{"id":27057,"date":"2022-05-04T14:48:24","date_gmt":"2022-05-04T18:48:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.getmaple.ca\/?p=27057"},"modified":"2025-04-12T14:02:52","modified_gmt":"2025-04-12T18:02:52","slug":"paxlovid-what-you-need-to-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.getmaple.ca\/blog\/paxlovid-what-you-need-to-know\/","title":{"rendered":"Paxlovid: what you need to know"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic it was hard to imagine the speed at which there would be vaccines to help people combat the virus. At that point, you could only dream of accessible medication that you\u2019d be able to take to stop COVID-19 in its tracks.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In late November of 2021, Pfizer, the maker of one of the many COVID-19 vaccines, released an oral antiviral medication called Paxlovid. By January of 2022, it was approved by Health Canada. But what exactly is Paxlovid, and who\u2019s eligible to take it? Read more to find out everything you need to know about the first Health Canada-approved oral COVID-19 treatment.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>What is Paxlovid and how effective is it?<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fda.gov\/news-events\/press-announcements\/coronavirus-covid-19-update-fda-authorizes-first-oral-antiviral-treatment-covid-19\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Paxlovid<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> is a COVID-19 antiviral pill that combines two medications which are packaged together \u2014 nirmatrelvir and ritonavir. Nirmatrelvir stops the virus from replicating in your body, while ritonavir delays the breakdown of nirmatrelvir so that it remains in the body for longer and at higher concentrations.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If you\u2019re prescribed the medication, you\u2019ll take three pills twice daily for five consecutive days. This also makes it more convenient for patients to take at home to use, unlike previous drugs that have required an IV and hospitalization.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The antiviral medication is given to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/covid-19.ontario.ca\/covid-19-treatments\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">high-risk adults<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> within five days of experiencing mild to moderate symptoms of COVID-19. High-risk adults include those who are:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Over the age of 18 and are immunocompromised due to a health condition or medication<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Over the age of 18 with fewer than three vaccines and have a risk condition including obesity, diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, liver disease, and more.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Over the age of 60 with fewer than three vaccines<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Over the age of 70<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">It should be noted that <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Paxlovid Canada<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/covid-vaccine.canada.ca\/info\/paxlovid-en.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">isn\u2019t used<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> for those who are hospitalized because of COVID-19, to prevent the virus, to be used for more than five days in a row, or for children under the age of 18.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">While it\u2019s still early days for Paxlovid, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/35118917\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">studies<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> have shown that it\u2019s effective in reducing mortality and hospitalization rates in patients with COVID-19, and that it\u2019s a safe medication to take. And, even though the drug was originally known for being effective at stopping severe illness from the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.getmaple.ca\/blog\/2021\/12\/21\/omicron-what-we-know-about-the-new-variant\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Omicron variant<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> when it first came out, it appears to be just as effective at protecting people against all other COVID-19 variants so far.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Can Canadian doctors prescribe Paxlovid to patients?<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Yes, doctors in Canada can prescribe Paxlovid to patients. To receive a prescription, you\u2019ll need to test positive on either a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.getmaple.ca\/covid-19\/testing\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">rapid antigen or PCR test<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> and then speak to a doctor about getting a prescription.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Prescriptions can be taken to a COVID-19 clinical assessment centre or to a participating pharmacy, depending on where you live. If you plan on going to a pharmacy, your best bet is to call ahead to make sure your local pharmacy is distributing the antiviral medication.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Before considering using this medication, however, you should speak with your family doctor about it before possibly contracting COVID-19. The reason is that they know your medical history best and will be able to tell you if the drug could be harmful based on any medications you take.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">This way, if you do contract the virus, you\u2019ll be prepared to take action within the first five days if you\u2019re experiencing mild to moderate symptoms. If you don\u2019t have a family doctor, make a list of the medications you take and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.getmaple.ca\/for-you-family\/how-it-works\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">talk to a doctor<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> about them to make sure Paxlovid is safe for you.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Will Paxlovid be effective against future COVID-19 variants?