Medication Advice for the Current Influenza Wave
The influenza now spreading rapidly nationwide has infected many friends, and the number of people consulting me about this cold has suddenly risen sharply. I myself am simultaneously juggling work, preparing for the college entrance exam (gaokao), and have caught the flu, so my physical and mental stamina are utterly exhausted. I hope friends with colds will seek nearby medical care and, until the 2025 gaokao is over, try not to take up too much of my time with these issues.
I am writing again to set out the medication plan for this flu wave; these regimens basically address the various problems I have encountered. Friends who have caught the flu may refer to this article and take symptomatic medication, but those with serious underlying disease who have developed severe complications triggered by the cold should seek nearby medical care without delay. Long-term, complex cancer patients whom I personally manage should contact me promptly after catching a cold—do not delay; those who delay more than a week are subsequently hard to bring back quickly to recovery.
According to data published by the Chinese CDC, the currently dominant pathogen is influenza A virus, though many patients are co-infected with Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and some with human metapneumovirus. Influenza A can be treated with antiviral drugs such as oseltamivir, arbidol, baloxavir, zanamivir, and peramivir, or with Chinese patent medicines such as Ganmao Qingre Granule and Siji Ganmao Pian. Human metapneumovirus has no specific drug and can only be treated symptomatically. COPD or cancer patients infected with influenza A should ideally start antivirals as early as possible and choose appropriate symptomatic Chinese patent medicines according to their symptoms.
In this wave, many people have more severe symptoms than they did with COVID. Fever, dry mouth, profuse sputum, cough, night sweats, brain fog, generalized aches and weakness; severe cases develop respiratory distress syndrome. Worldwide, some people die each year from serious complications triggered by influenza, so I recommend that people over 60 with underlying cardiopulmonary disease, as well as children, get vaccinated early against both influenza and pneumococcus.
From my recent observation, Chinese patent medicines such as Lianhua Qingwen Capsule, Ganmao Qingre Granule, Jinqiaomai Tablets, and Feining Granule provide good symptomatic relief for the fever, cough, chest tightness, breathlessness, profuse sputum, and wheezing caused by this cold. Those with fever should use ibuprofen, Shuanghuanglian, Banlangen, Xiao'er Chiqiao Qingre Granule, or Jinlian Granule. Besides medication, patients should rest well. Those with difficulty falling asleep may use Suanzaoren Granule or Jieyu Anshen Granule to aid sleep; intractable insomnia can be addressed with prescription sleeping pills from a hospital—adequate sleep supports better immunity. Those infected with Mycoplasma pneumoniae should use antibiotics under a doctor's guidance.
Although this flu occurs in winter, the early symptoms are very hidden—only slight sore throat, dizziness, or nighttime sweating, dry mouth, and easy waking. Many patients miss the best treatment window and soon show wind-cold transforming to heat. Thus the winter habitually used acrid-warm exterior-releasing formulas Mahuang Tang, Gegen Tang, and Guizhi Tang are mostly ineffective; acrid-cool exterior-releasing or heat-clearing, toxin-resolving herbs are needed. The main symptoms after this cold are profuse sputum with cough, or chest tightness and wheezing. The following formulas may be referred to.
Modified Maxing Shigan Tang
Zhi Mahuang (honey-fried Ephedra) 6 g, Xingren (Armeniacae Semen) 6 g, Zhi Gancao (honey-fried Glycyrrhiza) 6 g, Sheng Shigao (raw gypsum) 30 g, Shegan (Belamcandae Rhizoma) 6 g, Jinqiaomai (Fagopyri Cymosi Rhizoma) 30 g, Ziwan (Asteris Radix) 10 g, Kuandonghua (Farfarae Flos) 10 g, Zhuru (Bambusae Caulis in Taeniam) 6 g, Dannannan (bile-processed Arisaema) 6 g, Pipaye (Eriobotryae Folium) 6 g, Chuanbeimu (Fritillariae Cirrhosae Bulbus) 6 g, Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix) 6 g, Banlangen (Isatidis Radix) 6 g, Daqingye (Isatidis Folium) 6 g. One to two doses daily; each dose taken in 2-3 divided portions. May be taken before or after meals.
Indications: intractable night sweats after a cold, cough, nighttime dry mouth, and sore throat.
Modified Qianjin Weijing Tang:
Lugen (Phragmitis Rhizoma) 30 g, Dongguaren (Benincasae Semen) 10 g, Yiyiren (Coicis Semen) 30 g, Taoren (Persicae Semen) 10 g, Jinqiaomai 30 g, Sangbaipi (Mori Cortex) 10 g, Tinglizi (Descurainiae/Lepidii Semen) 10 g. One to two doses daily; each dose taken in 2-3 divided portions. May be taken before or after meals.
Indications: cough with profuse, thick, purulent, and foul-smelling sputum.
Modified Shengmai Yin:
Xiyangshen (American ginseng) 3-6 g, Maidong (Ophiopogonis Radix) 10 g, Tiandong (Asparagi Radix) 10 g, Wuweizi (Schisandrae Fructus) 10 g, Rougui (Cinnamomi Cortex) 10 g, Dilong (Pheretima) 15 g, Sheng Huangqi (raw Astragalus) 30 g, Zhi Mahuang 6 g, Xingren 6 g, Sangbaipi 15 g, Digupi (Lycii Cortex) 10 g, Jinqiaomai 15 g, Suzi (Perillae Fructus) 6 g, Laifuzi (Raphani Semen) 6 g, Baijiezi (Sinapis Albae Semen) 6 g. One to two doses daily; each dose taken in 2-3 divided portions. May be taken before or after meals.
Indications: elderly COPD patients with fatigue, chest tightness, shortness of breath, difficult-to-expectorate sputum, or no sputum.
Everything I know has been covered in this article. Because I am both working and preparing for the gaokao, my time and energy are limited, and I am unable to offer consultations to new patients. If this article does not help you, please seek nearby medical care rather than consulting me.