7 best antiviral drugs

Antiviral - a large group of drugs. It includes prescription drugs with pronounced side effects, which are used to treat hepatitis or HIV infection, and homeopathic "drugs", which are advertised as effective treatments for influenza, but in reality are nothing more than a placebo. Therefore, in order not to introduce anyone into the temptation to treat serious illnesses with the help of advice from the Internet, we make a reservation right away: the rating will deal with antiviral drugs. intended for the treatment of SARS (that is, colds) and flu.

Reservation number two - in our review there will be no homeopathic remedies. Rating the best drugs - not a place for pseudo-scientific discussions, so just recall that the Russian Academy of Sciences has recognized homeopathy pseudoscience, and the World Health Organization warns against the use of homeopathy for infectious diseases, which include colds.

Some of the effective drugs are sold in pharmacies by prescription and must be taken under its control. Speaking of such tools, we mention that they are prescription.

Please do not view our rating as a comprehensive cold and flu treatment guide. The doctor should give recommendations on the treatment of the disease, we only inform our readers about the possibilities available.

How to distinguish a cold from the flu

Ordinary seasonal acute respiratory viral infections are, as they say, everyday: doctors believe that a healthy child with normal immunity can tolerate up to 6 colds a year, and an adult can carry up to 4. Whereas the flu is a serious disease that can lead to complications, the most dangerous of which is viral pneumonia and respiratory failure. And if with ARVI you can postpone a visit to the doctor for 2 to 3 days, however, colleagues and traveling companions in public transport are unlikely to thank you for it, then if you suspect you have the flu, you should contact a specialist as soon as possible.

We bring to your attention a table that suggests what you are dealing with this time.

Sign of	Flu	ARVI
Onset of the disease	Sharp, sudden, it is often possible to call the time of the disease with accuracy. up to an hour	The condition worsens gradually, the disease begins with a general malaise.
Temperature	Usually much higher than 38	Usually 37.1 - 37.9
Runny nose	In the early days is absent	Usually appears at the very beginning of the disease
Cough	From the first days, dry, painful, accompanied by severe pain behind the sternum.	It depends on the specific virus, but usually appears on days 2–3
Bones, muscle pain	Usually there are caused by severe intoxication.	Usually not
Photophobia, tearing, pain when moving eyeballs	Often	Seldom
Seasonality	Winter, usually against a flu epidemic already announced	Year-round - it is possible to forgive under the air conditioner “to go out” and so on

Some of the drugs mentioned below in the ranking are effective only against the flu, such we carried out in a separate group.

Note! Any antiviral medication is effective only if you start taking them in the first 48 hours of the onset of cold symptoms.

If possible, we tried to indicate the name of the active substance (international name of the drug), and only after it - trade (company) names, so that our readers could choose between their analogues, based on their own economic opportunities.

Top Antiviral Rating

Nomination	a place	Name of product	price
The best antivirals for children	1	Umifenovir	144 ₽
	2	Viferon	384 ₽
	3	Kagocel	223 ₽
The best antivirals for adults	1	Tiloron	486 ₽
	2	Ingavirin	382 ₽
The best flu remedies	1	Zanamivir	905 ₽
	2	Oseltamivir	1 020 ₽
What to do with colds and flu: first aid without drugs

The best antivirals for children

In terms of antiviral agents for children, the situation is paradoxical: they are sick more often than adults, and there are practically no effective drugs for children under two years old (we’re not talking about homeopathy, again). This is partly due to the fact that such small children need a special form of release: they can choke with a pill, and the spray can provoke laryngospasm (croup). In any case, if a child under two is sick with a cold or flu, do not self-medicate, consult a doctor!

Umifenovir

Rating: 4.9

Trade names: Arbidol, Arpeflu, Orvitol, Aflyudol

Arbidol has a rather controversial reputation - at the dawn of his appearance, there was not enough evidence of effectiveness, and rumors about the administrative resource used for promotion did not contribute to a positive attitude on the part of specialists. But in recent years, the number of studies has been growing, and doctors are interested not only in the post-Soviet space, but also experts from other countries (China, USA). The collected statistics confirms the effectiveness of umifenovir against influenza viruses, causative agents of seasonal colds and enteroviruses ("intestinal flu", manifested by a runny nose and fever in combination with diarrhea and abdominal pain).

The drug blocks a particular molecule in the shell of a virus called hemagglutinin. It is this molecule that “pulls” the virus through the membranes into the cells of the body. The virus itself, unlike bacteria, is unable to multiply, for this it needs to get into a living cell and insert its genes so that the cell starts producing viral particles. Until this happened, there is no infection.

According to research, umifenovir helps to reduce the duration of the disease by 1.7 - 2.65 days, and 4 times reduces the likelihood of complications.

