Experts call it a real “game changer.”
At the end of 2021, the Food and Drug Administration authorized the first official antiviral pill for emergency use to treat Covid-19, and thousands became available.
This came as the Omicron variant continued to surge across the U.S. and around the world and third and fourth booster shots were being administered. Since then, we’ve seen more surges, more booster shots, and more cases of Covid.
Here’s info on what to expect from the Covid pill, Paxlovid
First, what is this drug, Paxlovid, exactly?
Paxlovid is a Covid-19 medication made by Pfizer, and may be used to treat either Omicron or Delta variants. “One of its benefits is it is agnostic currently to variant type,” Jeffrey Klausner, MD, tells KCM.
Its benefits are promising: Clinical trials have shown it to slash the chances of hospitalization or death by as much as 88 percent among adults at high risk of severe Covid-19, compared with a placebo. “In terms of Paxlovid, that is a game-changer,” says Klausner. “It is a very safe and highly effective treatment.”
The timing of the FDA’s approval was also critical given a current shortage of needed drugs, including Covid-19 treatments. Antibody medicines, which have been in short supply, are no match for Omicron, and hospitals were scrambling to find alternative treatments.
“This pill comes right at the right time,” Robert Lahita, MD, told KCM when it was released. It’s also not the only antiviral drug on the horizon: Merck’s Molnupiravir also got the green light from the FDA for high-risk adults.
How does Paxlovid work?
The FDA says Paxlovid works to block the ability of the virus to copy itself. A course of treatment is made up of three tablets that are taken twice a day over the course of five days, for a total of 30 pills. The pill is taken in combination with Ritonavir, a generic antiviral that’s commonly used to treat HIV.
But there’s an important caveat: Dr. Lahita tells us that the pills need to be taken within the first five days of symptoms. “It obliterates the virus replication process,” he explains. He adds that the treatment will need to be administered by a healthcare professional, saying it won’t be “like taking an aspirin.”
Are there any Paxlovid side effects?
The FDA is continuing to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of Paxlovid, warning that it shouldn’t be taken along with certain drugs, or by people with an untreated HIV infection. The most commonly reported side effect was loss of taste, diarrhea, high blood pressure, and muscle aches.
Dr. Lahita says the choice to prescribe it should be left to doctors to decide, though he acknowledges that there are even some unknowns within the medical community. “Most physicians have no information on the different vicissitudes of taking this medication yet,” he says. “I’m sure that’s all going to be coming out shortly and I’m sure [the pill] will be administered in both the emergency room and in specialized areas.”
Who will be able to access it?
According to Yale Medicine, the FDA authorized Paxlovid for people ages 12 and older who weigh at least 88 pounds. “But in order to qualify for a prescription, you must also have had a positive COVID-19 test result and be at high risk for developing severe COVID-19.”
