A doctor of pharmacology explains how COVID-19 antiviral pills can help with the worst effects of COVID-19.
Whos authorized to take it?
What are the limitations of the drug?
What are COVID-19 antiviral pills?
Per the Mayo Clinic, antiviral medications aredrugs that assist the bodyin fighting off dangerous viruses.
Antiviral medications can also lessen symptoms and shorten the duration of a given virus.
Lee Nguyen is the associate clinical professor at the Department of Clinical Pharmacy Practice at UC Irvine.
Currently, there are two such drugs authorized for the treatment of COVID-19.
Paxlovid is a combination of nirmatrelvir and ritonavir tablets co-packaged for oral use.
Paxlovid has three pills that are taken twice daily for five days.
Two of the pills are nirmatrelvir and one is ritonavir, explains Dr. Nguyen.
Molnupiravir works by creating errors in the SARS-CoV-2 virus genetic code, which keeps the virus from replicating further.
Its Amazing How Its All Connected.
So consult with your doctor if youve contracted COVID-19 and feel you may be part of an at-risk group.
The window to start these medications is relatively short: five days from the onset of symptoms.
Patients need to recognize that they might have COVID-19 in the first few days and get tested.
Lee Nguyen is the associate clinical professor at the Department of Clinical Pharmacy Practice at UC Irvine.
So its best to act fast if youre in an at-risk group and suspect you may have COVID-19.
Another major factor to consider is drug interactions.
If patients are taking other medications, there is a chance that ritonavir will boost those medications too.
Patients taking blood thinnersanticoagulantssuch as rivaroxaban or Xarelto are at increased risk of bleeding if taken with Paxlovid.
The current recommendation is to avoid taking both medications at the same time, explains Dr. Nguyen.
So ensure youre upfront with your doctor about all your medications.
However, its important to consult your doctor as soon as possible and be upfront about your other prescriptions.
Oh, and just to reiterate: The vaccine is crucial to combatting the worst effects of COVID-19.
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