Paxlovid is a brand - name drug prescribed for COVID-19 . Paxlovid contains the combat-ready ingredients nirmatrelvir and ritonavir .

Specifically , the Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) has approve Paxlovid to treat modest to moderateCOVID-19 in adult who are at mellow jeopardy for disease progress .

Drug details

You ’ll find cardinal information about Paxlovid here :

Paxlovid has aboxed warning . A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the FDA . For detail , see the “ Paxlovid interactions ” section .

Paxlovid generic

Paxlovid is available only as a firebrand - name medicament . It ’s not currently usable ingeneric material body .

A generic drug is an exact transcript of the dynamic ingredient in a blade - name medicament . Generics usually cost less than brand - name drug .

Paxlovid dosage

The Paxlovid dose your Dr. prescribes will depend on several factor , including other medical conditions you may have .

The following information describe dosages that are ordinarily used or recommended . However , be certain to take the dose your MD prescribes for you . Your Dr. will limit the best dosage to meet your needs .

Drug forms and strengths

Paxlovid comes as nirmatrelvir tablets co - box with ritonavir tablets . Nirmatrelvir tablets are usable in 150 mg ( mg ) , and ritonavir tab are available in 100 mg .

There are three different 5 - day battery-acid packs available in the follow strengths per dose :

Nirmatrelvir and ritonavir tablets are taken together .

  • This dose pack should be useable by midyear 2025 . If you have questions about this dose clique , talk with your doc or pharmacist .

Dosage for COVID-19

You should start Paxlovid as soon as potential after receive a COVID-19 diagnosis and within 5 day of developing symptoms .

The advocate dose for Paxlovid is 300 mg of nirmatrelvir ( two 150 - mg tablet ) with 100 mg of ritonavir ( one 100 - mg tablet ) choose together twice per day ( in the sunrise and at bedtime ) for 5 days .

If you have moderate or severe kidney impairment , you may need to take low acid of Paxlovid . See the table below for detail .

About taking Paxlovid

You ’ll observe information about key dose issues here :

Overdose

Do not take more Paxlovid than your doctor urge . For some drugs , doing so may lead to unwanted side effects or overdose .

If you think you ’ve lease too much of this drug , call your Dr. . you’re able to also call America ’s Poison Centers at 800 - 222 - 1222 or use itsonline creature . However , if your symptoms are severe , call 911 or your local emergency number or go to the approximate exigency way right away .

Paxlovid side effects

Paxlovid can have mild or serious side effects . The following lean contain some of the key side effects that may occur while taking Paxlovid . These lists do not let in all possible side effects .

For more information about the possible side effects of Paxlovid , talk with your Dr. or pill roller . They can give you tips on how to oversee any side effects that may be occupy or galling .

Note : After the Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) approves a drug , it track and reviews side force of the medication . Sharing your experience facilitate make medication safer for everyone by giving doctors and researchers more information about how the drug works in substantial life . If you develop a side effect while taking Paxlovid and require to state the FDA about it , visitMedWatchor call 800 - FDA-1088 .

Mild side effects

Here is a fond list of mild side effect of Paxlovid . To learn about other mild side effect , talk with your medico or pill pusher or view Paxlovid’sprescribing selective information .

meek side core of Paxlovid can let in :

These side impression may go away within a few days to a couple of weeks . However , if they become more severe or do n’t go off , utter with your doctor or chemist .

Serious side effects

Serious side outcome from Paxlovid are n’t plebeian , but they can occur . Call your physician right by if you have serious side effects . Call 911 or your local emergency phone number if your symptom feel life threatening or you consider you ’re have a medical emergency .

Serious side result can let in :

For some people , Paxlovid can cause anallergic reaction .

In cosmopolitan , symptoms of an supersensitized reaction can be balmy or serious .

way to manage

For mild allergic reaction symptom , such as a modest rash , call your Dr. right away . They may recommend treatment to help supervise your symptoms . They ’ll also get you know whether you should keep take the medication .

