Confirmation of the Antiviral Effects of Midodrine Identified With a Gene Expression Signature-based Screening of Inluenza A Virus Infected Cells

Inclusion Criteria: * men and women aged 18 to 65 years, * with no long-term illness, * presenting flu-like symptoms for less than 42 hours (nasal congestion, sore throat, muscle soreness, asthenia, headache, chills/sweating, fever…), * infection with influenza A virus confirmed with a quick diagnostic test, * outpatient care, * must provide signed and informed consent, * beneficiary of a health insurance. Exclusion Criteria: * severe form of flu, * pregnant women or positive pregnancy test, * breastfeeding women, * women of childbearing-potential with no efficient contraceptive, * history of chronic respiratory disease : asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, * renal failure, * Raynaud's disease, * history of epilepsy, confusion, hallucinations or of psychoneurotic state, * patients with an increased cardiovascular risk (\> 20% according to the Framingham scale) or with a cardiovascular history, * patients having a congestive heart failure, swollen legs or a posture hypotension, * patients who received a influenza vaccine for seasons 2011-2012 or 2012-2013, * known hypersensitivity to any component of the treatment, * topical use of nasal decongestant (except physiological serum), * use of steroids, immunosuppressive or antipsychotics drugs (including treatments for nausea), * use of indirect sympathomimetics drugs (ephedrine, methylphenidate, phenylephrine, pseudoephedrine), * use of dopaminergic ergot alkaloids (bromocriptine, cabergoline, lisuride, pergolide) or vasoconstrictor ergot alkaloids (dihydroergotamine, ergotamine, methylergométrine, methylsergide), * known hypertension treated or not, * history of bradycardia, * history of urinary retention, * severe cardiopathy, * acute angle-closure glaucoma, * severe obliterative vasculopathy, * vasospasm, * thyrotoxicosis, * pheochromocytoma, * history of angina pectoris, * use of guanethidine and related, iproniazide (non selective MAOIs), alpha-blockers and digitalis drugs * use of neuraminidase inhibitors: oseltamivir, zanamivir; and M2 proton-selective ion channel inhibitors: amantadine and rimantadine