Some Flu Meds Losing Their Bite
New research shows some of the medicines we use to treat the flu are losing their effectiveness.
There are several drugs that target the flu virus and, explains The Early Show medical correspondent Dr. Emily Senay, they can help make it less severe, and shorten its duration by a day or so, if they're administered quickly.
The older generation of drugs consists of Amantadine and Rimantadine, which target only type A strains of flu, not type B. They've been around for roughly 30 years, Senay says.
New research from the federal shows that resistance to Amantadine and Rimantadine has increased by twelve percent worldwide over the past decade.
No one is sure why, Senay notes, though speculation centers on greatly increased use in recent years in Asia.
The researchers warn the drugs probably won't be effective for treatment or as a preventive measure in an outbreak of flu.
The researchers didn't explain why there was an increase in resistance, but this is important information for health officials and governments worldwide making plans to stockpile drugs for any future large flu outbreaks.
Luckily, Senay adds, there are some weapons in the arsenal that are still effective in shortening the duration and severity of both types of flu, though they're more expensive than their older cousins.
The drugs Tamiflu and Relenza are newer, and from a different class, neuraminidase inhibitors.Tamiflu is a pill that's effective against types A and B strains. It reduces severity and duration of illness, Senay says. Relenza is an inhaled antiviral medication used to fight types A and B influenza. It comes in a device that releases medicine as you inhale.
These drugs can also reduce complications, such as sinusitis and bronchitis. But to be effective, they must be taken soon after symptoms develop. It's important to call your doctor within 24 to 48 hours of the first signs of symptoms.
Remember, Senay points out, there's no completely effective way to treat the flu once you have it. The best way to protect against it is to get a shot to try to prevent it in the first place.
It's too early to predict exactly how much flu vaccine will be available this year, Senay says, but so far, no major problems are apparent. Federal officials are protectively urging flu shots for high risk groups first, particularly hurricane evacuees in crowded shelters, and the more vulnerable elderly.
Other high-risk groups are people in long-term care facilities, people with asthma, diabetes and other conditions, children between six months and 23 months-old, pregnant women, and healthcare providers who come in direct contact with patients.
Officials say people who aren't in high-risk groups shouldn't seek flu shots until after Oct. 24.
She notes that antibiotics don't work against flu because they're only effective against diseases caused by bacteria, and colds and the flu are caused by viruses.