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infected for the first time COVID-19 patients now have two new at-home treatment alternatives.
However, there is a catch: the pills must be taken as soon as symptoms emerge.
The difficulty is getting tested, receiving a prescription, and starting the medications within a limited time frame.
Last Monday, US officials approved Paxlovid, a tablet developed by Pfizer, and molnupiravir, a drug developed by Merck. Both were demonstrated to lower the odds of COVID-19-related hospitalisation or mortality in high-risk patients, though Pfizer’s was far more effective.
WHERE SHOULD THESE PILLS BE USED?
Antiviral medications aren’t for everyone who tests positive for HIV. The medicines are for people who have mild to moderate COVID-19 and are at risk of getting sick. This includes the elderly, as well as individuals who have other health issues such as heart disease, cancer, or diabetes, which make them more vulnerable. Both medications have been approved for adults, however Paxlovid is just for children aged 12 and over.
WHO SHOULDN’T TAKE THESE DRUG REQUIREMENTS?
Because it may interfere with bone formation, Merck’s molnupiravir is not recommended for children. Because of the risk of birth problems, it is also not advised for pregnant women. For people with severe renal or liver disorders, Pfizer’s tablet is not suggested. It may also be ineffective for certain patients since it may interact with other medications they are taking. People hospitalised with COVID-19 are not allowed to take antiviral medications.
WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS FOR TREATMENT?
Within five days after the onset of symptoms, the pills must be taken. Cough, headache, fever, loss of taste or smell, and muscular and body aches are just a few of the symptoms. To check your symptoms, go to the CDC’s website.
If you have signs of COVID-19, Dr. Cameron Wolfe, an infectious disease expert at Duke University Hospital, recommends being tested very away.
“If you wait until you start to feel short of breath, you’ve already missed the window in which these medications can help,” Wolfe said.
WHAT ARE THE PILLS AND WHERE CAN I FIND THEM?
You’ll need a prescription from a doctor or other licenced health professional first. The government of the United States is purchasing the pills from Merck and Pfizer and giving them away for free, but supplies will be restricted at first. They’ll be delivered to states, where they’ll be sold at pharmacies, community health clinics, and other locations. The course of treatment lasts five days.
Some pharmacists may be able to perform a COVID-19 test and prescribe the tablets at the same appointment. Many states currently do this for flu or strep throat.
CAN THE PILLS BE USED WITH THE OMICRON VARIANT?
The pills should work against omicron since they don’t target the spike protein, which is where most of the variant’s dangerous mutations are found. To stop the virus from multiplying, the two medications function in distinct ways.
ARE THERE OTHER COVID-19 OPTIONS FOR NEW PATIENTS?
Yes, however they’re not as simple to administer as a pill: They’re usually delivered via IV or injection in a hospital or clinic. Three medications provide antiviral antibodies, although laboratory testing indicates that two of them are ineffective against omicron. GlaxoSmithKline’s antibody medication looks to be effective, and officials say they are striving to enhance availability in the United States. Remdesivir, the only antiviral medicine licenced in the United States, is used to treat COVID-19 patients in hospitals.
