President Biden is taking Paxlovid. What is it? How to get the treatment in Charlotte
President Joe Biden was diagnosed with COVID-19 and was immediately prescribed Paxlovid, an antiviral treatment by Pfizer used to treat the virus.
Paxlovid suppresses the coronavirus, blocking an enzyme that helps the virus reproduce inside the body. As with all antivirals, the treatment is thought to work best if people start taking it within five days of their first symptoms, Pfizer said. The standard regimen is three pills twice daily for five days.
Here’s what you need to know about Paxlovid, including who can take it, the side effects, and where to get a prescription in Charlotte.
Where can you get Paxlovid in Charlotte?
With the launch of the test-to-treat program -- designed to get those who test positive for COVID-19 immediate treatment-- Paxlovid is available at many pharmacies in the Charlotte area, including local CVS and Walgreens stores.
To find a site near you, use the COVID-19 test-to-treat locator at COVID-19.gov.
Pharmacists can prescribe the leading COVID-19 pill directly to patients under a new U.S. policy announced by the Food and Drug Administration intended to expand the drug’s use.
The FDA said pharmacists can begin screening patients to see if they are eligible for Paxlovid and then prescribe the medication, which has been shown to curb the worst effects of COVID-19. Previously only physicians could prescribe the antiviral drug.
Who can take Paxlovid?
The FDA authorized Paxlovid for patients 12 and older who weigh at least 88 pounds, have tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, and are at high risk for developing severe illness, according to the agency.
Those who are at higher risk for developing severe COVID-19 typically have underlying medical conditions, like cancer, diabetes or obesity.
What are the side effects of Paxlovid?
Most people who take Paxlovid should not experience serious side effects. Common mild side effects include:
Altered or impaired sense of taste
Diarrhea
Increased blood pressure
Muscle aches
How effective is Paxlovid against variants?
After a clinical trial conducted last year, Pfizer presented data showing that participants, all of whom were unvaccinated, were 88% less likely to develop severe illness compared to participants who received a placebo, according to the FDA.
Pfizer has since run three laboratory-based studies that show the drug works against the Omicron variant to reduce severe illness and death.
CDC investigating cases of symptom return after Paxlovid use
Scientists and federal agencies say they are investigating reports of Americans who say they faced a resurgence of COVID-19 soon after finishing off a course of Paxlovid, Pfizer’s antiviral treatment for the disease.
There have been reports of COVID-19 symptoms returning in some patients after taking the full treatment course.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been consulting with the National Institutes of Health over potential data sources that can be used to study the cases, a CDC spokesperson said in a statement. No NIH studies are underway yet, the NIH said in a statement, though federal scientists are investigating the phenomenon.
