Although recently authorized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) along with Merck’s pill, making them the first at-home COVID-19 treatment, Pfizer’s Paxlovid – touted as a game changer in the fight against the pandemic – might prove complicated to use with other meds and would require careful monitoring by doctors and pharmacists.
According to trials’ data issued before the authorization, Paxlovid reduces the risk of hospitalization or death by 89% in high-risk patients.
Experts say that a component of Pfizer’s antiviral cocktail could have serious and life- threatening interactions with commonly used medications including blood thinners, statins and depressants.
Peter Anderson, a professor of pharmaceutical sciences at the University of Colorado, stressed that some of these potential interactions are probably easily managed, but some are far from trivial with pairings that must be avoided altogether.
Authorized for use in children 12 and over with underlying health conditions including heart disease or diabetes, Paxlovid is comprised of the active protease inhibitor Nirmatrelvir, as well as a low dose of 100 mg of Ritonavir.
Pfizer spokesperson confirmed that the company has examined the potential for drug-drug interactions (DDI) for Paxlovid in a series of in vitro and clinical DDI studies, but noted they believe most DDIs to be generally manageable considering the short, five day duration of Paxlovid’s treatment.
According to the company healthcare professionals can find and study information on drug interactions and contraindications of Paxlovid, considering them prior to and during therapy and reviewing concomitant medications.
Considering its effect on drug metabolism that may result in drug interactions, Pfizer’s pill isn’t recommended for patients with severe kidney or liver problems as well as for patients taking some of the meds on the list of drugs that should not be taken along with Paxlovid, issued by the FDA
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