Is it safe to take Paxlovid™ with my other medications?
The bottom line
Paxlovid™ is an oral medication that recently received emergency use authorization from the FDA to prevent severe COVID-19 infection in high-risk individuals who test positive for the virus. While it is generally well tolerated, Paxlovid™ interacts with many commonly used medications, which can lead to toxicity.
Prevention Tips
Seek testing/medical care if you suspect you have COVID-19 infection. Do not self-diagnose or treat.
Tell your doctor about all prescription and over-the-counter medications and supplements you are taking prior to starting Paxlovid™.
Take Paxlovid™ exactly as prescribed and follow your doctor’s instructions about taking your other medications while on Paxlovid™.
Never take other people’s prescription medication.
COVID-19 infection is best prevented through vaccination, wearing masks, hand washing, and social distancing.
This Really Happened
In a clinical trial, 70 healthy adults were given various doses of nirmatrelvir, with or without ritonavir. Nirmatrelvir was found to be safe and well tolerated by these individuals. When it was administered with ritonavir, nirmatrelvir was found to have good antiviral effect against COVID-19 infection. The antiviral activity persisted for 12 hours after dosing, leading investigators to suggest twice-daily dosing as the appropriate dosing guideline for Paxlovid®.
The full story
In December 2021, the FDA granted emergency use authorization for Paxlovid™, which is a combination medication containing nirmatrelvir and ritonavir. It is currently authorized to treat individuals with mild to moderate COVID-19 infection who are at risk for developing severe disease. This includes older adults and people with medical conditions such as heart or lung disease, diabetes, or an abnormal immune system. Paxlovid™ is an oral medication that is taken twice a day for 5 days.
Nirmatrelvir works by preventing replication of the COVID-19 virus after it enters human cells, but nirmatrelvir is quickly broken down by the body. Ritonavir is a medication that slows the breakdown of nirmatrelvir so the body can do its job. Ritonavir has been used in a similar way to prevent the breakdown of antiviral medications used to treat HIV infection. Ritonavir has no known activity against the COVID-19 virus itself. Paxlovid™ is well tolerated by most individuals, and the most commonly reported adverse effects include a bad taste in the mouth, diarrhea, high blood pressure, and body aches. As an oral medication, Paxlovid™ is easier to administer than other treatments, such as monoclonal antibodies, that can only be given by injection.
While Paxlovid™ is a promising medication for the treatment of COVID-19, there is concern that it interacts with multiple commonly used medications. This is because the ritonavir component of Paxlovid™ does not only prevent the breakdown of nirmatrelvir, but it also prevents the breakdown of other medications. Increased levels of these other medications may develop, causing toxic effects. Paxlovid™ can cause serious drug interactions with medications for abnormal heart rhythm, psychiatric medications, blood thinners, gout medications, chemotherapy drugs, blood pressure medications, HIV medications, cholesterol medications, and certain herbal supplements. Depending on the medication involved, drug interactions can cause people to develop abnormal heart rhythms, low blood pressure, bleeding, or other unwanted symptoms.
Prior to taking Paxlovid™, tell your doctor about any medications you are taking, including prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, and any herbal or dietary supplements. Depending on the medications you are taking, your doctor will weigh the risks and benefits of prescribing Paxlovid™. Your doctor may decide to lower the dose of your regular medication or have you stop taking it altogether. In some cases, your doctor may decide to prescribe another treatment, such as monoclonal antibodies, as a safer option. Lowering the dose of Paxlovid™ is not recommended because it will be less effective in treating COVID-19 infection.
Take Paxlovid™ exactly as prescribed. If you suspect someone has taken Paxlovid™ inappropriately or is having an adverse effect to the medication, do not make the person vomit. Use the webPOISONCONTROL online tool to get immediate help, or call your poison center at 1-800-222-1222. Whether online or by phone, expert guidance is always free, confidential, and available 24 hours a day.
