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Get cold and flu treatment online

How it works

Start your health intake
Request On-Demand Care 24/7—no appointment needed.
Discuss with a provider
Review your health concern or treatment request with a One Medical provider via message or video.
Get treatment
Receive your care plan. If appropriate, prescriptions are sent to your pharmacy or delivered to your door with Amazon Pharmacy (if eligible).
Smiling One Medical provider delivers telehealth care
Woman with cold and flu symptoms holds tissue and does a telehealth visit from home while resting on couch

How do I know if I have a cold or the flu?

Influenza and the common cold often have similar symptoms. Both types of virus can cause nasal congestion, runny nose, cough, sore throat, headache, as well as muscle aches and pains. But fevers tend to be rare with colds, while the flu is usually characterized by the sudden onset of a cough and fever (temperature above 100.4°F).

Will I be prescribed antibiotics?

Most cold symptoms are caused by a self-limited virus—usually a rhinovirus. These respiratory infections typically go away on their own within a week or two. Common colds aren't treated with antibiotics, which could do more harm than good.
If you have a cold virus without signs of a secondary bacterial infection, your Amazon One Medical provider will likely recommend over-the-counter treatments for symptom relief.

Is online cold and flu treatment right for me?

You're 18-64
You’re experiencing upper respiratory symptoms like cough, fever, sore throat, or runny nose
You may have influenza, strep throat, the common cold, bronchitis, a sinus infection, or COVID-19
You don’t have urgent symptoms like trouble breathing or persistent chest pain (not due to coughing)*
*If you’re experiencing urgent symptoms, please call 911 or go to an emergency room (ER) as soon as possible.

Common medications for upper respiratory infections (URIs)

Your Amazon One Medical provider will determine which (if any) prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) treatment is medically appropriate for you based on your symptoms and health history. If you're prescribed medication, your provider will send the prescription to your preferred pharmacy. Choose Amazon Pharmacy for free delivery and transparent Prime pricing. The cost of your prescribed medication is not included with the treatment cost and may be covered by health insurance.

Prescriptions for oral steroids aren't available for cold symptom relief through Amazon One Medical On-Demand Care.
Pill bottle icon
FOR COMMON COLD
OTC symptom relievers
Pill bottle icon
FOR FLU
Oseltamivir (Tamiflu)
Pill bottle icon
FOR STREP THROAT
Antibiotics like penicillin

Conditions that can have similar symptoms

Young woman with dark hair coughs and experiences other COVID symptoms

COVID-19

If you've tested positive for COVID-19, you can find out if you're eligible for Paxlovid
Get COVID-19 treatment ›
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Seasonal allergies

If you're sneezing and have red or itchy eyes, you might be experiencing allergic rhinitis
Get allergy treatment ›
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Sinus infection

If you have nasal congestion, facial pain, and a headache, you might have sinusitis
Get sinus treatment ›
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Not sure where to start?

For a one-time fee of $59, an Amazon One Medical provider can diagnose and treat common health complaints, renew prescriptions, and answer your questions in real time. Restrictions apply.
Get urgent virtual care ›

Frequently asked questions

About Amazon One Medical

How can I get online or in-person cold and flu treatment from Amazon One Medical?
If you're an Amazon One Medical member, 24/7 On-Demand Care is included in your membership. On-Demand Care has two telehealth pathways: Direct Message Care connects you to a provider through async messaging, and Video Care connects you to a provider in real time.
If you're an Amazon One Medical member and you live in a state where One Medical has offices, you can also get medical treatment through In-Person Visits or Scheduled Video Visits, both billable to you or your health insurance.
If you're not an Amazon One Medical member, you can still get 24/7 On-Demand Care for 30+ common health conditions by paying as you go for online treatment. To see the Direct Message Care and Video Care options where you live, get started from a condition detail page and choose your state.
*Direct Message Care availability varies by state. Prices subject to change.
Can I use my health insurance to pay for Amazon One Medical On-Demand Care (formerly Pay-per-visit)?
Amazon One Medical doesn't accept health insurance for On-Demand Care, its 24/7 telehealth service. If you were charged for treatment as a non-member, you can submit a claim to your insurance provider for reimbursement, but we can’t guarantee they’ll reimburse you for treatment.
If you use insurance to pay for your medications, you can do that with medications prescribed through all Amazon One Medical services. Amazon Pharmacy accepts most insurance plans. For other pharmacies, please talk with your pharmacy directly about insurance coverage. The cost of medication isn’t included in the cost of your medical care.
What if I want to refill my medication?
If your On-Demand Care provider didn't include refills with your prescription, you'll need to start a new treatment to request another prescription.
There are many reasons why a provider may decide that prescription refills aren't medically appropriate. For example, they may want to assess how well a medication is working and whether or not it needs to be adjusted before you continue with the same treatment.
How does Amazon One Medical protect my health information?
Amazon One Medical protects customers’ protected health information (PHI) with stringent, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)-compliant privacy and security practices to keep information safe and secure.
We’re committed to building an infrastructure that fosters and promotes a culture of customer privacy and a strong commitment to safeguarding health information. We maintain administrative, physical, and technical safeguards to protect customer information. This includes conducting rigorous security reviews and testing during product development, using encryption to protect data, and providing features like two-step verification to help customers protect their accounts.
Amazon does not sell customers’ personal information, including PHI.

