Flu Medicine: The Best OTC and Prescription Options Available

If you have ever had the flu, you know how down and out you can feel. You also know how worthwhile it is to have flu medicine that can help. Besides feeling like a zombie, the most common symptoms of the flu include fever, chills, and muscle aches. Cough and headache are also normal.

It's important to know what you can do to lower the number of days spent sick and in bed, including taking flu medicine. Here, we'll review prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medications that can make your experience with the flu a little easier.

Prescription flu medicine

If you can see your healthcare professional within 48 hours (2 days) of your flu symptoms appearing, they may prescribe you a flu medicine. These are also known as antiviral flu medications. They fight the influenza virus in the body, which may lessen symptoms and shorten the time that you're sick.

The FDA has approved four antiviral drugs for the flu. Each flu medicine is a little bit different, but they work in mostly the same way. They also have similar common side effects.

• Tamiflu (oseltamivir) is a pill or liquid given by mouth that's approved to treat the flu in people ages 14 days (2 weeks) and older. This is a common flu medicine that's available as both a brand-name and generic product. Side effects of Tamiflu include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

• Xofluza (baloxavir marboxil) is a single-dose pill or liquid given by mouth. It's a brand-name product approved for people ages 5 years and older. Side effects of Xofluza include coughing, nausea, and diarrhea.

• Relenza (zanamivir) is an inhaled powder that's approved to treat the flu in people ages 7 years and older. This name-brand flu medicine tends to be less common because of how it's given (inhaled). Side effects of Relenza include swollen sinuses, diarrhea, and nausea.

• Rapivab (peramivir) is administered intravenously (IV) and is approved for people ages 6 months and older. This flu medicine is also less common since it's given as an IV infusion - usually in the hospital. Side effects of Rapivab include diarrhea, constipation, and insomnia.

What's more, three of these medications are approved for flu prevention in addition to flu treatment. If you've been exposed to someone who has the flu, your healthcare professional may recommend taking Tamiflu, Xofluza, or Relenza. Even so, these medications aren't a substitute for a flu vaccine.

Who needs a prescription for flu medicine?

Antiviral flu medicine is recommended for certain groups of people. These include:

• People who are in the hospital with the flu

• People who aren't in the hospital but are very sick with the flu

• People who are at high risk for flu complications, such as older adults, pregnant women, and those with chronic health conditions

You likely won't need to take prescription flu medicine if you have relatively mild symptoms and are at a low risk for flu-related complications.

Over-the-counter flu medicine

There is nothing you can purchase OTC to treat the flu itself. There are, however, some OTC cold and flu medicines you can get to help manage flu symptoms.

Body aches and fever

Flu medicine for fever and body aches includes OTC pain relievers like Tylenol (acetaminophen) and Advil (ibuprofen). Your healthcare professional can tell you if one or both of these medications are safe for you to take.

However, don't give aspirin to children and teens under 19 years old. It's linked to Reye's syndrome, a rare but potentially life-threatening illness that causes swelling in the brain and liver.

Sore throat

Flu medicine for sore throats includes throat sprays like Chloraseptic (phenol) spray, menthol throat drops such as Hall's, and soothing demulcent throat lozenges such as Luden's (pectin). OTC pain relievers, such as Tylenol, Advil, or Aleve (naproxen), may work as well.

Medications aren't the only answer. Some people find sore throat relief by gargling salt water or drinking clear broth. A humidifier can help if your throat is feeling dry.

Cough

Flu medicine for coughs includes three different types of products.

• A productive cough (a cough with mucus) can be managed with an OTC expectorant that contains guaifenesin, like Mucinex.

• A dry cough (one without mucus) can be managed with a cough suppressant that contains dextromethorphan, like Delsym. If that doesn't work, there are effective prescription cough suppressants too.

• If you want a medicine that works for both productive and dry coughs, you can try combination guaifenesin / dextromethorphan products, like Mucinex DM or Robitussin DM. Many other combination products also exist.

Runny nose

Oral antihistamines are a common choice for treating a runny nose. Benadryl (diphenhydramine) and products containing doxylamine are top examples, but they can make you feel sleepy. Claritin (loratadine) and Zyrtec (cetirizine) are newer, less drowsy alternatives, but they may not be as effective for this type of runny nose.

Nasal sprays are another choice. Steroid nasal sprays like Flonase Allergy Relief (fluticasone propionate) and Nasacort Allergy 24HR (triamcinolone) can effectively dry up a runny nose, but they can take a while to start working. Antihistamine nasal sprays such as Astepro Allergy (azelastine) are another OTC option that start working within 30 minutes. Saline nasal spray is a medication-free option.

A nasal irrigator, such as a Neti Pot, can help relieve nasal congestion too. But remember to use sterile water, not tap water.

Flu medicine for children

Children can take some types of flu medicine, but other types may be unsafe.

Children can take prescription flu medicines based on their age, as listed above for each of the four FDA-approved antiviral medications.

The OTC flu medicines that children can take also depend on the child's age and the specific medication. Always follow the directions on the OTC medication label and talk to a healthcare professional if you're unsure.

Is the flu caused by bacteria?

No. The flu is caused by viruses, not bacteria.

Thinking that the flu is caused by bacteria is a common myth. Some people even call any symptoms of nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea the "stomach flu." These symptoms are sometimes related to the flu, but they're not the main symptoms.

The flu is a respiratory illness, meaning that it mainly affects your airways. But it can cause certain complications throughout the body, such as dehydration or ear infections.

Some respiratory illnesses, including pneumonia, strep throat, and whooping cough are caused by bacteria. Since the flu is not caused by bacteria, it's not treated with antibiotics like other infections. The primary flu medicine that might be prescribed by your healthcare professional is an antiviral - a type of medication that fights viruses.

Will an antibiotic treat the flu?

No. Antibiotics do not work on viral infections like the flu. This is another common myth about the flu and possible medicines used to treat it.

You might hear people say that they took an antibiotic and it cured them of the flu. Since the flu usually lasts about 5 to 7 days, it might seem that an antibiotic may have helped cure the flu. However, it's likely that the flu just resolved on its own.

Research studies of Tamiflu show that the antiviral can lessen symptoms of the flu and shorten the amount of time you're sick. If you think you may need a flu medicine to help with the flu, you should talk about it with your healthcare professional.

How does the flu virus spread?

The flu virus spreads by respiratory droplets from sneezing, coughing, talking, or touching. Experts say that the flu can be spread from person to person up to 6 feet away.

If you have the flu, you can spread it during the time when you're contagious. This starts 1 day before symptoms start and lasts for 5 to 7 days after starting to feel sick. This means that you can spread the flu virus even before you feel sick and also during the illness.

The best way to prevent the flu and lower the chance of having serious symptoms is to get the flu vaccine every year. Good hand hygiene practices, wearing a mask, and avoiding crowds also helps prevent it from spreading. If you're sick with flu-like symptoms, stay home until you've been fever free for at least 24 hours (without the help of fever reducers) and you're starting to feel better.

How to save on flu medicines

There are ways to save on flu medications. GoodRx can help you navigate your options, which may include GoodRx coupons, copay savings cards, and patient assistance programs. You can find flu medicine prices for as low as $13 with a free GoodRx discount.

Frequently asked questions