The US Food and Drug Authority (FDA) has allowed state-licensed pharmacists to prescribe Paxlovid to eligible COVID-19 patients with certain conditions according to the latest Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for this treatment. The pharmacist prescribing Paxlovid should carefully check the patient’s eligibility before furnishing the prescription to avoid serious illnesses.
Read this article to know when a pharmacist can and cannot prescribe Paxlovid, what’s the eligibility requirements, how to administer this medication, and what possible side effects Paxlovid has.
What’s In The Article?
What is Paxlovid?
When Can Pharmacists Prescribe Paxlovid?
What is a Patient Eligible for Paxlovid?
How To Administer Paxlovid?
When Should Paxlovid Not Be Prescribed?
Possible Side Effects of Paxlovid
Final Thoughts
What Is Paxlovid?
Paxlovid is a Nirmatrelvir boosted with Ritonavir medication authorized under EUA for mild to moderate COVID-19 treatment, which can be taken at home. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a clinical study showed that Paxlovid reduces the risk of severe infection by 89% in unvaccinated high-risk outpatients.
When Can Pharmacists Prescribe Paxlovid?
A state-licensed Pharmacist can prescribe Paxlovid as soon as possible, within five days after the initial appearance of symptoms. Before prescribing, pharmacists should assess the patient’s eligibility and consider important notes, such as allergic reactions, medications, liver disease, kidney disease, and other serious illnesses.
Pharmacists should get the patient’s health records less than 12 months old, including information about the patient’s kidney or liver problems. They should also have a list of patients’ medications to evaluate potential drug interactions. Paxlovid significant drug interaction can cause serious side effects or reduce its efficacy.
Adequate information about these considerations should be available to assess patients properly. A pharmacist prescribing Paxlovid should coordinate with other healthcare providers, such as a licensed physician, for clinical evaluation if the information is insufficient.
What is a Patient Eligible for Paxlovid?
A Pharmacist prescribing Paxlovid can use the eligibility checklist provided by the FDA when assessing patients. While it can serve as a guide for them, the FDA has stated that this checklist is not required when prescribing Paxlovid under EUA. Here is the list of patients eligible for Paxlovid prescription:
Patients tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 test Age 12 years and older and weigh at least 40 kg Patients with a high-risk factor of developing severe COVID-19 Patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 symptoms Patients without severe renal impairment or severe hepatic impairment Not requiring hospitalization at treatment initiation No allergic reactions to Nirmatrelvir, Ritonavir, or any components of the medicine
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has stated that Paxlovid is safe for pregnant individuals. However, the FDA suggested that pregnant or lactating patients discuss the situation and other options they may have with their health provider.
How To Administer Paxlovid?
Paxlovid is an oral medication consisting of two dose packs. The first dose consists of two 150 mg Nirmatrelvir pink film-coated tablets and one 100 mg Ritonavir white film-coated tablet, while the second dose consists of one 150 mg of Nirmatrelvir and one 100 mg Ritonavir. Both of these dose packs should be taken twice a day for five days. Patients can safely take Paxlovid with or without food.
Those with kidney disease or other illnesses can have a lower dose of Paxlovid. According to their eligibility, pharmacists must discuss the correct dose pack with each patient.
The pharmacist prescribing Paxlovid should ensure that the number of doses of each active component of Paxlovid is specified clearly in the prescription. Patients taking this medication should still follow health protocols and continue the isolation to prevent the spread of the virus.
When Should Paxlovid Not Be Prescribed?
While it has been allowed by the FDA for COVID-19 treatment, Paxlovid cannot be administered for COVID-19 pre-exposure or post-exposure prophylaxis. It is also not allowed to use for more than five consecutive days. Pharmacists should not prescribe Paxlovid as well to COVID-19 patients requiring hospitalization.
Patients allergic to any components of Paxlovid should not take this medication. The pharmacist prescribing Paxlovid should also evaluate if the patient is currently taking any medication before issuing the prescription.
Taking Paxlovid with possible contraindicated drugs can also cause serious side effects. The FDA has stated that Paxlovid is contraindicated with medicines that contain high doses of CYP3A.
Possible Side Effects of Paxlovid
Here are the possible side effects due to significant drug interactions that the pharmacist prescribing Paxlovid should tell the patients. Hypersensitivity Reactions. Patients should immediately stop the medication and call the healthcare provider if they experience hives, difficulty breathing or swallowing, mouth, lips, or face swelling, throat tightness, hoarseness, or skin rashes. Hepatotoxicity. Liver problems can also occur in patients taking Paxlovid. The Pharmacist prescribing Paxlovid should thoroughly assess patients with pre-existing liver diseases. Development of HIV medicine resistance. Paxlovid can also cause resistance to HIV protease inhibitors in patients with untreated HIV infection.
The following are other adverse reactions that patients may experience due to Paxlovid: Dysgeusia Diarrhea Hypertension Muscle aches Gastrointestinal Disorders such as abdominal pain and nausea Malaise Anaphylaxis Hypersensitivity reactions
Final Thoughts
The FDA has recognized the important role of pharmacists in combatting COVID-19. Since Paxlovid should be taken within a short period of time after the onset of the symptoms, the prescriptive authority given to state-licensed pharmacists has provided easier access to patients for appropriate treatment.
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