Zpack for the flu?!

wheelsonthebus

I'm pretty certain I have the flu. It has gone through our entire family. I went to the doctor today to have my lungs checked because I'm having a lot of pain in my chest. They took a chest x-ray and a flu test, but of course they were closing early today and I won't hear anything until Wednesday. The doc gave me a Z-pack to take. I thought the flu was a virus and that the antibiotics wont help. I started thinking about it more and more when I got home. Will they do more harm than good? I'm nursing and hate to take antibiotics if I really don't need them.

shotzie

I thought Tamiflu was the only thing that could help, and it has to be taken within 48 hrs of the first symptoms...

Like pp said, maybe it's in case you're developing something else, like pneumonia...?

lisamoe

Flu can not be treated with an antibiotic, its viral.

A secondary infection, that can be caused by the flu can be treated with an antibiotic, such as pneumonia, bronchitis, etc.

So, I'm thinking you doc must have thought you had some kind of secondary infection.

bridein08

The flu test is rapid and only takes ten minutes- I am assuming your physician is taking precautions against a respiratory infection versus the flu. Hope you feel better soon!

sthomas1222

lisamoe:

Flu can not be treated with an antibiotic, its viral.

A secondary infection, that can be caused by the flu can be treated with an antibiotic, such as pneumonia, bronchitis, etc.

So, I'm thinking you doc must have thought you had some kind of secondary infection.

 

This is what I was thinking. I had a cold that moved into a sinus infection type thing, Z-pack cleared it up so quick. 

bumpuser8448316

What's a Zpack? I see people refer to it all the time but I have no idea what it is. Special antibiotics or something?