You can take umifenovir from the age of two, for babies of this age, the antiviral drug Arbidol powder for suspension. For other ages, 50 mg tablets, capsules with a dosage of 100 mg and 200 mg are provided. It is necessary to accept means 4 times a day:

1. from 2 to 6 years - 50 mg (or 10 ml of suspension);
2. from 6 to 12 years - 100 mg;
3. over 12 years old and adults - 200 mg.

Here is a table that can tell you what dosage to choose for the treatment of a child or adult:

Release form, dosage	Children 2 - 6 years	Children 6 - 12 years old	Older than 12 years old and adults
Arbidol powder for suspension	+	You can take it, but it will turn out too expensive compared to other dosages.	You can take it, but it will turn out too expensive compared to other dosages.
Arbidol tablets 50 mg (from 3 years)	+	(two tablets per reception)	You can take it, but it will turn out too expensive compared to other dosages.
Arbidol Capsules 100 mg	– – --	+	(two tablets per reception)
Arbidol Maximum 200 mg.	– – –	– – –	+

Antiviral medication is contraindicated during pregnancy and for reliably known intolerance.

From adverse events possible allergic reactions.

Viferon

Rating: 4.6

This tool contains human interferon, which has both direct antiviral properties and the ability to stimulate immunity. Antiviral drug is available by prescription.

Viferon can be used from birth, for the treatment of colds and flu - one suppository every 12 hours.

For babies from birth to 7 years old, Viferon is used at a dosage of 150,000 IU. Suppositories of 500,000 IU each are recommended for children over 7 years old and adults.

Antiviral medication can be used during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

From the undesirable phenomena allergic reactions are possible. Contraindicated with known intolerance.

Kagocel

Rating: 4.3

Kagocel does not have a direct antiviral effect, but contributes to the production of interferons, which, in turn, stimulate the immune response. It can be used to treat flu and other acute viral infections of the respiratory tract in children from the age of three.

Available in tablets of 12 mg.

The duration of the course of treatment is 4 days, the scheme of application depends on the age and day of the disease:

1. children from 3 to 6 years: in the first 2 days, take a pill twice a day, the next 2 days - once a day, a full course of 6 tablets;
2. children from 6 years old: in the first 2 days a pill three times a day, the next 2 days - twice a day, a full course of 10 tablets,
3. adults: in the first 2 days, 2 tablets three times a day, the next 2 days - a tablet three times a day. A total of 18 tablets per course of treatment.

Of the possible adverse events are allergic reactions.

Antiviral is contraindicated for children under 3 years old, pregnant and lactating.

The best antivirals for adults

We have included antiviral drugs in this section that can be used not only in adults, but also in school-age children. These children can already be given the same dosage forms (tablets, capsules) as adults, only the dosage of the drug is different.

Tiloron

Rating: 4.5

Trade names: Amiksin, Lavomaks.

This is another interferon inducer - a substance that does not act directly on viruses, but stimulates an immune response. However, it is prescribed as an antiviral agent.

Available in tablets of 60 mg for children and 125 mg for adults (from 18 years).

Note! Lavomax is available only in tablets of 125 mg and is approved for use from 18 years.

Antiviral medication is taken 1 time per day, at 1, 2 and 4 days of treatment.

Of the side effects noted dyspepsia (abdominal pain, nausea, abnormal stool), transient chills. Allergic reactions are possible.

Tiloron is contraindicated in pregnancy and lactation.

Ingavirin

Rating: 4.4

Antiviral agent acts in several directions: on the one hand, it stimulates the production of specific proteins in infected cells that inhibit the reproduction of the virus. On the other hand, it increases the sensitivity of infected cells to the effects of interferons. The tool has a weak anti-inflammatory effect.

According to research results, it helps to reduce the duration of the disease by an average of 1 day.

Available in capsules 60 mg for children from 7 years and 90 mg for adults. Take 1 capsule per day for 5 to 7 days.

From the undesirable phenomena allergic reactions are possible.

The use of the drug during pregnancy and lactation directly in the instructions is not prohibited, but it is noted that the safety of its use during these periods has not been studied. Obviously, putting an experiment on itself in such a state is not a very sensible idea.

The best flu remedies

In this section of our ranking are drugs that WHO recommends for the treatment of influenza. At the same time, they are ineffective against ARVI and, therefore, it is senseless to use it for ordinary seasonal colds. Both prescription drugs, that is, they must appoint a doctor. Their use during pregnancy and lactation is not formally prohibited, but since no one has conducted safety studies on humans for obvious reasons, all possible risks are left to the discretion of the prescribing physician and the patient herself.

Zanamivir

Rating: 4.8

Trade Names: Relenza.

