What you thought was just a little cold could be the flu, especially if you have fever, chills, or aches, or if you feel extremely tired. Whenever you think you have the flu, talk to your doctor about treatment right away. Treating the flu virus at its source may help limit its ability to spread in your body. Use the Doctor Discussion Guide to get the treatment you need.
Fever 100°F+
Muscle aches
Chills
Extreme fatigue
If you are experiencing fever, muscle aches, chills, or extreme fatigue, you may have the flu.
Check your symptoms now ›
The flu is serious. Here’s a guide
to help you talk to your doctor.
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If you are experiencing flu symptoms,
call your doctor.
Or find an urgent care center ›
This is not a substitute for a professional medical diagnosis. However, these symptom descriptions may help you understand your symptoms and get the treatment you need.
See how different flu treatment options compare to help treat, prevent, and ease flu symptoms.18
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| Helps prevent the flu |  | | ||
| Treats the flu virus | | |||
| Eases flu symptoms | | |
A flu vaccination is your best chance at not getting the flu. But it's possible to get vaccinated and still get the flu because your vaccination may not protect against all strains of the flu.2
Tamiflu may be an effective way to help tackle the flu. Antiviral medicines like Tamiflu fight the flu by attacking the actual flu virus. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends antiviral flu medicines like Tamiflu to help treat the flu.32,33
If you start feeling any flu symptoms such as sudden fever, aches, chills, and extreme fatigue, call your doctor right away and ask about Tamiflu. Use our Doctor Discussion Guide.
Tamiflu is a prescription medication and is not sold over the counter.
Tamiflu is a prescription medicine used to treat the flu (influenza) in people 2 weeks of age and older who have had flu symptoms for no more than 2 days. Tamiflu can also reduce the chance of getting the flu in people 1 year and older. Tamiflu is not a substitute for an annual flu vaccination.
Before taking Tamiflu, tell your doctor if you are pregnant or nursing. Let your doctor know if you have kidney disease, heart disease, respiratory disease, or other serious health conditions. Also tell your doctor about any medications you are taking or if you've received a nasal-spray flu vaccine in the past 2 weeks. If you have an allergic reaction or a severe rash with Tamiflu, stop taking it, and contact your doctor right away. This may be very serious. The most common side effects of Tamiflu are mild to moderate nausea and vomiting.
People with the flu, particularly children and adolescents, may be at increased risk for seizures, confusion, or abnormal behavior when they first get sick. These events may occur when the flu is not treated or right after starting Tamiflu. These events are uncommon but may lead to accidental injury. Contact a healthcare professional right away if you notice any unusual behavior.
The most common side effects are mild to moderate nausea and vomiting.
Please see the Tamiflu full Prescribing Information for complete safety information.
