Tamiflu has been an interesting medication to take for influenza so far. Here is the way it works, assuming it's used properly (which is, starting to take it very soon after infection with influenza or maybe even before, as a preventative, if you know you're being exposed).
Disclaimer: the below description might be slightly off in a scientific sense. I'm not a virologist, after all.
An influenza virus gets into your body. Then, it sneaks into one of your cells.
The first thing influenza does is take a dump right on the floor. Right in the middle, where everybody can see it.
Then, it gets to work. The interior of a cell can be re-engineered into a combination machinist's shop and small factory, and that's exactly what the influenza virus does. It strides in like it owns the place, and takes over. It retools the machinery, redesigns the cell into a virus factory, and once it's done, it lets the machinery run for a while. The repurposed-cell-turned-virus-factory constructs new influenza viruses using the materials sitting around in the cell - lots and lots of influenza viruses. The newly-minted viruses stand around inside the cell, waiting for the time to come when they will all bust out together and fly free, each virus searching for its own fresh cell to get into and become the boss of.
When it comes time for the viruses to break out of the cell, they pull out their little pry bars called viral neuramindase and jam them into spots in the cell wall called glycan structures. They pry the neuraminic acid out of the glycan structures, leaving holes in the cell wall (and ruining it). The viruses can now get out through the newly-damaged cell wall and they spew out together, leaving the ruined cell behind, flying away like a swarm of dispersing, bad little bees.
Enter stage left: the antiviral drug Tamiflu. Tamiflu is toting a bag full of its own little pry bars. While the cell wall is still intact, it goes around the outside of the cell and jams its pry bars into the glycan structures, messing them up. The viruses' own pry bars won't work in the messed-up glycan structures and when the time comes for the viruses to get out, they realize that they can't. They are trapped.
Influenza and Tamiflu meet, standing on opposite sides of of the translucent cell wall, influenza being trapped on the inside and Tamiflu looking in from the outside.
Influenza calls through the membranous cell wall, "Hey, what the hell is this?". It gestures toward a ruined glycan structure.
"What, you mean the cell wall you just tried to destroy?" Tamiflu remarks.
Influenza looks at the ruined glycan structure, and then back at Tamiflu. "What the hell did you do? We need to come out!"
"No, you and your stupid little horde will not be coming out."
Influenza takes a half-step back, peering indignantly through the cell wall. It then takes a quick step up to the membrane and snarls:
"We have to come out! We have a lot to do!"
"No, you don't!", Tamiflu spits. "Who told you you could take this cell?"
Influenza stares for a moment, blank-faced, and then says, "This is our cell!". After another pause, it clarifies, "We take what we want. We're influenza!"
Tamiflu straightens and with a slow-paced, precise tone, says:
"Okay, let's start with this. Nobody told you that you could take that cell. No-one gave you permission. You just took it."
Influenza tries to interrupt but Tamiflu waves for it to be quiet.
"Wait, wait, and another thing. Could you please tell me why you took a shit in there?"
Influenza does not immediately answer. It looks surprised that Tamiflu knows about that.
"Well regardless," Tamiflu continues, "you took that cell. It's not supposed to be yours. That's the only one you're getting. You're not taking any more."
Influenza pauses to absorb the gravity of the situation, and then says with a stumbling, halting tone, "So you think... so we're just going to like... " it looks around and lifts its arms. "We're going to stay in here? You think we're just going to stand around in here?"
"Yep", Tamiflu says mockingly. It cracks a grin and leans forward, getting closer to influenza's face through the membrane.
"You little shits are going to stay in there, with your little pile of poop, and you will never infect another cell. When the immune system gets time - - which may be a bit yet because it's busy right now dealing with your stupid little friends - - it's going to show up and destroy you and get rid of the stupid little virus factory you made, and everything will go back to normal."
There is a silence. Influenza stares out through the membrane, with an expression that could not easily be interpreted. It then looks away and says, "This is bullshit, man".
"Science!" Tamiflu quips. "Science, bitch."
I took Tamiflu for 3.5 days of its intended 5-day usage period. It has... psychiatric side effects. I decided that I had gotten the great bulk of the good effects during that first 3.5 days, and I didn't feel like continuing to deal with the weird mental effects it was having. And then like... I was starting to get the shits? That was just strange. But I am certain that it decreased the severity of the flu symptoms, that part does work as described.
Author: Thislife4now, January 27, 2018.
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