flu by about 1 to 2 days. Here’s how three people describe their experiences taking it when they had the flu.
Grateful for something to shorten the flu
Jennifer Martin, a 42-year-old mother of three in Annapolis, Maryland, has had the flu many times.
She says her children are prone to getting it as well. When the whole family tested positive for the flu about 4 years ago, Jennifer insisted they all have Tamiflu.
While most people tolerate Tamiflu well, possible side effects include nausea and vomiting, and more serious side effects can include allergic reactions and skin reactions. However, severe side effects are rare.
“The possible negative side effects of Tamiflu don’t compare to serious symptoms I’ve had from the flu,” Jennifer says. “People can die from the flu, and I don’t want to take a chance with my health or my family’s health.”
When they came down with the flu, Jennifer says her two youngest daughters had runny noses and a slight fever. But those symptoms went away within a day of taking Tamiflu. Jennifer had a fever and a slight cough but she felt better within a few days of taking Tamiflu.
The medication comes as oral capsules or an oral liquid. The one downside to taking liquid Tamiflu for Jennifer’s children is a bitter aftertaste, she says.
“The liquid version tastes so bad it makes my youngest daughter gag.” But Jennifer says she’s glad it can shorten the duration of the virus.
“We’ve had many seasons of being miserable with the flu,” she says. “So I’m grateful this makes getting better easier.”
When is the best time to take Tamiflu? It works best if taken within 48 hours of first feeling flu symptoms.
Can you take Tylenol with Tamiflu? Yes, they can be taken together.
Why don’t antibiotics work for the flu? Antibiotics fight bacterial infections, not viruses.
Works quickly to reduce fatigue
LoriAnn Sarno, a 53-year-old human resources executive coordinator in Pleasantville, New York, has taken Tamiflu several times. She says it reduces her body aches and fatigue within a few days of taking it. While Tamiflu doesn’t directly ease symptoms, it helps your body kill the flu virus quicker. And as your immune system clears the infection, you start to feel fewer symptoms.
The last time she took it was 2 years ago when she woke up feeling completely fatigued and had a sore throat, stuffy nose, and a cough.
“I knew I had some flu symptoms and wanted to go to urgent care right away before getting worse,” she says.
The urgent care clinical team said she had the flu and prescribed her Tamiflu. She took the medication for the recommended 5 days and didn’t have any negative side effects. She noticed her body aches went away, but she still took Tylenol (acetaminophen) for headaches.
Over the next few days, LoriAnn began to feel less tired and was better within 5 days. She says she’ll take it as soon as possible if she gets the flu again. “It’s what works for me.”
Back to work in 5 days
Caterina Romagnoli, a 62-year-old occupational therapist in Pleasantville, New York, is often exposed to viruses working in a nursing home.
Two years ago, she remembers feeling symptoms of fatigue, a stuffy nose, and a sore throat. She went to the doctor, who confirmed she had the flu and prescribed her Tamiflu.
Caterina noticed her symptoms improve over the next 2 days. She was able to go back to work in 5 days.
“Normally when I have the flu, it gets progressively worse before it gets better,” she says. “But with Tamiflu, I felt relieved I was better in a short amount of time.”
What does the pharmacist say?
Christina Aungst, PharmD
Senior Pharmacy Editor
Tamiflu (oseltamivir) is an antiviral flu medication. It’s a first-choice flu treatment for many people, including pregnant women and infants. Tamiflu can also prevent you from getting sick with the flu if you were recently exposed to someone who was sick with it.
Tamiflu comes as an oral capsule or liquid. Typically, you take it twice a day for 5 days for flu treatment and once a day for at least 10 days for flu prevention. The specific dose you’ll take varies, depending on your age and kidney function. Children’s Tamiflu dosages are based on their body weight.
Most people recover from the flu without treatment within 3 to 7 days. Tamiflu can shorten your recovery time by about 1 to 2 days.
Not everyone needs to take Tamiflu. But it’s highly recommended for certain groups of people, including older adults and those with chronic health conditions. These groups have a higher risk for severe flu complications or flu-related death. And Tamiflu may help lower these risks.
Tamiflu is generally well tolerated, but mild nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea are common side effects. Taking your doses with food can help lessen these symptoms. Serious Tamiflu side effects are rare but include severe skin reactions and mental health effects in children. Allergic reactions are also possible. But for many people, the benefits of taking Tamiflu outweigh the potential risks.
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