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Cold and flu treatment

Share your symptoms with Health AI and get treatment from a provider if appropriate.

How it works

Check-in with Health AI
Complete a check-in with the help of Health AI.
Discuss with a provider
Review your health concern or treatment request with a One Medical provider via message.
Get treatment
Receive your care plan. If appropriate, prescriptions are sent to your pharmacy and, if you use Amazon Pharmacy, delivered to your door (if eligible).
Smiling One Medical provider delivers telehealth care

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

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.

Frequently asked questions

See all Amazon One Medical FAQs
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
• Ongoing fever of 103.5°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: In 2024 the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 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 sinus infection treatment. 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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