Newly infected COVID-19 patients have two new treatment options that can be taken at home. But that convenience comes with a catch.
The first authorized COVID-19 pill Paxlovid has been "working quite well," says CDC director Rachelle Walensky.Merck's molnupiravir is not authorized for children because it might interfere with bone growth. It also isn't recommended for pregnant women because of the potential for birth defects. Pfizer's pill isn't recommended for patients with severe kidney or liver problems.
Dr. Cameron Wolfe, an infectious disease specialist at Duke University Hospital, advises getting a test as soon as you have symptoms of COVID-19. "If you wait until you have started to get breathless, you have already to a large extent missed the window where these drugs will be helpful," Wolfe said.You'll need a prescription first from a doctor or other authorized health worker. The U.S. government is buying the pills from Merck and Pfizer and providing them for free, but supplies will be limited initially.
Some pharmacists may be able to administer a quick COVID-19 test and prescribe the pills all in one visit. They already do this in many states for flu or strep throat.The pills are expected to be effective against omicron because they don't target the spike protein where most of the variant's worrisome mutations reside. The two pills work in different ways to prevent the virus from reproducing.
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EXPLAINER: New Easy-to-Use COVID-19 Pills Come With a CatchNewly infected COVID-19 patients have two new treatment options that can be taken at home. But that convenience comes with a catch: The pills have to be taken as soon as possible once symptoms appear.
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