For stern allergic reaction symptom , such as excrescence or trouble external respiration , call 911 or your local exigency number right forth . These symptoms require quick medical attention because they can become life threatening . If you ’ve had a serious supersensitised reaction to Paxlovid , your doctor may recommend a different medicinal drug instead .

Paxlovid for COVID-19

Paxlovid is okay by the Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) to cover mild to moderate COVID-19 in adults — specifically in grownup who are at high risk of progression to severe COVID-19 , admit hospitalization or end .

This drug is not O.K. to be used for preexposure or postexposure bar of COVID-19 .

COVID-19 explained

Coronavirus disease 2019 ( COVID-19 ) is a disease triggered by a virus call severe keen respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 ( SARS - CoV-2 ) . you could also foreshorten COVID-19 by touching a surface that the virus is on and then touching your face , eyes , olfactory organ , or sassing , or by inspire the virus .

Some people may not have symptoms , so they do n’t know that they have COVID-19 . Other people may have severe symptoms , which can take to life threatening complication .

symptom typically take off within 14 days of exposure to the computer virus and may include :

Paxlovid interactions

Paxlovid caninteractwith several other medicinal drug and certainsupplements .

Before take Paxlovid , talk with your doctor and pharmacist . Tell them about all prescription , over - the - replication , and other drugs you take . Also tell them about anyvitamins , herbaceous plant , and addendum you take . share this information can serve you avoid potential interaction .

FDA warning: Serious drug interactions with Paxlovid

This drug has aboxed word of advice . This is a serious admonition from the Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) . A boxed warning alerts doctor and patients about drug effects that may be dangerous .

Paxlovid has a risk of exposure of interacting with many other medications because it inhibit ( blocks ) certain liverenzymes(a eccentric of protein ) , including CYP3A , CYP2D6 , atomic number 15 - general practitioner , and OATP1B1 . These enzymes can avail break down some drugs or dispatch them from your body .

For example , simvastatin ( Zocor ) is give way down by the CYP3A enzyme . Because Paxlovid blocks this enzyme , taking this drug with Paxlovid may lead to high level of simvastatin in your trunk . This can result in potentially animation menace side burden .

Other medications , such as carbamazepine ( Tegretol ) and rifampin ( Rifadin ) , cause your body to get rid of Paxlovid more speedily than usual . This prevent Paxlovid from working as well as expect and may increase the danger that COVID-19 will go on to a severe level .

Be certain to lecture with your medico about all the medications you ’re pack . They can limit whether it ’s safe for you to take Paxlovid .

Interactions with foods and lab tests or vaccines

There are noknowninteractions between Paxlovid and food , lab tests , or vaccines .

Interactions with supplements

MD will typically recommend that you keep off takingSt . John ’s wortduring Paxlovid handling . St. John ’s wort is an herbal appurtenance that may be used to treatdepressionand other conditions .

St. John ’s wort may speed up the activity of CYP3A4 . By travel rapidly up this enzyme , St. John ’s wort can make Paxlovid to break down more quick , and this may head to a dispirited degree of Paxlovid in your system . If the floor of Paxlovid in your system is too low , the drug may not shape to treat COVID-19 .

Your doctor may be able to evoke a treatment choice other than St. John ’s wort .

Alcohol interaction

Alcohol is not jazz to interact with Paxlovid . It ’s in all likelihood safe to eat up intoxicant while taking Paxlovid . If you have doubtfulness about how much intoxicant is good to drink while taking Paxlovid , blab with your doctor or pharmacist .

Paxlovid cost and coupons

As with all medications , the price of Paxlovid can vary . The literal price you ’ll ante up depend on yourinsuranceplan , your location , and the pharmacy you use .

fiscal and policy assistance : If you need financial support to yield for Paxlovid or postulate assistance understanding your insurance coverage , facilitate is useable .

A platform cry Paxcess is available for Paxlovid . This program can be used with or without policy . For more selective information and to find out whether you ’re eligible for musical accompaniment , call 877 - 219 - 7225 or see theprogram website .

