Amid swine flu, sales of antiviral drugs surging

Americans frightened by swine flu are snapping up two antiviral medicines that treat the disease, whether they have it or not.

New data show more than a quarter-million prescriptions for Tamiflu pills alone were filled at retail U.S pharmacies in the week ending last Friday. That's 34 times higher than the week before and more than double the peak of last winter's flu season.

The figures from health care marketing consultants SDI show that was about 34 times the number of Tamiflu prescriptions filled the week before.

SDI data also shows prescriptions for Relenza jumped to nearly 14,000, 10 times higher than the prior week.

Both medicines require a prescription. Health authorities do not recommend taking the drugs as a preventive.