Who is more likely to get very sick
- Older adults, most of all people 75 and older. The risk goes up with age.
- People who are not up to date on their COVID-19 vaccines
- People with certain health problems, such as long-term lung disease, heart disease or a weak immune system
If you are at higher risk and you think you have COVID-19, talk to a doctor about testing and treatment right away, even if your symptoms are mild.
Antiviral medicines for COVID-19
Antiviral medicines stop the virus from making more copies of itself. In people at higher risk, they help keep COVID-19 from getting severe.
- Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir with ritonavir): pills for adults, and for children 12 and older who weigh at least 88 pounds (40 kg). It must start within 5 days of the first symptoms.
- Molnupiravir (Lagevrio): pills for adults. It must start within 5 days of the first symptoms.
- Remdesivir (Veklury): given through an IV at a clinic or hospital. It must start within 7 days.
Paxlovid can change how other medicines work. This includes some cholesterol medicines, blood thinners, and some heart, seizure and transplant medicines. So a doctor needs your full medicine list. Paxlovid can also leave a metal taste in your mouth. It goes away when you stop it.
Emergency signs
Call 911 or go to the emergency room for trouble breathing, a low oxygen reading, chest pain or pressure, bluish lips or face, confusion, trouble staying awake, or not being able to drink enough to stay hydrated.
How our COVID-19 visit works
If you are in Virginia or West Virginia, you can start a visit online at any time. It is for adults at higher risk of getting very sick, like people 50 and older or people with a health problem that raises the risk. You need a positive test, and your symptoms must have started in the last 5 days. You list every medicine you take so the doctor can check them.
A board-certified physician reviews your answers. If it is safe, the doctor can send Paxlovid to your pharmacy. The doctor may also pause or change another medicine for a few days. If Paxlovid is not safe for you, molnupiravir may be an option for an adult who is not pregnant. If neither is right, the doctor will tell you how to care for yourself and when to get help in person.
Children 4 to 17 can use the visit with a parent or legal guardian, but COVID-19 antiviral pills are not prescribed to anyone under 18 through QuickVisitMD. For a child, the doctor can advise on care at home and when to be seen in person.
It is not the right fit if you have:
- Any of the emergency signs above (call 911)
- Symptoms that started more than 5 days ago
- Severe kidney or liver disease
- A medicine that interacts dangerously with Paxlovid and cannot be safely paused
- Feeling very sick
It is also not for anyone who is pregnant. COVID-19 during pregnancy can be more serious, so if you are pregnant and test positive, contact your own doctor or OB right away. Treatment has to start within the first few days.
Visits start at $59. You see the price before you pay, and you do not need insurance.
Sources
This guide is based on these sources: