Seasonal flu - Notes on taking medicine

Flu drugs are very popular in the market today, but it should be noted that these drugs only help reduce symptoms in patients without the effect of eliminating the cause (virus) or shortening the duration of disease. In addition, flu medications can cause serious side effects if not used properly.

Flu is an acute viral disease that is highly contagious through the respiratory tract, usually at the time of the season. Symptoms of the flu after 1-3 days of infection include fever, headache, congestion, runny nose, sore throat, muscle aches . Uncomplicated common flu will go away on its own 7-10 days thanks to the body's immune system. Although the disease is easy to get rid of, the flu can make many people uncomfortable, interrupted their work and reduced their quality of life.

Flu is an acute viral disease that is highly contagious through the respiratory tract.

The flu drugs on the market are now very diverse with many different brand names but have the following four main groups:

Antipyretic and analgesic drugs: The antipyretic and analgesic component of flu medicines is commonly used as paracetamol. At normal doses, paracetamol is well tolerated and causes few side effects. However, paracetamol overdose can be toxic to the liver. Nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain usually occur within 2-3 hours after taking the toxic dose of the drug. Liver-dependent necrosis is the most serious acute toxicity due to paracetamol overdose and can be fatal. Therefore, patients need to comply with the dosage and time of medication. It is necessary to limit alcohol consumption while taking alcohol paracetamol to increase the hepatotoxicity of the drug. In particular, patients should carefully check the instructions for use of drugs in use to avoid overdose due to the simultaneous use of many paracetamol-containing drugs.

Cough medicines: Codeine and dextromethorphan are two commonly used cough suppressants. It should be noted that coughing is a physiological reflex that helps clean the airway, expel sputum, secretions or foreign objects into the respiratory tract. The cough suppressants should only be used in case of a dry cough, excessive cough that causes fatigue, vomiting, and insomnia. One of the serious side effects of these two cough medications is respiratory failure, especially in young children. Therefore, do not use drugs for young children and be cautious when using drugs for patients with a lot of phlegm cough, people with asthma or respiratory depression . The use of long-term high doses may cause drug dependence, so it should be followed. correct dose and time to take medicine. In addition, contraindications to codeine for lactating women when the mother is suspected or determined to belong to a group of people with rapid codeine metabolism into morphine because it can be fatal to breastfed infants due to morphine toxicity.

Anti-congestive drugs, stuffy nose: Congestive vasoconstrictor, nasal congestion: pseudoephedrine, phenylephrine, Napazolin, xylometazolin, oxymetazolin with oral form and small form, nasal spray. Drugs that cause vasoconstriction lead to reduced blood flow and reduced nasal congestion. However, when overdose or on sensitive patients, especially children, the drug can cause systemic vasoconstriction leading to cyanosis, sweating, dizziness, hypertension, palpitations, dizziness, beating. Empty breasts . Therefore, it is especially careful when using drugs for young children, people with hypertension, coronary artery disease, people with asthma, kidney failure, diabetes or hyperthyroidism . Should stop medication immediately if Side effects occur.

In addition, small vasoconstrictor drugs, long-term nasal sprays can cause rebound, which is the first time all runny nose and stuffy nose is done but then cause nasal congestion again due to reduced medication. elasticity of blood vessels in the nasal mucosa and damage to the mucous system - the hair in the nose. Therefore, patients need to comply with the recommendation about the dose and duration of the drug (a course of treatment does not last more than 5 days).

It should be noted, do not use antibiotics when having flu by the virus.

Antiallergic drugs : The drugs of this group clopheniramine, loratadine, diphenhydramine, triprolidine are effective in reducing symptoms of rhinitis, nasal congestion and cough due to allergies. Some cases of non-use of this group of drugs include young children, closed-angle glaucoma, hypertrophy of the prostate, pyloric stenosis . The drug may cause drowsiness, dizziness, blurred vision and impaired mental The spirit of movement should be avoided for people who do tasks that require alertness such as driving or operating machines . Patients should limit alcohol consumption while taking drugs because alcohol increases the sedative effect of the drug .

It should be noted, do not use antibiotics when having flu by the virus. Antibiotics can only be used in some cases of people with flu-like infections. When prescribed antibiotics, patients should be careful not to give up the dose and take all the prescribed medication even if they feel better after a few days.

When you get the flu, the patient can apply some non-drug measures to support the recovery of diseases such as rest, adequate water supply, ensure nutrition (strengthen some foods such as garlic and onions , ginger, perilla, lemon, honey .), limit exposure to avoid spreading the disease. In particular, the flu can actively prevent by implementing good personal hygiene, avoiding crowded places when there are epidemics, eating enough food and vaccination.