Some pharmacists may be able to do a quick COVID-19 test and prescribe all the pills at once. They already do this for the flu or strep throat in many states.
Newly infected COVID-19 patients have two new treatment options that can be taken at home.
But that convenience comes with a catch: The pills should be taken as soon as possible when symptoms appear. The challenge is being tested, getting a prescription and starting pills in a small window.
US regulators last week authorized Pfizer’s pill, Paxlovid and Merck’s molnupiravir. In high-risk patients, both were shown to reduce the chance of hospitalization or death from COVID-19, although Pfizer was more effective.
a closer look:
Who should take these pills?
Antiviral pills are not for everyone who tests positive. The tablets are intended for people with mild or moderate COVID-19, who are more likely to become seriously ill. This includes older people and people with other health conditions such as heart disease, cancer or diabetes that make them more vulnerable. Both tablets were okay for adults while Paxlovid is authorized for children 12 years of age and older.
Who should not take these pills?
Merck’s molnupiravir is not approved for children because it can interfere with the growth of bones. It is also not recommended for pregnant women due to the potential for birth defects. Pfizer tablet is not recommended for patients with severe kidney or liver problems. It may also not be the best option for some because it can interact with other prescriptions that a patient is taking. Antiviral pills are not authorized for people hospitalized with COVID-19.
What is the treatment window?
Tablets should be started as soon as possible within five days of symptom onset. Cough, headache, fever, loss of taste or smell, and muscle and body aches are among the more common symptoms. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides a website to check your symptoms.
Dr. Cameron Wolfe, an infectious disease specialist at Duke University Hospital, recommends that you get tested as soon as you notice symptoms of COVID-19.
“If you wait until you start breathing, you’ve already largely missed the window where these drugs will be helpful,” Wolff said.
Where can I get pills?
You will first need a prescription from a doctor or other authorized health worker. The US government is buying the pills from Merck & Pfizer and making them available for free, but initially supplies will be limited. They will be sent to states where they will be available at drug stores, community health centers and other places. Treatment lasts for five days.
Some pharmacists may be able to do a quick COVID-19 test and prescribe all the pills at once. They already do this for the flu or strep throat in many states.
Will the tablets work for the OMICRON version?
The pills are expected to be effective against Omicron because they do not target the spike protein where most types of anxiolytic mutations reside. The two pills work in different ways to prevent the virus from reproducing.
Are there other options for new COVID-19 patients?
Yes, but they’re not as easy to use in pill form: They’re given by IV or injection, usually in a hospital or clinic. All three drugs provide virus-fighting antibodies, although laboratory testing shows that both are not effective against Omicron. British drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline’s antibody-drug appears to be working, and officials say they are working to increase US supplies. Remdesivir, the only antiviral drug approved in the US, is for people hospitalized with COVID-19.
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