You may use these medicines if you are in close contact with family members or others who have the flu. You may use them if you are in close contact with people who have been vaccinated but whom you want to give added protection from getting the flu. You should discuss the flu vaccine and the medicines with your doctor before the flu season begins. You should not give aspirin to children and adolescents who have the flu. You should not take antibiotics to treat the flu because they do not work on viruses.
Antibiotics only work against some infections caused by bacteria.
FDA recently approved Tamiflu for use in children 1 year of age and older who have had symptoms for no more than two days. Both treat influenza type A and type B infections. A virus infections. It has no effect on influenza type B virus infections. Amantadine, however, is more likely to cause side effects such as lightheadedness and inability to sleep more often than is rimantadine.