If you have the flu or another respiratory illness, you may wonder if medications could help you feel better. And in many cases, the right medicine can help people recover faster and avoid serious complications. But treatment isn’t one-size-fits-all. Depending on your condition, you might be prescribed antibiotic or antiviral medications.
Even though their names sound similar, the two types of medicine help with quite different things. That matters when it comes to getting the right treatment — and getting back on your feet. And it matters when it comes to stopping antibiotic resistance.
Antibiotics vs. antivirals
Antibiotics and antivirals both help your body fight infections. Both can ease the symptoms of an illness and help you feel better faster. They may also stop some infections from getting much worse.
The key difference is what they treat.
Antibiotics treat bacterial infections. That includes strep throat, pertussis (whooping cough), and some types of pneumonia. Antibiotics won’t help if you have a virus, like those that cause the flu and most sore throats.
How they work: Antibiotics kill bacteria or keep them from growing.
Antivirals treat viral infections. That includes influenza, COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Unlike antibiotics, antivirals usually work only against specific types of viruses. For example, a flu antiviral will not help with COVID-19.
How they work: Antiviral medicines interfere with the ability of a virus to replicate and function. Antivirals do this in many different ways. For example, some keep a virus from entering a host cell or copying itself. This reduces the amount of virus in your body and helps your immune system fight the infection.
When to use antiviral medication
One of the most common conditions antivirals can treat is the flu. Taking flu antivirals may shorten your illness by about a day and lessen your risk of complications.
Antiviral medication can be a treatment option for those who are very sick with the flu or at high risk of severe flu complications. This includes:
- Older adults
- Younger children
- Pregnant women
- Those with underlying health conditions, such as diabetes or lung or heart disease
But it’s important to act fast. Flu antivirals work best when started within two days of getting flu symptoms. So, you should see your doctor promptly if you think you have the flu.
Antivirals can also treat COVID-19, which can have similar symptoms to the flu. If you are at risk of getting very sick from COVID-19 because of your age or an underlying health issue, starting on antivirals right away can help protect you. When discussing antiviral treatment with your doctor, it’s recommended to have an up-to-date list of all your medications. Some drugs don’t interact well with antivirals and may need to be adjusted to ensure safe and effective treatment.
If you suspect you might have the flu or COVID-19 and you’re at high risk for severe illness, at-home testing may help you determine whether you need treatment sooner. While it’s best to get tested at a healthcare facility, an at-home test could facilitate quicker access to care. If you test positive or are feeling sick, contact your doctor right away to discuss whether an antiviral drug is right for you. You can also follow up with your local provider at Temple Health or a trusted healthcare provider to ensure you receive the appropriate care.
When to see a doctor for flu symptoms
While people at high risk should seek medical care right away, most people with flu do recover on their own. But the flu can make people very sick and it sometimes develops into other serious conditions, like pneumonia.
I tell patients to see a doctor right away if they have severe or worsening symptoms, like these:
- Difficulty breathing
- Chest pain when breathing or coughing
- Cough with mucus
- High fever
- Worsening of an existing health condition, such as asthma or diabetes
Sometimes respiratory illness can get worse quickly. Call 911 or go to an emergency room if you have:
- Trouble breathing while you’re resting
- Sudden or worsening chest pain
- Confusion or trouble thinking
- A change in oxygen need or status
Why is taking the right medicine so important?
Using antibiotics or antivirals when they’re not needed won’t help you get over your illness. Instead, it unnecessarily exposes you to potential side effects, which all medicines can have.
And when it comes to antibiotics, overuse and misuse add to the problem of antibiotic resistance. That’s when bacteria become resistant to the drugs that are designed to treat them. Antibiotic resistance could make future, life-threatening infections harder to treat.
The only way to know if an antiviral or an antibiotic is best for you is to see your doctor.
If your doctor does prescribe one of these drugs, it’s crucial to take it just as prescribed. For example, I urge my patients to take the full course of their antibiotic treatment — even if they start feeling better. Why? Stopping antibiotics early also adds to antibiotic resistance. This is because any bacteria that survive may be resistant to the antibiotic.
Get the care you need
The Temple Lung Center is home to experts at diagnosing and treating all types of lung conditions, from pneumonia to COPD. To make an appointment with a Temple expert, call 800-TEMPLE-MED (800-836-7536) or schedule an appointment online.
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