Although it's usually not necessary to see a doctor for the flu, it's extremely beneficial if you do. "If you really don't feel good and you're concerned, you should go to your doctor and get checked, because if you have the flu, they can give you a prescription that might make you feel better," Dr. Milstone said.
Dr. Greenblatt agreed, noting that if you get these antiviral medications in the first 48 hours of illness, they'll shorten the duration and lessen the symptoms. There's another benefit, too: if you're living in close quarters with roommates or family, "these medicines also reduce the replication of the virus, so you're less likely to spread it," she explained.
Consider the alternative: self-medicating with over-the-counter fever reducers and cold treatments, which the experts agreed do nothing to help you recover faster. "Acetaminophen and ibuprofen will reduce your fever and make you feel better, but they're not going to help your body get rid of the virus any faster — and it's the same with other cough and cold remedies," Dr. Milstone said. "They might help your symptoms, but they're not necessarily protecting your body from the virus."