The tool blocks a special substance on the shell of the virus - neuraminidase. It is an enzyme that destroys receptors for the virus on the cells of the host organism, allowing the virus to penetrate the cell walls. By blocking neuraminidase, oseltamivir inhibits not only the spread, but also the reproduction of the virus, because no virus is able to reproduce on its own.

Zanamivir helps to reduce the duration of the disease by an average of 1.5 days and reduces the likelihood of complications by about a third. In addition, it reduces the release of the virus into the environment, that is, the relatives of the patient who take zanamivir, have less opportunities to become infected.

Available in the form for inhalation: in the bottle there are 5 rotadisks with the medicinal product, which need to be inserted into a special device - a discchaller, which comes with the drug. One rotadiska enough for 4 inhalations.

The antiviral agent Zanamivir can be used to treat children from the age of 5 years. Dosage and administration are the same for all ages: 2 inhalations 2 times a day for 5 days. That is, one package is designed just for the course of treatment.

You can not take the drug to people with well-known intolerance to zanamivir. Carefully use the tool to people who are prone to bronchospasm (children. Who have already endured croup, adults and children with bronchial asthma).

Do not try, contrary to the instructions, to place the drug in a nebulizer - the lactose contained in the composition may damage the device.

The product is sold by prescription.

Oseltamivir

Rating: 4.7

Trade names: Tamiflu, Nomides, Oseltamivir Phosphate

The mechanism of action is the same as the previous drug. Helps to reduce the duration of the disease by an average of 2 days. It can be used to treat influenza in adults as well as in children over 1 year old.

For babies from one year to eight years old, it is better to use a suspension to prepare a solution. It should be applied twice a day, and the amount will depend on the weight of the child:

1. <15 kg - 30 mg,
2. > 15 - 23 kg - 45 mg,
3. > 23-40 kg - 60 mg.

In order to measure the required amount, a syringe is included in the suspension preparation kit, which has marks corresponding to 30, 45 and 60 mg of active ingredient.

Children over 8 years old, if they weigh more than 40 kg, can be given capsules of 75 mg, otherwise it is better to use the suspension.

Adolescents over 12 years old and adults are recommended to take oseltamivir 75 mg 2 times a day.

Possible side effects: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness,

The drug is contraindicated in renal insufficiency and individual intolerance to the active substance.

The product is sold by prescription.

All mentioned in the ranking of antiviral agents can be used as a treatment for the same for the prevention of colds. We deliberately did not indicate the dosages recommended in such cases, since this would have made the already extensive review unlimited. Clarify all the necessary information, you can refer to the instructions for use of medicines.

What to do with colds and flu: first aid without drugs

1. Put the patient to bed before you run to the pharmacy. Select gadgets, computer and TV: let them sleep for at least the first few days. You can listen to music.
2. If possible, select a sick room. Open the vents: a constant stream of cool air will reduce the concentration of the virus in the room. Of course, the patient and everyone else present in the room should be dressed according to the temperature, which ideally should be no higher than 16 - 18 degrees.
3. If the house has a humidifier, turn it on. If not, hang the batteries with wet terry towels, change them as they dry. In winter, the air is too dry, and it reflects badly on the protective functions of the mucous membranes. Immunoglobulins, interferons and other substances that our body releases to fight viruses, work only in a humid environment. Actually, therefore, the mucous membranes are covered with mucus, and when they dry up, it is impossible to effectively fight the disease.
4. Place no less than two liters of any drink next to the patient (except, of course, alcohol) so that he can drink at any time he wants. Drinking plenty of water helps to flush toxins from the body. So you can relieve headaches and muscle pain.
5. If the patient has cold hands and feet, put socks on him (you can wear mittens), cover him with a blanket. If he is hot - do not try to muffle specifically, on the contrary, let me undress to a comfortable level. Wipe it with cool water (just water, without vodka or vinegar). This will help reduce the temperature faster.
6. Western doctors recommend churning the temperature not only by wiping with cool water, but also by placing the patient for a short time (up to 10 minutes) in a cool bath. Our compatriots believe this is an overly radical method.
7. If the patient suffers from a dry cough, do not make him breathe over the potatoes, it is not only fraught with burns, but also helps the infection to spread through the respiratory tract. Let the boiling water in the bathroom, closing the doors, wait 5 to 15 minutes until the room is filled with steam, and run the patient into it (not into the boiling water, but into the room!). But it is easier to give a nebulizer with ordinary water or alkaline (hydrocarbonate) mineral water, from which bubbles were previously released.
8. If the patient is a child and he categorically refuses to eat, do not force. Will catch up when he gets well. For now let him drink milk (only not hot and without soda), yoghurts, juices.
9. If the patient doesn’t get better for 2–3 days and hasn’t yet visited a doctor, do it immediately!

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Attention! This rating is subjective, is not advertising and does not serve as a guide to the purchase. Before buying, you should consult with a specialist.