Official Government Website

Therapeutics

Do you think you may have COVID-19?

Contact your healthcare provider right away. If you have COVID-19 and are eligible for treatment, you will need to get tested and start treatment within days after you first develop symptoms. Don’t delay!

This webpage provides a brief background on available therapeutics for the treatment of early mild to moderate COVID-19 in non-hospitalized patients. Many of these therapeutics have been authorized for emergency use by the FDA and procured by the U.S. Government. All require an order or prescription from a healthcare provider.

TREATMENTS

Oral Antivirals

Two oral antiviral medications for the treatment of COVID-19 are currently available. These medications have received emergency use authorization from the FDA for the treatment of certain non-hospitalized patients who are at high risk of progression to severe COVID-19. The U.S. Government has purchased these medications and is distributing them to states and territories. They are widely available at multiple pharmacies across Idaho. Both medications must be started within 5 days of symptom onset and require a prescription.

Paxlovid

Paxlovid – Oral antiviral product for treatment of COVID-19

Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir/ritonavir) is an oral antiviral medicine that is used to treat mild to moderate COVID-19 in people age 12 and older weighing at least 88 pounds who have tested positive for COVID-19 and are at high risk for developing severe COVID-19. The medication is taken twice daily for 5 days and must be started within 5 days of symptom onset. Paxlovid interacts with multiple drugs, and adjustments may need to be made to some of your medications while taking Paxlovid. In some cases, Paxlovid may not be recommended due to serious drug-drug interactions. Also, certain individuals with severe kidney or liver disease may not be able to take Paxlovid.

Lagevrio

Lavegrio – oral antiviral for treatment of COVID-19

Lagevrio (molnupiravir) is an oral antiviral drug that is used to treat mild to moderate COVID-19 in people ages 18 and older who have tested positive for COVID-19 and are at high risk for developing severe COVID-19. It is taken twice daily for 5 days and must be started within 5 days of symptom onset. Precautions must be taken for individuals who are able to become pregnant or who are sexually active with partners who are able to become pregnant. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines recommend molnupiravir only when Paxlovid or remdesivir are unavailable, not feasible to use, or clinically inappropriate.

IV Antivirals

Veklury

Veklury – IV antiviral for treatment of COVID-19

Veklury (remdesivir) is an antiviral drug administered by IV injection. It is approved for use for both outpatient and inpatient treatment of COVID-19. When used for outpatients, the treatment must be started within 7 days of symptoms onset and is administered once daily for 3 days. Veklury is commercially available, and distribution is not coordinated by the federal or state governmental health agencies.

Monoclonal Antibody Therapy

Our bodies naturally make antibodies to fight infection. Monoclonal antibodies are like the antibodies your body makes to fight other viruses, but they are made in a lab and are designed to target the coronavirus spike protein. When the antibodies bind to the spike protein, they block the virus from entering your body’s cells. This keeps the virus from spreading to more of your cells.

Unfortunately, because many of the currently circulating variants of the COVID-19 virus have developed resistance, monoclonal antibody therapies are currently unavailable for the prevention or treatment of COVID-19 in the United States.

AVAILABILITY

Please visit the HHS COVID-19 Therapeutics Locator to see the locations that have received U.S. Government-procured COVID-19 therapeutics and the current inventories. Veklury (remdesivir) is only available commercially, and some sites that administer outpatient Veklury have chosen to be displayed on the COVID-19 Therapeutics Locator.

All of the treatments require a prescription or doctor’s referral. Please contact your healthcare provider to see if you qualify for treatments of COVID-19 and for further instructions.

Resources for Healthcare Providers

Fact Sheets for Healthcare Providers

Other Resources

Resources for Locations Administering/Dispensing COVID-19 Therapeutics

Facilities interested in obtaining U.S. Government-procured therapeutics to dispense (oral antivirals) should email DPHInquiries@dhw.idaho.gov.

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