Of course, they have to put out all kinds of disclaimers, but I have tried out both Relenza and Tamiflu on several friends and family members.
Both were quickly and highly effective and with so far no apparent ill effects.
You need to start them within 2 days of symptoms-the sooner the better.
Tamiflu is easier to take ;the inhaler, Relenza makes intuitive sense because the influenza virus (despite having systemic effects) lives in the lungs.
For me these medicines work within 1-2 hours, and within less than a day, I am back to normal.
They are only for use with inluenza-not for the common cold pneumonia, or viral gastroenteritis. Diarrhea is never a part of influenza.
Influenza is an illness with a sudden onset characterized by high fevers and severe muscle aches with perhaps cough and sore throat. Antibiotics are completely useless although often taken. People come to the Emergency Department because you can feel like you are near death or least prostrated.
In fact influenza is not uncommonly a fatal disease. A "killer" strain influenza almost escaped world wide in the early nineties. This alarmed the health authorities sufficiently that they asked the pharmaceutical industry to come up with a therapy.*
The result was these two fine medications; a real accomplishment by the pharmaceutical industry.
IMHO they are safe and effective. In addition to returning people to their daily routines, careers etc, they can in fact save lives.
*I searched for a link on this fascinating story to no avail on Google.
I have not heard of one full recovery, that in itself is enough to cause concern. I would guess it's already in the states, just not documented yet. I only pray they find a solution.