COVID-19 Treatment

young man receiving shot in upper arm

COVID-19 therapeutic treatments can prevent severe illness and hospitalization for high-risk patients. Treatments used for COVID-19 must be prescribed by your healthcare provider. If you test positive for COVID-19, including on a home test, and are 65 years or older, pregnant, or have an underlying condition that puts you at high risk of severe COVID-19 outcomes, contact your healthcare provider right away to discuss treatment options. Please do not present to a pharmacy or infusion center without a prescription.

Patients who are at higher risk for severe COVID-19 might benefit from outpatient treatment. Severe outcomes of COVID-19 include hospitalization, intensive care, ventilatory support, or death. Risk factors for severe COVID-19 include:

  • Age over 50 years, with risk increasing substantially as age increases above 65 years
  • Being unvaccinated or not up to date on COVID-19 vaccinations
  • Specific medical conditions, with risk increasing substantially with presence of multiple medical conditions
  • Immunocompromising conditions or use of immunosuppressive medications, such as chemotherapy
Treatment Who Route Duration Time from Illness Onset Specific Issues
Nirmatrelvir-Ritonavir (Paxlovid) Adults; children aged 12 years and older and at least 40kg Oral 5 days ≤5 days Adjust dosing in some cases; drug-drug interactions; severe kidney and liver contraindications; no specific testing required before initiation
Remdesivir (Veklury) Adults; children aged 28 days and older and at least 3kg Intravenous 3 days ≤7 days Infusion over 30-120 minutes; infusion over 3 consecutive days; need to check liver function and prothrombin time before initiation
Recommended to use if above medications cannot be used or are unavailable.
Molnupiravir (Lagrevio) Adults Oral 5 days ≤5 days Women who are able to become pregnant and their partners should use birth control; avoid in pregnant women; no specific testing required before initiation