5 best antiviral drugs

The most popular and effective antiviral drugs.

May 17, 2021
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Content

• How to distinguish ARVI from influenza?
• Umifenovir
• Viferon
• Kagocel
• The best flu medications
• Zanamivir
• Oseltamivir

Antiviral drugs are a large group of drugs, which includes drugs for the treatment of HIV and hepatitis, and those prescribed for influenza and other acute respiratory viral infections, and even homeopathic drugs, which are so widely advertised, but in fact are “dummies”.

Our rating of antiviral drugs is drugs aimed at treating acute respiratory viral infections, including influenza. Some drugs on our list are sold exclusively by prescription and should be taken exclusively under the supervision of a physician.

Medicines to prevent colds

The development of colds is prevented by special medications that help strengthen the immune system. You can increase the body's overall resistance with multivitamins. They improve metabolism, the reproduction of protective cells and accelerate tissue repair. Vitamins are taken in courses of several weeks with a break of 1 month.

Antiviral drugs effectively prevent the disease. They belong to the group of immunomodulators and immunostimulants and are available in the form of tablets, solutions and suppositories. To prevent colds in children, it is convenient to take syrup.

You can buy the following medications in pharmacies:

• Arbidol;
• Kagocel;
• Anaferon;
• Aflubin;
• Rimantadine;
• Kipferon;
• Oscillococcinum;
• Genferon;
• Viferon;
• Lycopid;
• Amiksin;
• Lavomax;

Tablets for the prevention of ARVI increase the production of your own interferon and antibodies, which are necessary to suppress the viral infection. Medicines should be used before contact with a person with a cold occurs and symptoms of the disease appear. This will prepare the body and avoid illness.

How to distinguish ARVI from influenza?

ARVI (or, as people say, a cold) is, one might say, a common occurrence. Doctors say that children with normal immunity can get ARVI up to 6 times a year, adults - up to 4. But influenza is a more serious disease, which is fraught with various complications (usually respiratory failure and viral pneumonia). Therefore, if you suspect you have the flu, consult a doctor immediately.

IMPORTANT!

The antiviral drugs presented below are effective if taken within the first 48 hours of the onset of ARVI or flu symptoms.

How to distinguish influenza from ARVI
Photos from open sources

What to do at the first sign of a cold

If it was not possible to prevent infection, you need to adopt methods that will help avoid severe disease and stop the replication of viruses. Antiviral drugs can be taken early in the course of the disease. They are effective from the moment the virus enters the body until the first signs of infection appear. Doctors recommend taking immunostimulants for 3-4 days after the onset of illness.

To protect others from infection, you need to stay at home and maintain bed rest. Rest will help the body use energy sparingly and fight infection. Ventilation of the room where the patient is located and frequent wet cleaning prevent the spread of viruses.

For early treatment, drinking plenty of warm fluids is recommended. It increases blood circulation in the kidneys, helps remove viruses and toxic metabolic products through sweat and urine. To reduce signs of inflammation, drink tea from medicinal plants: chamomile, thyme, linden, calendula. They are also used for gargling. If a sore throat begins or pain bothers you, use lozenges and other means to reduce symptoms.

At a later stage or when the condition worsens, cough is added, expectorants and tablets with antibacterial action are needed. They must be prescribed by a doctor.

Umifenovir

Trade names: “Arbidol”, “Arpeflu”, “Orvitol”, “Afludol”. Arbidol has a controversial reputation, because once it appeared, the evidence base for this antiviral drug was insignificant. But recently, the number of studies on the effectiveness of Arbidol has increased. There is a lot of evidence that umifenovir fights influenza viruses, enteroviruses, and seasonal colds. Studies have shown that umifenovir reduces the duration of the disease by 1.7-2.65 days, while reducing the risk of complications from ARVI and influenza by 4 times.

"Arbidol" is indicated for children from 2 years of age (the drug is sold in powder for preparing a suspension). There is also Arbidol in capsules and tablets.

Contraindications include: pregnancy and intolerance to the drug. Known side effects: allergic reactions.

Umifenovir

OZON, Russia

Umifenovir is used for the prevention and treatment of influenza A and B and other acute respiratory viral infections in adults and children from 3 years of age (for the dosage form of a capsule of 50 mg), from 6 years of age (for the dosage form of a capsule of 100 mg).
As a complex therapy for acute intestinal infections of rotavirus etiology in children over 3 years of age (for the dosage form of a capsule 50 mg), from 6 years of age (for the dosage form of a capsule 100 mg). Complex therapy of recurrent herpes infection. Prevention of postoperative infectious complications. from 98

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Symptoms of ARVI in children

The child or the child’s parents may notice signs such as:

• Acute onset of the disease, accompanied by a rise in body temperature. Typically, body temperature fluctuates between 37.5-38.0 degrees. Usually the temperature reaction disappears after 2-3 days. A prolonged increase in temperature may indicate influenza or an adenovirus infection. Parents should remember that an increase in temperature over time and increased intoxication in the baby (weakness, lethargy, malaise) may indicate the addition of a bacterial infection. A repeated increase in the baby’s temperature after it has stopped may indicate the development of acute otitis media against the background of a prolonged runny nose.
• Nasal congestion, nasal discharge.
• Burning, pain, tingling, dry throat. Often, an accumulation of mucus, flowing down the back of the throat, can lead to a cough.
• Noise and pain in the ears, hearing loss, clicking. These symptoms develop when inflammation spreads to the auditory tubes.
• Infants become restless and have difficulty feeding and falling asleep.
• Hoarseness may occur.
• Redness of the eyes.

