Over-the-counter Medication
Antiviral drugs are prescription-only medication in the United States. Readily available over-the-counter medications do not directly affect the disease, but they do provide relief from influenza symptoms, as illustrated in the table below.
Symptom(s) | OTC Medicine |
---|---|
fever, aches, pains, sinus pressure, sore throat | analgesics |
nasal congestion, sinus pressure | decongestants |
sinus pressure, runny nose, watery eyes, cough | antihistamines |
cough | cough suppressant |
sore throat | local anesthetics |
Children and teenagers with flu symptoms (particularly fever) should avoid taking aspirin as taking aspirin in the presence of influenza infection (especially Influenzavirus B) can lead to Reye's syndrome, a rare but potentially fatal disease of the brain.
Read more about this topic: Influenza Treatment