Can I continue to take oseltamivir to prevent influenza during the flu season? It is not recommended to do so. A better way to prevent influenza is to →

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"You can continue to take oseltamivir during the flu season to prevent the flu"

Recently, it is the peak season for influenza. Oseltamivir has always been a "magic drug" to fight influenza, so many people believe that they can continue to take oseltamivir to prevent influenza.

Rumor Analysis

This statement is not rigorous enough.

Because the preventive effect of oseltamivir is not sustainable. In other words, taking oseltamivir may prevent influenza, but once you stop taking it, the preventive effect will no longer last. The entire flu season lasts for several months. During this period, each of us may become a close contact with the flu. It is obviously unrealistic and unreliable to ask everyone to take oseltamivir every day to prevent influenza. Therefore, as to the question of whether oseltamivir can prevent influenza, the answer is that it can prevent it, but it is not recommended to take medicine for a long time to prevent influenza. It is more important to get the flu vaccine in time and develop healthy living habits.

Recently, influenza has been prevalent. According to the latest data from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the influenza virus positivity rate continues to rise, of which more than 99% are influenza A.
Oseltamivir has always been a "magic drug" against influenza. It is an important weapon to fight influenza infection and reduce the risk of severe illness after influenza infection. Therefore, many people believe that they can continue to take oseltamivir to prevent influenza. Is this practice recommended? Let's talk about it today~
Oseltamivir

Mechanisms of fighting influenza virus

Before discussing whether it can be used for prevention, let us first understand the mechanism of action of oseltamivir against influenza virus.

Influenza viruses, whether type A or type B, have a glycoprotein called neuraminidase on their surface, which plays a vital role in the replication and reproduction of the virus. Oseltamivir can inhibit the neuraminidase activity of influenza viruses, thereby inhibiting the replication and release of the virus, reducing influenza virus infection and spread, and is one of the most common drugs for the treatment of influenza infection.
Oseltamivir

Can it be used to prevent influenza infection?

From the perspective of its mechanism of action, it is feasible to use oseltamivir to prevent influenza infection. The instructions for oseltamivir also state that adolescents and adults over 13 years old can take oseltamivir for the prevention of influenza A and B. Within 48 hours after close contact with an influenza infected person, oseltamivir can be taken for prevention, with the dosage halved compared to that for influenza treatment, and used continuously for at least 10 days.

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However, although the instructions clearly state that oseltamivir can prevent influenza, it is still recommended that everyone be cautious.

Clinical trial data show that oseltamivir can indeed reduce the risk of symptomatic influenza in close contacts of influenza viruses, but it should be pointed out that the preventive effect of oseltamivir is not sustainable. In other words, taking oseltamivir may prevent influenza, but once you stop taking it, the preventive effect will no longer last. The entire flu season lasts for several months, during which time each of us may become a close contact of influenza, but if everyone takes oseltamivir every day to prevent influenza, it is obviously unrealistic and unreliable.

Therefore, as to the question of whether oseltamivir can prevent influenza, our answer is that it can, but it is not recommended to take medication in this way for a long time to prevent influenza.

Oseltamivir is more suitable for emergency use in some special circumstances to prevent influenza. For example, if there are elderly people over 65 years old in the family, if the family members are infected with influenza virus and are still in the onset period, in order to prevent the elderly from being infected with influenza, you can consider taking oseltamivir at a preventive dose to prevent infection and reduce the chance of infection.

But in general, it is not necessary to take oseltamivir for a long time to prevent influenza. After all, long-term use of the drug may bring more medication safety risks. Nausea, vomiting, changes in mental status, etc. are all possible adverse reactions of oseltamivir and should be paid special attention to.

In general, oseltamivir is mainly used to treat influenza. Regarding the issue of oseltamivir for preventing influenza, first of all, it is not recommended for children under 13 years old, and secondly, it is not recommended for healthy people to take it for long-term prevention. Only emergency use in special circumstances is a more reasonable way.

In addition to taking oseltamivir, there are many other good ways to prevent influenza, such as getting a flu shot before the flu season every year to activate the body's immune system's resistance to influenza, which is a more effective way to protect against and reduce the occurrence of severe influenza during the flu season. In addition, during the peak influenza season, you can also wear masks in densely populated places, maintain healthy hygiene habits of frequent hand washing and frequent ventilation , which is also an important protective measure that can effectively reduce virus transmission and infection.

At the same time, we should continue to maintain healthy living habits , eat healthily, actively exercise, get enough rest, and maintain a positive and optimistic attitude. These will help protect our body's immunity and enhance resistance to influenza viruses and other respiratory infection pathogens.

Looking in the mirror of rumors

When you encounter uncertain information about drug use, the most direct and effective way is to consult a professional doctor or pharmacist, who will give scientific and reasonable advice based on the patient's specific situation. In daily life, you should establish a correct concept of drug use and learn basic medical knowledge and common sense about drugs.

Planning and production

Author: Li Jin, deputy director and pharmacist, deputy leader of the Youth Studies Group of the Medical Committee of the China Science Writers Association

Reviewer: Liu Ziqi, Chief Pharmacist, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University

Planning丨Ding Zong

Editor: Yang Yaping

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