What you need to know
- Antiviral treatments can prevent a severe COVID-19 infection and may reduce the risk of long COVID.
- People who are hospitalized with COVID-19, including infants and children, may receive other forms of treatment.
- Whether or not you take medication to help you recover from COVID-19 at home, there are steps you can take to manage symptoms and reduce long COVID risk.
The summer COVID-19 surge continues. Fortunately, yesterday, the Food and Drug Administration approved updated vaccines that target newer variants, which means they will become available by Labor Day and may abate rising hospitalizations and deaths.
For those infected with COVID-19 now and in the future, there are prescription medications that can help them get better faster, but there’s confusion about the benefits of these medications and who is eligible.
Read on to learn more about COVID-19 treatment options and how to manage symptoms.
What prescription medications treat COVID-19?
When taken within a week of developing symptoms, antiviral drugs like Paxlovid or Lagevrio can prevent a severe COVID-19 infection and may reduce the risk of long COVID. Paxlovid is approved for patients 12 and older who weigh more than 88 pounds, including pregnant patients. Lagevrio is approved for patients 18 and older.
Insured and underinsured people can get Paxlovid or Lagevrio for free or at reduced cost through their health insurance, including Medicare and Medicaid. Uninsured people can get it with a prescription through the Test to Treat program.
Those who are hospitalized with COVID-19 and those who are at risk of severe illness but cannot take Paxlovid or Lagevrio—including infants and children—may receive other forms of treatment, like the antiviral drug remdesivir. Remdesivir is administered through an IV in a hospital.
Some hospitalized patients may need antibody therapies, such as monoclonal antibodies, which use proteins made in a lab, or convalescent plasma, which uses blood from donors who recovered from COVID-19.
Who is eligible for prescription medication to treat COVID-19?
You may qualify for Paxlovid or Lagevrio if you’re 65 or older; you have a medical condition that puts you at increased risk of severe illness, such as as asthma, diabetes, or HIV; you take immunosuppressant medication; or your body mass index (BMI) is 30 or higher.
Learn more about underlying conditions and other factors that may increase your risk of a severe COVID-19 infection from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
If I have a COVID-19 infection, how can I avoid spreading the virus to others?
If you’re sick with COVID-19, stay home. If you share a household, wear a high-quality mask around others and take steps to improve indoor ventilation.
The CDC says you can resume your normal activities when your symptoms begin to improve and you haven’t had a fever without the help of fever-reducing medication for 24 hours. The CDC also recommends wearing a mask around others for the next five days. However, you may still be contagious after five days, even if you’re feeling better.
This article is supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award to the CDC Foundation totaling $69,392,486 with 100 percent funded by CDC/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CDC/HHS, or the U.S. Government. In addition, the CDC Foundation does not guarantee and is not responsible for the accuracy or reliability of information or content contained in this article. Moreover, the CDC Foundation expressly disclaims all liability for damages of any kind arising out of use, reference to, or reliance on any information contained within this article. This article are not intended as, and should not be interpreted by you as, constituting or implying the CDC Foundation’s endorsement, sponsorship, or recommendation of the information, products, or services found therein.