Oral antivirals
Allina Health is offering oral antivirals to eligible individuals.
Oral antivirals (medicines taken by mouth) are used to treat a person who has COVID-19. Two oral antivirals are currently available:
- nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (Paxlovid™)
- molnupiravir (Lagevrio): available only via an FDA Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for patients when other agents are not accessible or clinically appropriate.
Eligibility criteria
The current eligibility criteria for treatment at Allina Health is that you:
- are age 12 and older and weigh at least 88 pounds for Paxlovid
- have a positive nasopharyngeal swab by RT-PCR or home antigen test
- have mild to moderate symptoms
- are not in the hospital and you do not need oxygen
- have at least one risk factor for progression to severe COVID-19
- must be able to start the treatment within five days of when your symptoms start.
Not eligible
You are ineligible (not able to have this treatment at Allina Health) if you meet one of these criteria:
- are younger than age 12 and weigh less than 88 pounds for Paxlovid
- have severe COVID-19 which requires a hospital stay
- need pre- or post-exposure prophylaxis (Paxlovid is not authorized by the FDA to prevent COVID-19)
- have severe renal (kidney) or hepatic (liver) impairment.
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, please talk with your health care provider about if this treatment is right for you.
How do you get oral antivirals?
You should take an at-home COVID-19 diagnostic test as soon as you have any symptoms.
If you test positive for COVID-19, schedule a virtual visit with a primary care provider to determine if you are eligible for this treatment.
Please note: You may also need additional lab tests before having treatment. Paxlovid has interactions with multiple medications, doses adjustments may be needed.
Call a primary care provider with any questions.
Oral antivirals frequently asked questions
Oral antivirals (medicines taken by mouth) are used to treat a person who has COVID-19. Two oral antivirals are currently available:
- nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (Paxlovid™)
- molnupiravir (Lagevrio): for Emergency Use Authorization only
Paxlovid is believed to be effective against the current variants of COVID-19.
Before having oral antivirals, it is important to tell your health care provider if you:
- have a serious illness
- have any allergies
- are taking any medicines (including all prescription, over-the-counter, vitamins, herbal or natural products)
- are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed
- are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
Oral antivirals will help:
- keep you feeling well
- lower your risk of getting worse from COVID-19 or being admitted to the hospital
- shorten the length of time your symptoms last
- reduce your chance of developing long COVID.
Oral antivirals could cause side effects, which can differ from person to person. They are still being studied and there could be other side effects that have not been reported.
Common side effects include:
- nausea (upset stomach)
- vomiting (throwing up)
- diarrhea
- headache
- dizziness or lightheadedness
- itching
Tell your health care provider right away if you have any side effect that bothers you or does not go away.
Some serious side effects such as an allergic reaction are possible, but not as common. Symptoms of an allergic reaction include fever, chills, nausea, headache, shortness of breath, low blood pressure, wheezing, swelling of your lips, face, or throat, rash including hives, itching, muscle aches, and dizziness.
If you have an allergic reaction, call 911 or have someone drive you to the Emergency Department right away. Be sure to tell medical staff that you have tested positive for COVID-19. After you have received care, tell your health care provider about your side effects.
Your insurance provider will be billed for part of the treatment (giving you the medicine). Call your insurance provider to see how much you will need to pay. If you do not have insurance or have any questions, talk with your health care provider. Visit Pfizer RxPathways for information about Paxlovid payment support.