Ought to I Take Antiviral Drugs If I Get COVID-19? Right here’s What to Know

COVID-19 antiviral drugs assist your physique in fighting off an infection by stopping the virus from making copies of itself. This helps cut back signs and shorten the size of sickness.

COVID-19 continues to linger, and will for the foreseeable future, however day-after-day we’re studying extra on methods to forestall and deal with it.

There are COVID-19 vaccinations to assist defend you towards extreme sickness, hospitalization and loss of life. And, for those who’re identified with COVID-19, there are drugs accessible that will forestall severe illness or loss of life.

COVID-19 antiviral drugs

You could have heard about monoclonal antibody and convalescent plasma therapies. However the latest therapies are antiviral capsules, a category of medicine used to deal with infections attributable to viruses like COVID-19.

“Presently, there are two antiviral drugs which have obtained Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) by the U.S. Meals and Drug Administration to deal with COVID-19, ritonavir-boosted nirmatrelvir (Paxlovid) and molnupiravir (Lagevrio),” stated Jason Brown, MD, the chief medical officer for Banner Pharmacy Companies in Phoenix, AZ. “Each antiviral drugs have been confirmed to be efficient in lowering a affected person’s probabilities of being hospitalized, or dying, from COVID-19 and might be taken within the consolation of your personal dwelling.”

Antivirals aren’t new �" you will have even taken one like Tamiflu for influenza. However how do these medicine work, and will you profit?

Right here’s what to know concerning the oral antiviral capsules Paxlovid and Lagevrio.

1. How do COVID-19 antivirals work?

COVID-19 antiviral drugs assist your physique struggle off the an infection by stopping the virus from making copies of itself. This helps cut back signs and shorten the size of sickness.

Paxlovid is a mix of two antiviral capsules: nirmatrelvir and ritonavir. “Nirmatrelvir blocks COVID-19 from multiplying in order that the virus can not make copies of itself,” stated Denise Erickson, senior director of Banner Pharmacy Companies. “Then ritonavir helps sluggish the breakdown of nirmatrelvir, enabling the medicine to remain in your physique at greater ranges for longer.”

Lagevrio additionally stops COVID-19 from copying itself. It does so by tricking the virus into inserting the Lagevrio into its genetic materials making it troublesome for the virus to make copies.

2. Who can take COVID-19 oral antivirals?

Each drugs can be found by prescription, however they aren’t for everybody.

Right here’s what to know:

• Paxlovid is the popular oral antiviral for COVID-19 remedy. Nonetheless, chances are you'll not be capable of take Paxlovid you probably have extreme renal or liver illness and/or are taking sure drugs as a result of drug interactions. Lagevrio ought to solely be taken if you're unable to obtain Paxlovid or a monoclonal antibody.
• You shouldn’t take Lagevrio for those who’re pregnant or breastfeeding and/or 17 years outdated and youthful as it could sluggish bone and cartilage progress.
• The FDA has approved Paxlovid for folks ages 12 and older who weigh at the least 88 kilos and are excessive threat.
• Lagevrio is allowed for adults 18 and older who're excessive threat when various COVID-19 remedy choices approved by FDA (i.e., Paxlovid) aren't accessible or clinically applicable.

“Those that could profit most from COVID-19 remedy are sufferers with excessive threat elements or medical circumstances that put them in danger for growing extreme illness,” Dr. Brown stated. “A few of these threat elements embrace sufferers who're chubby, overweight, have coronary heart circumstances, diabetes, most cancers, power liver illness, power lung illness, being pregnant or are over age 50.

Your well being care supplier will assist you perceive whether or not you’re eligible and which medicine is best for you. Let your supplier know what drugs you’re at the moment taking.

3. What are the potential negative effects of taking COVID-19 antivirals?

As with all medicine, you may expertise negative effects with antivirals. Some negative effects from oral antivirals embrace altered sense of style, diarrhea, nausea, dizziness, hypertension and muscle aches.

“Your supplier will rigorously talk about the dangers and advantages with you, together with any potential drug interactions, earlier than prescribing any medicine,” Dr. Brown stated.

4. When ought to COVID-19 antiviral drugs be taken?

“Oral antivirals are simplest if prescribed as quickly as attainable and inside 5 days of signs starting,” Erickson stated.

Paxlovid and Lagevrio are oral drugs that may be taken with or with out meals. It’s vital to complete all prescribed medicine to assist them be as efficient as attainable.

5. Is there a distinction between the COVID-19 vaccine and COVID-19 antiviral capsules?

Antiviral capsules aren’t an alternative choice to getting vaccinated. Information reveals that unvaccinated adults are twice as prone to get reinfected with COVID-19 than those that get vaccinated after recovering from their sickness.

“One of the best ways to stop severe sickness from COVID-19 an infection, together with hospitalization and loss of life, is to get the COVID-19 vaccine and your booster,” Dr. Brown stated. “When you had COVID-19, you need to nonetheless get the vaccine as soon as your signs have resolved.”

Author's Note

If it’s been a while since your doses of the vaccine, now's the time to schedule a booster, for those who’re eligible.