There is now a pill to treat symptoms of COVID-19 this week the FDA approved Pfizer’s pill under emergency use authorization. The pill made by Pfizer is called Paxlovid. This drug is only available through prescription from your doctor.
The FDA says this drug is best for people to take if they just tested positive for COVID-19 and over the age of 12 along with weighing over 88 pounds.
Your symptoms for this medication need to be mild to moderate but you are at significant risk of hospitalization and death.
The FDA says the pill is most effective to take right after diagnosis and 5 days of symptoms onset. If you do get a prescription from your doctor you will get three tablets together 2 times a day for 5 days that is a total of 30 tablets.
This medication is not authorized for pre-exposure or post-exposure. The FDA made it very clear this medication is not a substitute for the COVID-19 vaccine.
Some possible side effects for this new medication is impairment of sense of taste, high blood pressure, mild muscle aches, and this could lead to drug resistance if you have HIV.
The FDA said this pill is not recommended for those who have liver or kidney impairments. Pfizer says they have 65,000 sets available now for use before the end of the year. By the end of January they will have 200,000 more for use.
As always these recommendations now go to the CDC for approval or not and they are expected to make a decision before the end of the week.
