One of my favorite literature researchers is Richard Bukata.
Here he talks about a marginal benefit for flu.
Tamiflu
http://www.epmonthly.com/www.epmonthly.com/features/current-features/tamiflu-know-the-research-before-you-prescribe/?utm_source=EPM+2014-1-23&utm_campaign=EPM+January+23+2014&utm_medium=email
Didn’t we have a national panic over lack of flu vaccine and Tamiflu shortages a few years ago? And the stuff has limited effectiveness.
With Theraflu the illness at least feels shorter because you’re blissfully unconcious for most of it and at a fraction of the cost of Tamiflu.
I think you’re being too kind by calling it a “mixed report”. Tamiflu™ simply has marginal, if even that, value.
On the other hand, the similarly named Theraflu™, which is just a symptom reliever and makes no claims to actually “treat” the underlying viruses, does work. Well, at least for what it says, which id making you fell less horrible.