Antiviral Drugs

Information for Health Care Professionals

• Updated! Influenza Antiviral Medications: A Summary for Clinicians
• Recommendations for Obstetric Health Care Providers Related to Use of Antiviral Medications in the Treatment and Prevention of Influenza
• Antiviral Drug Supply
• Antiviral References
• Antiviral Agents for the Treatment and Chemoprophylaxis of Influenza – Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), 2011
  available as PDF[1 MB, 28 pages]

Additional Information for Health Care Professionals

• New! CDC Expert Commentary on Medscape: Influenza Vaccination Recommendations for the 2018-2019 Season
• Health Advisory: Seasonal Influenza A (H3N2) Activity and Antiviral Treatment of Patients with Influenza, December 2017
• CDC Expert Commentary on Medscape: 2016-2017 Influenza Antiviral Recommendations
• CDC Expert Commentary on Medscape: High-Risk Patient with Possible Flu? Start Those Antiviral (Video, password required) April 20, 2015
• Medical Office Telephone Evaluation of Patients with Possible Influenza January 27, 2015
• CDC Health Update Regarding Treatment of Patients with Influenza with Antiviral Medications Distributed via the CDC Health Alert Network, January 9, 2015, 11:00 ET, CDCHAN-00375
• CDC Health Advisory Regarding the Potential for Circulation of Drifted Influenza A (H3N2) Viruses. Distributed via the CDC Health Alert Network, December 3, 2014, 16:00 ET (4:00PM ET), CDCHAN-00374
• Have You Heard: CDC Recommendations for Influenza Antiviral Medications Remain Unchanged  April 10, 2014
• Clinician Misperceptions Related to Influenza Testing and Treatment  January 23, 2014
• Flu Spotlight: CDC Research Confirms Benefits of Flu Antiviral Drugs, Even Beyond 2 Days After Symptoms Start  November 22, 2013
• Have You Heard: CDC Influenza Antiviral Statement  February 7, 2012
• FDA Drug Safety Communication: Important safety changes to the influenza drug Tamiflu (oseltamivir phosphate) for oral suspension July 11, 2011

Additional Information Regarding Influenza Virus Prevention and Control Among Specific Populations

Each year, ACIP provides general information regarding the prevention and control of influenza with vaccines.

• Grohskopf LA, Sokolow LZ, Broder KR, Walter EB, Fry AM, Jernigan DB. Prevention and Control of Seasonal Influenza with Vaccines: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices—United States, 2018–19 Influenza Season. MMWR Recomm Rep 2018;67(No. RR-3):1–20. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.rr6703a1.

Below additional guidance on antiviral treatment of influenza and other reports related to prevention and control of influenza among specific populations (e.g., immunocompromised persons, health care personnel, hospital patients, pregnant women, children, and travelers) are available:

• American Academy of Pediatrics. Committee on Infectious Diseases. Recommendations for Prevention and Control of Influenza in Children, 2018 – 2019.2018;142(4). e20182367. doi: 10.1542/peds.2018-2367. 2018- 2367. PubMed PMID: 30177511.
• American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Committee on Obstetric Practice. ACOG Committee. Opinion No. 732: Influenza Vaccination During Pregnancy. Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2018 Apr;131(4):e109-e114. doi: 10.1097/AOG.0000000000002588. PubMed PMID 29578985
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Immunization of health-care personnel: recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP).Morbidity and mortality weekly report: Recommendations and reports. 2011;60(Rr-7):1-45. Epub 2011/11/24. PubMed PMID: 22108587.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Prevention Strategies for Seasonal Influenza in Healthcare Settings (https://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/infectioncontrol/healthcaresettings.htm).
• European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Expert opinion on neuraminidase inhibitors for the prevention and treatment of influenza – review of recent systematic reviews and meta-analyses.2017; Stockholm: ECDC; 2017.
• Food and Drug Administration. Approved Drug Products with Therapeutic Equivalence Evaluations
• Food and Drug Administration. Influenza (Flu) Antiviral Drugs and Related Information.
• National Institutes of Health. http://Clinicaltrials.gov Registry of federally and privately supported clinical trials conducted in the United States and around the world.
• Tablan OC, Anderson LJ, Besser R, Bridges C, Hajjeh R. Guidelines for preventing health-care–associated pneumonia, 2003: recommendations of CDC and the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee. Morbidity and mortality weekly report: Recommendations and reports. 2004;53(Rr-3):1-36. Epub 2004/03/30. PubMed PMID: 15048056.
• World Health Organization. WHO Guidelines Approved by the Guidelines Review Committee. WHO Guidelines for Pharmacological Management of Pandemic Influenza A(H1N1) 2009 and Other Influenza Viruses.Geneva: World Health Organization; 2010.

Review the references cited in the Guidance on the Use of Influenza Antiviral Agents

Information for the Public

• Treatment – Influenza Antiviral Drugs