(Photo credit: Reuters/Associated Press)
The two pills approved to treat COVID-19 could be risky if taken with certain medications. Patients currently taking either Pfizer’s pill, Pavlovid, or Merck’s pill, Molnupiravar, may need to be monitored by a doctor or physician for potential side effects while actively taking other medications. This includes “statins blood thinners, and some antidepressants” due to specific enzymes that could cause additional medical issues.
Last week, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved both pills to treat COVID-19, the first of their kind. They can help with patients with a positive COVID-19 test, and those considered at a high risk for developing severe symptoms. The FDA has published a fact sheet for Pfizer’s pill including other medications to not take it with, and a list of potential side effects for Merck’s pill (listed under the FAQ at the bottom of the page).
Individuals seeking a doctor’s prescription, as currently required to receive either pill, are encouraged to provide a list of medications they are taking to help determine if either pill is appropriate for treatment.