A. Antivirals are expensive, have a limited shelf life, and may prove ineffective. The tremendous expense of stockpiling antivirals is far beyond the scope of local government at this time. That said, Canada , and many European nations have adequate supplies (enough to treat 25-30% of the population), and it is hoped that the U.S. government will decide to follow this path in the coming year.

This is a real possibility, so we have to be prepared to implement all of the other measures that will help control the spread of influenza, such as practicing good hygiene and limiting interactions between people.

Antiviral medicines are used along with the flu vaccine to treat the symptoms of the flu. When used correctly, these medicines can reduce the amount of time you feel sick by 1 or 2 days and make you less contagious to others. Antiviral medications do not cure the flu and are not used for people who have a common cold.

These are prescription drugs that can reduce influenza symptoms and shorten the length of time people are sick. The drugs may also make a person less likely to spread influenza to others. To be effective, they must be taken within two days of becoming sick. Some antiviral medications may also be used to prevent influenza if they are taken over a long period of time.

The use of antivirals when they are not needed increases the chance that flu viruses will become resistant. Antivirals should not be taken without instructions from a doctor or other healthcare provider.

No. These drugs have to be stored properly and they have a relatively limited shelf life. Some people who are concerned might want to check with their provider to see if they should avoid a particular medication. But please remember -- when we’re talking about influenza, drugs are not necessarily the answer. We still need to remember to practice good hygiene measures such as frequent hand-washing, proper cough hygiene, and staying home from work/school when ill.

At this time, Tamiflu® and Relenza® are the most likely antiviral medications to be used in a pandemic caused by the H5N1 virus. The effectiveness of these antivirals would vary depending on the level of resistance an influenza virus may have to one or more of these medications. No. Although the government is stockpiling antiviral medications, there are not enough now for everyone.

In preparation for a potential bioterror attack, stockpiling of medications used for the prevention and treatment of associated bioterror illnesses is not an appropriate strategy. Stockpiling not only depletes the existing supplies of necessary drugs, but also significantly increases inventory cost and reduces access to drugs for patients who actually need them. A better approach is for clinicians to work together with local institutions to coordinate sufficient amounts of needed medications.

Three of the antiviral drugs (amantadine, rimantadine, and oseltamivir) have been approved for prevention of the flu. These drugs are not, however, a substitute for influenza vaccination. All of these drugs are prescription drugs, and a doctor should be consulted before the drugs are used for preventing the flu. Prevention and Control of Influenza, Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)," Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), April 25, 2003/ Vol.

While we do have the majority of medications available in Canada, sometimes there are products that are not yet available in Canada.

How long antiviral drugs should be taken depends on how they are being used. To prevent flu, antiviral drugs should be taken for as long as influenza viruses are circulating in a given setting. For example, antiviral medications would be taken for the duration of outbreak activity in a nursing home. This could last for several weeks, depending on the extent of the outbreak.

Antiviral medications are used along with vaccines to prevent and treat influenza. They most often are used to control flu outbreaks in institutions, such as nursing homes or hospitals, where people at high risk for complications from flu are in close contact with each other.

Whenever an individual is taking another drug, whether a prescription drug or over-the-counter medication, drug interactions are possible. Check with your pharmacist or doctor before taking any medication in combination with another. You need to discuss the use of antiviral medications or any other medication with your doctor. Whether or not you can take antiviral medication may depend on your remaining kidney function and other medications that you are taking.

this time, Tamiflu and Relenza are the most likely antiviral medications to be used in a pandemic caused by the H5N1 virus. The effectiveness of these antivirals would vary depending on how resistant the virus is to one or more of the medications. Although the government is stockpiling antiviral medications, at this time there are not enough for everyone.

Stockpiling is the purchase of more over-the-counter drugs than can be used during the current plan year. I.R.S guidelines do not allow stockpiling of over-the-counter drugs in order for a participant to use up their annual election under the plan.

Docosanol is not classified as an antiviral. Typically, nucleoside analogues, such as penciclovir (Denavir®) and acyclovir (Zovirax®), are considered the only antivirals that are used for herpes labialis. They are classified as antivirals because their activity occurs in virus-infected cells. Docosanol's mode of action is different.

In a flu pandemic, it is unlikely that there will be enough antiviral medications for everyone to prevent people from getting the flu or to treat everyone who does get the flu. Federal, state, and local agencies are developing plans for obtaining, distributing, and using antiviral medications in case of pandemic flu.

On the basis of available antiviral testing results, CDC is providing an interim recommendation that neither amantadine nor rimantadine be used for the treatment or prophylaxis of influenza A in the United States for the remainder of the 2005-06 influenza season. During this period, oseltamivir or zanamivir should be selected if an antiviral medication is used for the treatment and prophylaxis of influenza.

You should consult with your doctor to determine if you should get antiviral medications this season. However, where the supplies of both influenza vaccine and influenza antiviral medications may not be sufficient to meet demand, CDC recommends the use of influenza antiviral medications only for prevention of illness among high risk persons in the community.

We believe it is premature for the state to commit money to stockpiling Tamiflu or any other antiviral medication. Flu viruses vary, and specific antiviral medications may be effective against some but not all flu viruses. Since we don't know which virus will be responsible for the next pandemic, we need to consider which of the currently available antiviral medications would be prudent to have available.

Side effects differ widely for each antiviral medication. If an antiviral medication has been prescribed for you, ask your doctor to explain how to use the medication and any possible side effects. Clinicians prescribing influenza antiviral medications should alert patients to adverse events that can develop during the course of treatment or prevention.

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The use of antivirals when they are not needed increases the chance that flu viruses will become resistant. Antivirals should not be taken without instructions from a doctor or other healthcare provider. Provides information on campus disaster training and simulations, preparing for emergencies, and emergency resources. Provides information on infectious disease courses available at UC Berkeley and the Center's Pandemic Influenza Project.

CDC has issued interim recommendations for the use of antiviral medications during the 2005-06 season. These recommendations were developed, in conjunction with previously issued interim recommendations on the use of influenza vaccine, to reduce the impact of influenza on persons at high risk of serious complications from influenza.