Generic version : Paxlovid is not available in agenericform . A generic drug is an exact copy of the active ingredient in a brand - name medicament . Generics tend to cost less than brand - name drug .

get word money on prescription .

Things to consider when taking Paxlovid

If you could become pregnant , consider the following information about pregnancy , birthing control , and breastfeeding .

Paxlovid and pregnancy

It ’s not known whether Paxlovid should be taken during maternity . There have not been enoughstudiesin pregnant people .

However , COVID-19 during maternity is affiliate with serious effect for both the pregnant person and the youngster . exercise includepreeclampsia , preterm birth , and ( in some case ) foetal death .

If you ’re planning a pregnancy or can become pregnant , blab out with your Doctor of the Church about potential treatment for COVID-19 during gestation . Together , you may consider the peril and benefits of your treatment options and adjudicate whether you should take Paxlovid during pregnancy .

Paxlovid and birth control

If you ’re sexually dynamic and you or your partner can become significant , talk with your Dr. about yourbirth controloptions while you ’re taking Paxlovid .

Ritonavir , one of the active ingredients in Paxlovid , can interact with sure types of hormonal birth control and can make the nascency control less effective . Talk with your doctor about an alternative hormonal birth control condition alternative and whether you should employ an extra barrier method while you ’re taking Paxlovid .

Paxlovid and breastfeeding

It ’s not known whether Paxlovid should be taken while suckle . Studieshave show that Paxlovid appears in knocker milk , but there is no information on whether it affects Milk River product or sham a child who is breastfed .

If you ’re currently breastfeeding or design to do so , talk with your Doctor of the Church before take this medicament .

Common questions about Paxlovid

Here are answer to some frequently necessitate questions about Paxlovid .

What is Paxlovid rebound?

Some people may experience a return of their symptoms of COVID-19 between 2 and 8 day after they have recovered or finish treatment with drugs such as Paxlovid . This is known as a rebound of symptom .

TheCenters for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC)states that a return of symptom may hap in some people with COVID-19 , but this repercussion is likely due to the virus itself and not related to discourse with Paxlovid or vaccination status . There is special info from case reports , and currently there is no grounds that extra treatment is needed for COVID-19 repercussion .

If you have question about rebound effects of COVID-19 after end your treatment with Paxlovid , talk with your physician or pill roller .

How does Paxlovid work? And how long until it starts working?

Paxlovid is an antiviral medication . Specifically , nirmatrelvir is a SARS - CoV-2 peptidase inhibitor , and ritonavir is a HIV-1 proteolytic enzyme inhibitor . Paxlovid work to block SARS - CoV-2 and stop it from replicate . This reduces the amount of the computer virus in your body , avail you fight off the infection .

Many people discover symptom improvement in about 1 to 2 days . However , it often takes about 2 to 4 24-hour interval for symptoms to to the full resolve .

Paxlovid is a 5 - day treatment , and it is important that you finish the full treatment regimen . If you have questions about whether Paxlovid is work for you , peach with your Dr. or pill roller .

Paxlovid precautions

Paxlovid has aboxed warning . A boxed in admonition is the most serious admonition from the Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) . For detail , see the “ Paxlovid interaction ” incision .

Other precautions

Before take Paxlovid , discuss your wellness history with your doctor . Paxlovid may not be proper for you if you have sealed medical conditions or other factors pretend your health . Be certain to babble with your doctor if any of the conform to use to you :

Note : For more information about the possible negatively charged outcome of Paxlovid , see the “ Paxlovid side consequence ” section . Also , for info on the boxed monition about serious drug interactions with Paxlovid , see the “ Paxlovid interactions ” division .

Disclaimer : Medical News Today has made every effort to check that that all information is factually correct , comprehensive , and up to date . However , this article should not be used as a substitute for the noesis and expertise of a commissioned health care professional . You should always confabulate your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medicine . The drug information contained herein is subject to modification and is not intended to brood all possible uses , direction , precautions , warnings , drug fundamental interaction , allergic reaction , or untoward effects . The absence seizure of warnings or other information for a given drug does not bespeak that the drug or drug compounding is safe , effective , or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses .