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If you\u2019ve tested positive for COVID-19<\/u>, you might be wondering if it\u2019s necessary to take an antiviral medication, such as Paxlovid.<\/p>\n
Pfizer\u2019s Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir and ritonavir) gained full approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on May 25, 2023.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Another drug, Lagevrio (molnupiravir), is authorized for emergency use by the FDA under an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) \u2014 but does not have full approval.<\/p>\n
MASK MANDATES RETURN TO HOSPITALS IN NYC, SEVERAL OTHER STATES AMID RISE IN COVID, FLU CASES<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n As noted on Pfizer’s website, Paxlovid is intended for the treatment of mild to moderate COVID symptoms to prevent severe illness, hospitalization or death in high-risk individuals.<\/p>\n
Paxlovid, which must be prescribed by a doctor, works best when taken within five days of a COVID diagnosis<\/u> or when the first symptoms appear, according to Sean Marchese, a registered nurse at The Mesothelioma Center in Florida, who has a background in oncology clinical trials.<\/p>\n\n
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Sean Marchese, a registered nurse at The Mesothelioma Center in Florida, offered guidance on when to take Paxlovid after a COVID diagnosis.<\/span> (Sean Marchese\/Getty Images)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n“Patients should take the medication as soon as possible if they know or suspect they might have COVID to ensure it is most effective,” he told Fox News Digital.<\/p>\n
For those who do not have significant risk factors for Paxlovid, Marchese said, “starting treatment as soon as possible is essential, even if you only have mild symptoms.”<\/p>\n
COVID DRUG PAXLOVID, WHICH HELPS PREVENT SEVERE SYMPTOMS, WILL DOUBLE IN PRICE AS PANDEMIC EBBS<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n Similar to some antibiotics<\/u>, Paxlovid is offered on a “dose card” that allows you to punch out 30 pills during treatment, said Marchese. The standard treatment is three pills twice daily over five days.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Some patients may require a second course of Paxlovid if they have a rebound or relapse of COVID-19.<\/p>\n
Who should avoid Paxlovid?<\/strong><\/h2>\nFor those who have had COVID for more than a week, Paxlovid may be less effective and could potentially be harmful, Marchese advised.<\/p>\n
There is a higher risk of harm from taking Paxlovid for those who have organ damage, such as reduced kidney or liver function, according to Marchese.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Paxlovid works best when taken within five days of a COVID diagnosis or when the first symptoms appear, according to a registered nurse. There are other key facts about it that patients must know.\u00a0<\/span> (REUTERS\/Jennifer Lorenzini\/File Photo)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n“Pediatric patients under 12 years of age<\/u> or those weighing under 88 pounds should also avoid Paxlovid,” he said.<\/p>\n
People with cancer should discuss potential interactions between their prescribed medications and Paxlovid, the expert advised.<\/p>\n
MOST NOTABLE DRUG AND VACCINE APPROVALS OF 2023, ACCORDING TO PHARMACISTS<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n “Some cancer medications<\/u> may inhibit the effects of Paxlovid,” Marchese said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“Conversely, treatment with Paxlovid may reduce the effectiveness of some cancer medications.”<\/p>\n
As Pfizer notes on its website, physicians should “consider the benefit of Paxlovid treatment in reducing hospitalization and death, and whether the risk of potential drug-drug interactions for an individual patient can be appropriately managed.”<\/p>\n
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“Vaccination efforts continue to be the most effective guard against COVID-19,” the nurse told Fox News Digital.<\/span> (Michael Nagle\/Bloomberg via Getty Images)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nPeople with HIV-1 infections should consult their provider before taking Paxlovid, the expert said, as the medication could interfere with long-term HIV treatment.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“Other interactions with Paxlovid include cholesterol-lowering statins, such as Lipitor,” he warned.<\/p>\n
Potential side effects<\/strong><\/h2>\nSome patients report a “rebound” effect with Paxlovid, where they may test positive for COVID-19 after the course of treatment but show no symptoms, noted Marchese.\u00a0<\/p>\n
FAUCI \u2018CONCERNED\u2019 PEOPLE WON\u2019T COMPLY IF MASKING RECOMMENDATIONS RETURN: ‘I HOPE’ THEY ‘ABIDE’<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n “In these cases, reinfection is unlikely, and hospitalization or severe disease is rare,” he said.<\/p>\n
Potential side effects of the antiviral medication include hives or rashes on the skin or trouble breathing.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Those who have had COVID for more than a week should consult a health care provider before taking Paxlovid, the expert advised.<\/span> (iStock)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n“Those with hypersensitivity disorder should be especially cautious and notify their providers immediately if they experience any side effects,” noted Marchese.<\/p>\n
Other potential side effects include diarrhea, increased blood pressure<\/u>, muscle aches and nausea.<\/p>\n
“Vaccination efforts continue to be the most effective guard against COVID-19,” Marchese said. “People who have a higher risk of complications or immune deficiency, such as cancer patients, should stay vigilant with the COVID-19 vaccinations<\/u> and their other recommended vaccines.”<\/p>\n
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n Paxlovid was originally offered for free by the U.S. government. But as of Dec. 15, 2023, it transitioned to commercial distribution, according to the Health & Human Services website.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Pfizer also operates programs to ensure affordable access for patients.<\/p>\n
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n Fox News Digital reached out to Pfizer with the opportunity to provide additional comment.<\/p>\n
For more Health articles, visit <\/u><\/strong><\/i>www.foxnews.com\/health<\/u><\/strong><\/i>.<\/strong><\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n[ad_2]\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"[ad_1] Join Fox News for access to this content Plus get unlimited access to thousands of articles, videos and more with your free account! Please enter a valid email address. By entering your email, you are agreeing to Fox News Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, which includes our Notice of Financial Incentive. To access …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":23897,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/farratanews.online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23896"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/farratanews.online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/farratanews.online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/farratanews.online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/farratanews.online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23896"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/farratanews.online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23896\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/farratanews.online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/23897"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/farratanews.online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23896"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/farratanews.online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23896"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/farratanews.online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23896"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}