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Article: Ways to Prevent the Flu; Tick-Borne Illnesses
- Article from:
- The Washington Post
- Article date:
- October 4, 1988
- Author:
CopyrightThis material is published under license from the Washington Post. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Washington Post. (Hide copyright information)
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Q. Last winter I had a nasty bout with the flu, and my doctor
gave me a drug called amantadine (Symmetrel). I was surprised
because I was under the impression that there aren't any drugs that
do much against viral infections like the flu.
Later, I checked some popular guides to medications and all I
could find about the drug was a passing reference to its use in
treating Parkinson's disease. What can you tell me about this
medication? How does an anti-Parkinson's drug help against the flu?
Does this mean I don't need to take flu shots any more? Which is a
better way to prevent the flu?
A. Yearly flu shots are still your best prevention against the
flu. For some people, amantadine is a ...