Should you take a COVID-19 antiviral after getting infected? Here’s what to know

If you recently tested positive for COVID-19, you may be eligible for antiviral treatments to help reduce your infection.

Earlier this year, when the omicron variant was steering the pandemic, doctors began prescribing the COVID antiviral pill Paxlovid.

Paxlovid, developed by Pfizer, and Lagevrio — also known as molnupiravir — from the biopharmaceutical company Merk, are two forms of antivirals.

These treatments, taken orally, can help stop the coronavirus from multiplying in your body, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It can also lower the amount of the virus in your body and help your immune system.

As a result, you can lessen serious symptoms and lower the chance that your infection worsens, the HHS stated.

But they’re not for everyone.

Who can take Paxlovid or Lagevrio?

Both treatments are for individuals that have mild to moderate COVID-19 symptoms in the last five days and are at a higher risk of getting more serious reactions.

People who are considered to have a higher risk include individuals 65 years and older, those who have cancer, HIV or are pregnant.

For Paxlovid, you must be at least 12 years old and weigh 88 pounds.

For Lagevrio, you must be at least 18 years old. According to the Lagevrio fact sheet, this treatment is not recommended for those that are pregnant.

How do you get it?

You need a prescription from a healthcare professional to get the antiviral.

California’s new “Test to Treat” program allows all individuals, including those uninsured, to get tested for COVID, see a doctor and get a prescription for Paxlovid or Lagevrio.

Are there side effects?

There are potential side effects for both treatments.

If taking Paxlovid, some side effects, according to the treatment’s fact sheet, could include allergic reactions, liver problems, nausea, high blood pressure, altered sense of taste and abdominal pain.

The antiviral can also lead to resistance to HIV medication, and if you have untreated HIV, it can affect HIV medication effectiveness in the future.

If you plan on taking Lagevrio, adverse effects could include allergic reactions, diarrhea, nausea and dizziness.

Using antivirals alongside other medications can result in serious side effects or affect how it works. Before taking these treatments, let your healthcare provider know what medications you are taking, including vitamins, birth control and herbal supplements

It’s important to note that these treatments are still being studied and it’s possible that there may be other risks. If you take one of these antivirals and experience a reaction, you should contact your healthcare provider and report it to the Food and Drug Administration’s MedWatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

What’s Paxlovid rebound?

This refers to COVID-19 rebound, when coronavirus symptoms reappear or when individuals test positive for the virus after testing negative.

The Mayo Clinic released a study in June that reported that four people out of a group of 483 individuals who took Paxlovid developed COVID-19 rebound symptoms.

It’s not clear why some people rebounded. Researchers from the clinic say it could be due to a replication of the virus triggering a second immune response, resulting in mild symptoms. They say that those who got COVID again also had serious health conditions, such as kidney disease and obesity.

The four did recover from the second bout, according to the Mayo Clinic.

In May, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention acknowledged the reoccurrence of COVID-19 following Paxlovid and continued to recommend it for people who are at high risk of serious disease.

“A brief return of symptoms may be part of the natural history of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) infection in some persons, independent of treatment with Paxlovid and regardless of vaccination status,” the agency stated.

It added that while there is limited information, there are no reports of severe disease during the reoccurrence and there’s no evidence that additional Paxlovid treatment is needed.

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