COVID-19 Treatment Information
Treatment options for COVID-19
Individuals may choose to pursue one of several treatment options that are available under Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for COVID-19.
- Options for patients not requiring hospitalization or supplemental oxygen include Paxlovid, Molnupiravir, and Remdesivir.
Vulnerable populations at risk for severe COVID-19
Certain factors increase the risk of COVID-19 progressing to severe disease, and may warrant more consideration for prophylaxis or treatment. This includes patients who are older (≥65 years), have comorbidities, or are immunocompromised.
When necessary, providers should prioritize treatment for patients who are at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19 illness, including older and immunocompromised individuals and those with clinical risk factors.
Use of Emerging and Off-Label Treatments
When recommending COVID-19 treatment options for patients’ individualized health care needs, physicians should exercise their individual clinical judgment and expertise based on their patients’ needs and preferences.
These options may include emerging treatments backed by quality evidence, with appropriate patient informed consent, including off-label use or as part of a clinical trial. As guidance continues to evolve, health care practitioners should sustain and maintain in-depth awareness of the data surrounding COVID-19 treatment options.
Reporting Noncompliant and Unlicensed Facilities
If you are a health care practitioner who is aware of a hospital that is preventing licensed health care providers from using evidence-based care and exercising clinical judgment in treating patients, please report those instances to the Agency for Health Care Administration.
Read the Surgeon General’s full guidance for emerging and off-label treatments.
Post-Exposure Treatment Options
Paxlovid, an oral treatment that you may choose to receive, must be initiated as soon as possible after COVID-19 diagnosis, within five days of symptom onset.
Paxlovid is authorized for the treatment of mild-to-moderate COVID-19 in adults and pediatric patients (≥12 years of age, ≥40 kg):
- with positive results of direct severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) viral testing and
- who are at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19, including hospitalization or death
Paxlovid is not authorized:
- in patients requiring hospitalization due to severe or critical COVID-19,
- for pre-exposure or post-exposure prophylaxis for prevention of COVID-19, or
- for use longer than five consecutive days
Common adverse events include dysgeusia, diarrhea, hypertension and myalgia.
Molnupiravir, an oral antiviral treatment that you may choose to receive, must be initiated as soon as possible after COVID-19 diagnosis, within five days of symptom onset.
Molnupiravir is authorized in adults:
- with positive results of direct SARS-CoV-2 viral testing,
- who are at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19, including hospitalization or death, and
- for whom alternative COVID-19 treatment options are not accessible or clinically appropriate
Molnupiravir is not authorized:
- in pediatric patients (≤18 years),
- for initiation of treatment in patients hospitalized with COVID-19,
- for use longer than five consecutive days, or
- for pre-exposure or post-exposure prophylaxis for the prevention of COVID-19
Common adverse events with Molnupiravir include diarrhea, nausea and dizziness.
Remdesivir, under the trade name VEKLURY, is an out-patient early treatment option for patients diagnosed with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 and are at a high risk of severe disease. If you choose to receive Remdesivir, treatment should be initiated within seven days of symptom onset.
- Remdesivir is approved for the treatment of non-hospitalized adults and pediatric patients (≥12 years old, ≥40 kg).
- The FDA expanded the approval for the treatment of pediatric patients who are older than 28 days, weighing at least 3 kg, and are either hospitalized with COVID-19 or have mild-to-moderate COVID-19 and are considered high risk for progression to severe COVID-19, including hospitalization or death.
Common adverse reactions include nausea, ALT and AST increase.