Signs of ARVI persist for 5-7 days, in some cases reaching 10-14 days.

Viferon

This antiviral drug in suppositories contains human interferon, which has an antiviral effect and simultaneously stimulates the immune system. This drug can be purchased with a prescription. "Viferon" can be used in children from birth for flu or colds (one suppository every 12 hours). Children from birth to 7 years old are prescribed Viferon at a dosage of 150,000 IU. Over 7 years old and adults - suppositories of 500,000 IU.

"Viferon" can be used by pregnant and breastfeeding women. The only known side effect is allergic reactions. Contraindication – intolerance to the drug. The main disadvantage of Viferon is that it does not have a direct antiviral effect (since the influenza virus affects the respiratory tract, and suppositories act in the rectum). Therefore, the effectiveness of this antiviral drug depends on the individual response of the immune system.

Viferon

Feron, Russia

Viferon is a complex preparation containing recombinant human interferon alpha-2, ascorbic acid and alpha-tocopherol acetate.
The drug has antiviral, immunomodulatory and antiproliferative effects. from 136

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Read also How to treat dry cough: top 5 drugs The best drugs for dry cough in adults.

Daily routine and hardening

Colds and flu can be prevented with the help of hardening procedures, which begin in the summer. In childhood and untrained people, you can wipe with a damp towel, pour cool water over your feet, gradually lowering the temperature. Hardening helps improve thermoregulation; the body will not react to hypothermia with a cold.

But hardening procedures do not give an effect immediately and only when carried out regularly. If you stop dousing, after a few weeks the body will again become susceptible to disease.

To prevent colds, it is important to follow a daily routine and avoid stress. During sleep, the hormone melatonin is produced, which is involved in regulating the function and coordinated functioning of the nervous, endocrine and immune systems. An important condition is to go to bed before 23:00, do not watch TV before bed and do not use gadgets. Melatonin is produced only in complete darkness.

Kagocel

This antiviral drug does not have a direct effect against viruses, but it helps the body produce interferons, which stimulate the immune response. "Kagocel" is prescribed for influenza and other acute respiratory viral infections from the age of three. The drug is presented in tablets, and the course of treatment lasts 4 days (the treatment regimen is prescribed by the doctor, taking into account the patient’s age).

Possible side effects include allergic reactions. "Kagocel" is contraindicated for children under 3 years of age, pregnant and lactating women.

Kagocel

Nearmedic Pharma LLC, Russia

The greatest effectiveness in treatment with Kagocel® is achieved when it is prescribed no later than the 4th day from the onset of acute infection.
For preventive purposes, the drug can be used at any time, including immediately after contact with the infectious agent. from 199

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Zanamivir

Trade name: Relenza. Zanamivir, by blocking a special enzyme on the virus shell, inhibits the reproduction of the virus. Studies have shown that zanamivir reduces the duration of the disease by 1.5 days, and its use reduces the likelihood of influenza complications by 3 times. Zanamivir also reduces the release of the virus by a sick person, which means that the likelihood of infecting others with the flu is reduced.

This anti-flu medicine comes in the form of inhalation bottles. The set contains 5 rotadiscs and a special device for inhalation - a disc haller. Zanamivir for influenza is indicated for children from 5 years of age, both for children and adults - the doses and method of administration are the same: 2 inhalations twice a day for 5 days.

Side effects include intolerance to the drug. Use with caution in people prone to bronchospasms. Do not try to use the drug with a nebulizer, as this may damage the device. The drug is sold by prescription, is almost not absorbed into the blood, and is easy to use.

Relenza

GlaxoSmithKline, France

- treatment of infection caused by influenza virus types A and B in children over 5 years of age and adults;
- prevention of infection caused by influenza virus types A and B in children over 5 years of age and adults. from 1002

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Home prevention methods

Preventing colds should begin in the summer. The condition of the body depends on nutrition and the intake of vitamins. A healthy lifestyle and balanced diet will help support your immune system. To do this, you need to include vegetables and fruits, fermented milk products, and a sufficient amount of lean meat and fish in your menu.

Traditional methods of preventing ARVI recommend medicinal plants and products with an immunostimulating effect. These include:

• ginger;
• garlic;
• onion;
• lemon;
• mint;
• echinacea;
• birch mushroom.

An effective method of preventing colds is staying hydrated. An adult needs 1.5-2 liters of clean water per day. This volume supports the functioning of the kidneys, helps them quickly filter the blood and remove toxic substances, viruses and metabolic products.

Oseltamivir

The trade names of this flu medicine are Tamiflu, Nomides, Oseltamivir phosphate. Oseltamivir acts on the influenza virus in the same way as the previous drug. When using it, the illness lasts 2 days less. Oseltamivir can be prescribed to adults and children over 1 year of age. For children from one to 8 years old, it is better to use a suspension.

Possible side effects include dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Contraindications to the use of oseltamivir: individual intolerance and renal failure. This flu medicine is available by prescription.

Oseltamivir