About cold and flu treatment

Can I get diagnosed with strep throat through On-Demand Care?
Providers can diagnose strep throat by assessing your symptoms and health history, but you must meet strict guidelines to be prescribed antibiotics through Amazon One Medical On-Demand Care.
If you suspect strep throat but don't meet the clinical criteria for antibiotic treatment, your provider will recommend that you see a primary care provider for an in-person evaluation and strep testing.
What cold and flu symptoms can be treated through a telehealth visit?
• Cough
• Body or muscle aches
• Facial pain or pressure
• Fatigue
• Fever or chills
• Headache
• Loss of appetite
• Nasal congestion/runny nose
• Rash
• Smell or taste changes
• Sore throat
• Stomach/GI symptoms (like nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea)
• Swollen or tender lymph nodes
• Swollen tonsils
• Voice changes (laryngitis)
What types of symptoms can't be treated through a telehealth visit?
The following symptoms may indicate a need for immediate medical attention:
• Confusion
• Consistent fever of 103°F or above
• Dizziness or feeling like you might faint
• Heart palpitations (fast or irregular heartbeat)
• Inability to swallow saliva or other fluids
• Persistent chest pain or pressure (not due to coughing)
• Severe abdominal pain or stomach tender to touch
• Severe neck stiffness and pain
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing (you feel like you're running out of air or your breaths aren't fast or deep enough)
If you're experiencing any of these symptoms, don't use a telehealth service. Please go to an urgent care clinic or an emergency room (ER) as soon as possible.
What are commonly recommended over-the-counter (OTC) cold medications?
Healthcare providers typically recommend the following treatments for symptoms of the common cold:
• Cough drops
• Cough suppressants like guaifenesin (Mucinex)
• Cough syrups
• Decongestant nasal sprays like oxymetazoline (Afrin)
• Painkillers like ibuprofen (Advil) and acetaminophen (Tylenol)
Note: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently issued new guidance on the use of oral decongestant medications that contain phenylephrine. These medications have been ruled clinically ineffective to treat nasal congestion. Examples of common multi-symptom cold medicines containing phenylephrine include NyQuil Severe Cold and Flu, Sudafed PE, and Theraflu.
When is it too late for Tamiflu?
If you've had influenza A (flu) symptoms for over 48 hours, it's unlikely that your healthcare provider will prescribe an antiviral medication like oseltamivir (Tamiflu) unless you have certain risk factors. For most people, Tamiflu doesn't have a proven benefit when taken more than 2 days after flu symptoms start.
How long does the flu last?
Without complications, flu symptoms usually last for 3 to 7 days. But flu can sometimes lead to severe illness, pneumonia, or the worsening of underlying health conditions.
How long will I be contagious with the flu?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), most people with the flu will be most contagious in the first 3 to 4 days of their illness. But you can also be contagious a day before you start feeling sick, and sometimes up to a week or more after.
Can I get COVID-19 treatment?
Yes. But if you've already tested positive for COVID-19 and are experiencing symptoms, we recommend that you request care for COVID-19.
Can I get a COVID-19 test through On-Demand Care?
No. COVID-19 testing isn't available through Amazon One Medical On-Demand Care. If you think you have COVID-19, it's important to test as soon as possible. Paxlovid treatment requires a positive test result or a confirmed exposure and the medication needs to be prescribed within 5 days of symptoms starting.
Your telehealth provider will accept positive test results from a rapid home test or a molecular (PCR) test. You can get a rapid, at-home COVID-19 test at brick-and-mortar pharmacies and grocery stores, or order one through any online service that offers same-day delivery.
Can I get sinus infection (sinusitis) treatment?
Yes. If you have sinusitis, also known as rhinosinusitis, we recommend that you request care for sinus infection. If you don't know if your symptoms are caused by sinusitis or something else (like allergies, the common cold, or the flu), you're in the right place.
If any of the following statements apply to your health, Amazon One Medical On-Demand Care isn't the most appropriate option for you. You'll need to see a primary care provider for more closely managed care:
• You've had 3 or more sinus infections in the past year
• You've been hospitalized in the past week
• You've taken oral antibiotics in the past month
• Your sinus symptoms have returned after being treated with antibiotics
• You've had sinus symptoms for longer than a month
These experiences can make sinus infection treatment more complex.
Can I get treated for an ear infection through On-Demand Care?
No. If you're experiencing ear pain or pressure, a primary care provider will need to examine your ear canal in person. These symptoms can indicate an inner ear infection (otitis media).
Can I get treated for the stomach flu through On-Demand Care?
Yes. If you're experiencing symptoms of stomach flu (gastroenteritis), we recommend that you request urgent virtual care.
Though gastroenteritis is often called the stomach flu or GI flu, it's not actually related to influenza. Gastroenteritis in adults is usually caused by an infectious virus like norovirus. This type of virus can affect the stomach and intestinal tract, causing GI symptoms like diarrhea and vomiting.
Acute gastroenteritis can also be caused by bacteria like Salmonella or E. coli.
Clinical sources
1. CDC. (2018). Influenza (Flu). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/flu/index.htm
2. CDC. (2023, March 9). Rhinoviruses: Common Colds | CDC. Www.cdc.gov. https://www.cdc.gov/ncird/rhinoviruses-common-cold.html
3. Eccles R. (2005). Understanding the symptoms of the common cold and influenza. The Lancet. Infectious diseases, 5(11), 718–725.
4. Monto, A. S., Gravenstein, S., Elliott, M., Colopy, M., & Schweinle, J. (2000). Clinical signs and symptoms predicting influenza infection. Archives of internal medicine, 160(21), 3243–3247.
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