CORONAVIRUS UPDATE: As experts learn more about the novel coronavirus, news and information changes. For the latest on the COVID-19 pandemic, please visit the <\/span><\/i>Centers for Disease Control and Prevention<\/span><\/i><\/a> (CDC).<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n What is Paxlovid?<\/a> | Dose<\/a> | Side effects<\/a> | Restrictions<\/a> | Availability<\/a> | Where to buy Paxlovid<\/a> | Cost<\/a> | Other COVID treatments<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n President Joe Biden<\/span><\/a> announced the shipment of the new COVID-19 antiviral drug Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir \/ ritonavir) when he addressed the nation on Jan. 4, 2022. The new \u201cCOVID pill\u201d is manufactured by Pfizer and was given emergency use authorization (EUA) on December 22, 2021 by the <\/span>U.S. Food and Drug Administration<\/span><\/a> (FDA). It is the first oral drug authorized for the novel coronavirus. The second one, created by Merck & Co and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics is <\/span>molnupiravir<\/span>. Molnupiravir received its EUA the day after Paxlovid.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re a game changer and have the potential to dramatically alter the impact of COVID-19, the impact it\u2019s had on this country and our people,\u201d President Biden said in his address.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Paxlovid is an antiviral pill taken orally to treat mild to moderate COVID-19 in patients <\/span>at risk<\/span><\/a> of developing a more severe infection. It is a combination of nirmatrelvir (PF-07321332) and ritonavir. Nirmatrevlir prevents the virus from replicating while ritonavir is known as a \u201cbooster,\u201d which helps increase levels of nirmatrelvir in the body to those that are effective against SARS-CoV-2. Ritonavir (<\/span>a protease inhibitor<\/span>) has historically been used in the management of HIV, while nirmatrelvir is a new medication. Paxlovid works similarly to how <\/span>Tamiflu (oseltamivir)<\/span> works for influenza (the flu) infections. A <\/span>Pfizer study<\/span><\/a> found that use of Paxlovid, in patients at risk for severe illness, reduced risk of hospitalization or death by 89%.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cViruses like SARS-CoV-2 that cause COVID-19 need to replicate, or copy themselves, in order to spread in the body,\u201d says <\/span>William Li<\/span><\/a>, MD, physician, scientist, and author of <\/span>Eat To Beat Disease<\/span><\/i>. \u201cThe more they copy, the more virus is around, and the more severe the infection. Paxlovid is an antiviral agent that blocks the virus from copying itself. It is like jamming the toner cartridge in a copy machine. You cannot make a copy once it\u2019s jammed.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n <\/b>Does Tamiflu work for COVID-19?<\/b><\/p>\n Pfizer\u2019s Paxlovid is only approved for use for adults and children aged 12 and older who weigh at least 88 pounds. This treatment of COVID-19 is used after you develop COVID-19 symptoms and test positive. Paxlovid does not prevent infection. COVID-19 vaccines are the best way to avoid illness. This drug should be taken as soon as possible, but at most five days of symptom onset and can be taken at home.<\/span><\/p>\n Paxlovid consists of two different drugs\u2014nirmatrelvir and ritonavir\u2014that are packaged together. Each dose is 300 mg of nirmatrelvir (two oval, pink 150\u202fmg tablets) and one tablet of 100 mg of ritonavir (one ovaloid, white 100 mg tablet). The dose is the same for all ages. You may require a lower dose if you have kidney disease. Paxlovid is taken by mouth in the morning and at night for five days. All three pills should be taken together, twice a day.<\/span><\/p>\n Paxlovid is a new COVID medication that only a limited number of people have taken. Even though this drug has been researched and proven more effective than placebo in clinical trials, there may be <\/span>side effects<\/span><\/a> that did not appear in the test subjects. If you experience any side effects, contact your healthcare provider. Paxlovid can <\/span>cause a multitude of serious drug interactions<\/span><\/a> with other medications and vitamins like St. John\u2019s Wort. Make sure to tell your healthcare provider about all medications and vitamins that you currently take. You may be advised to modify dosages of other medications, stop taking them altogether for the time you\u2019re taking Paxlovid, or in limited situations be advised against taking Paxlovid. Here are some possible serious side effects:<\/span><\/p>\n These are also some less serious side effects:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Paxlovid is not for everyone. Some restrictions apply to certain medical conditions. Ritonavir may cause liver damage, so if someone has liver issues such as preexisting liver diseases, liver enzyme abnormalities, or liver inflammation they may not be able to take Paxlovid. Also, if you have severe kidney problems Paxlovid is not recommended. You should not take Paxlovid if you are allergic to nirmatrelvir, ritonavir, or any of the ingredients in Paxlovid. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, there has not been research about how this medication may affect you or your baby. Discuss your options with your prescribing physician or pharmacist.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n It is also not recommended that you take Paxlovid if you are taking any of the following medicines because of the risk for drug interactions:<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThis is a new product that is not widely available in regular cities due to supply,\u201d says <\/span>Banita Sehgal<\/span><\/a>, MD, a physician at <\/span>LifeMD<\/span> in California. \u201cMany emergency rooms have initial access to it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Paxlovid is now available for <\/span>limited use<\/span><\/a> for patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 symptoms who are within five days of symptoms and who have risk factors for the progression to severe disease. Hopefully, Paxlovid will be more widely available in the coming months. But the drug takes a long time to manufacture which may slow down the distribution process.<\/span><\/p>\n Since Paxlovid is a COVID-19 pill that patients can easily swallow and take at home, the medication requires less training for healthcare providers as opposed to monoclonal antibodies therapy that needs to be administered by an intravenous (IV) infusion.<\/span><\/p>\n Currently Paxlovid is being distributed to states throughout the country. Paxlovid must be prescribed, but where you pick up that prescription varies by state since supplies are limited. In New York City, a specific company delivers the prescription to your home. In other states, a prescription can be filled at local healthcare centers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The federal government purchased 20 million treatment courses of Paxlovid\u2014costing about $530 per course. Currently, Paxlovid is free for the public since it was purchased by the federal government for public health during the pandemic. In the future, insurance might cover the cost.<\/span><\/p>\n These are the current therapeutics for COVID-19 that are available but might be in limited supply or limited to high-risk patients:<\/span><\/p>\n These medications appear to be effective against the latest variants, including the Omicron and Delta variants.<\/span><\/p>\nWhat is Paxlovid?<\/h2>\n
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