When the pandemic first broke out in 2020, every COVID-19 treatment was experimental. Researchers tested existing drugs, like the antiparasitic Plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine) or the anti-inflammatory Ozurdex, Maxidex or others (dexamethasone), that they hoped could fight the virus or dampen damaging inflammation. Other medical personnel tried antidepressants on patients.
Now, researchers and regulators have provided evidence-based guidelines for repurposing drugs and administering newly developed treatments to patients at high risk of, or who already are, experiencing severe disease. Read on to learn your options, if you test positive.
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Immediately After Testing Positive:
As the pandemic has continued, scientists have found several groups of people, such as those who are immunocompromised, over the age of 65, have diabetes, hypertension or obesity, are at a higher risk for severe outcomes from COVID-19. If you are in that group and receive a positive test result, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) recommends the antiviral Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir, ritonavir) as your first option. If it’s unavailable or you can’t take it for another reason, the agency suggests Xerudy (sotrovimab), a monoclonal antibody. After that, it offers two other antiviral pills: Veklury (remdesivir) or Lagevrio (molnupiravir). Once you test positive, you should contact your healthcare provider to see if he or she recommends a prescription.
In the meantime, gargling with saltwater may also help lower the likelihood that you’ll need to go to the hospital as well. Researchers asked study participants to gargle saltwater (2.13 grams or 6 grams of salt dissolved into about 1 cup of water) four times a day for 14 days. Those individuals were less likely to be hospitalized than the general population, according to data presented at a conference in November 2023. It’s important to note that the study was small, and did not include people with high blood pressure.
Which Antiviral Is Best?
The antiviral drugs, Paxlovid, remdesivir and molnupiravir are all designed to prevent the virus from replicating inside your body, so that the disease doesn’t worsen.
Remdesivir emerged early in the pandemic, but evidence of its efficacy was limited. It was only used on hospitalized patients. Data from the end of 2021 suggest that, if it’s administered within seven days of symptoms starting, it can keep 87% of high-risk patients out of the hospital. However, since it’s given intravenously, you need to have it administered at a hospital or clinic. The frequency is once a day for three days.
At the end of 2021, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized the two new antiviral drugs, available as pills you can pick up at a pharmacy and take at home.
Paxlovid is the clear drug of choice for the FDA. It decreased the chances of hospitalization by 89% in clinical trials, compared to molnupiravir 30% rate. Additionally, while molnupiravir is easier to take than remdesivir, it comes with the worrisome potential of causing birth defects. These defects have not shown up in the trials with humans, but in animal models.
Still, Paxlovid does come with the disadvantage that it interacts with many medications you may have been prescribed. Be sure to ask your pharmacist about any drugs or supplements you already take, even if they’re over-the-counter (OTC).
Monoclonal Antibodies
Monoclonal antibodies—synthetically developed antibodies designed to target the virus—were some of the first treatments authorized to manage COVID-19 in 2020.
There were three versions of monoclonal antibodies on the market: Eli Lilly’s Bamlanivimab plus etesevimab, Regen-COV (casirivimab plus imdevimab) and Xevudy (sotrovimab). Unfortunately, while all three were highly effective in that they prevented hospitalization in about 85% of patients early on, none of the existing antibodies seem to help against the most recent Omicron variants. The NIH currently doesn’t recommend using any of these treatments.
Side effects mainly include infusion-site reactions, such as redness or bruising, and allergic reactions that cause symptoms, like fevers, swelling and hives.
Exercise Caution Returning to Physical Activity
The NIH emphasizes that while you are sick with COVID, you should be resting, and drinking fluids to avoid dehydration. You can take over-the-counter drugs to help manage symptoms like headaches, muscle aches and fevers. When you start to feel better, it’s important that you return to physical activity gradually, paying close attention to how you feel. You may still be fatigued and some patients experience lung and cardiovascular symptoms after the acute phase of illness. If you feel any shortness of breath, you should consult your healthcare provider or make a telehealth appointment. You should also be on the lookout for dizziness, chest pain or tightness, or confusion.)
If Hospitalized, Know This
If your illness is severe enough to require hospitalization, it’s likely that you have systemic inflammation. Doctors will likely recommend Decadron (dexamethasone) or another corticosteroid that will dampen your immune response. In some cases, they may add an interleukin (IL)-6 inhibitor, such as Actemra (tocilizumab).
Some other drugs that modulate immune activity, such as the antidepressant Luvox (fluvoxamine), are still being tested for COVID-19. Physicians are also likely to add blood thinners, such as heparin, to your regimen to help prevent dangerous clots from forming during treatment.
If you’re in critical care, you may need several of the previously mentioned therapeutics along with drugs to treat a variety of complications, such as bacterial pneumonia or renal failure.