<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">While there\u2019s no COVID-19 variant crystal ball, the current research looks promising. Paxlovid was originally undergoing trials when the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.getmaple.ca\/blog\/2021\/08\/24\/the-delta-and-lambda-variants-what-you-need-to-know\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Delta variant<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> was dominant, and was released when Omicron took over. Since then, it has been effective in preventing serious disease and death. However, the drug is considered to be in its early stages and continues to be studied.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>What are the side effects and risks of Paxlovid?<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Like most drugs, Paxlovid isn\u2019t side-effect-free. Typical <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/covid-vaccine.canada.ca\/info\/paxlovid-en.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">side effects<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Altered sense of taste<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Diarrhea<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Muscle pain<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Vomiting<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">High blood pressure<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Headache<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">There are also many medications Paxlovid can\u2019t be taken with due to properties of the ritonavir. The list is pretty long and includes but isn\u2019t limited to certain prescriptions for kidney problems, liver problems (or both), blood pressure, prostate cancer, epilepsy, allergies, and more.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">This is because as your body metabolizes nirmatrelvir, the other half of the medication, ritonavir, suppresses certain liver enzymes to make sure the nirmatrelvir stays in your body. By suppressing certain liver enzymes, your liver isn\u2019t able to properly metabolize other medications.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Is Paxlovid safe for children?<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Paxlovid has only recently been tested in children as young as six-years-old, however, there\u2019s no conclusive research that it\u2019s safe just yet. Currently, the antiviral medication is only approved for those in Canada who are 18 years of age or older and meet the higher risk criteria.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Is Paxlovid safe during pregnancy?<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">You shouldn\u2019t take the medication if you\u2019re pregnant, think you may be pregnant, or are planning to become pregnant unless recommended otherwise by a healthcare provider. The reason for this is that there isn\u2019t enough information just yet for those in similar situations who have taken the drug.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Is Paxlovid the same as Ivermectin?<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">While Ivermectin was used in an attempt to treat people with severe COVID-19 infection in the beginning stages of the pandemic, it\u2019s not the same as Paxlovid.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Ivermectin is an antiparasitic drug, meaning it\u2019s used to treat parasites in humans and animals. If you\u2019ve heard of a dog having worms before, for example, it\u2019s likely they were treated with Ivermectin. In humans, the treatment has been used in some cases related to worms and parasites.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">However, COVID-19 is caused by a virus, not a parasite, and Ivermectin isn\u2019t recommended as a treatment method. In fact, taking large doses of Ivermectin <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">could be dangerous<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. Paxlovid, on the other hand, is an antiviral medication that\u2019s specifically meant to treat \u2014 you guessed it \u2014 viruses.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>What\u2019s the cost of Paxlovid in Canada?<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">There\u2019s no cost for Paxlovid in Canada. Regardless of what province or territory you live in, the government has covered the costs of the medication. If you\u2019re experiencing mild to moderate symptoms within five days of contracting COVID-19, you\u2019ll need a prescription from a doctor and can pick up the medication at a clinical assessment centre or at a participating pharmacy.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Can Paxlovid Cause Anxiety?<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Some patients have reported Paxlovid anxiety as a side effect, though clinical data on this symptom is still limited. Anxiety can sometimes be triggered by illness itself, but there have been anecdotal cases where individuals experienced increased Paxlovid anxiety after starting the medication. If you have a history of anxiety or panic disorders, it\u2019s a good idea to speak with your doctor before taking Paxlovid.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Could Paxlovid help treat long COVID?<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">There\u2019s no concrete evidence yet that Paxlovid helps treat post-COVID, also known as <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC8056514\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">long COVID<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> \u2014 lingering symptoms in those who have recovered from an initial infection. The condition may affect as many as <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/article\/10.1007\/s11606-022-07523-3\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">three in ten<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> who have had COVID-19. The most common <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.canada.ca\/en\/public-health\/services\/diseases\/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection\/symptoms\/post-covid-19-condition.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">symptoms of long COVID in adults<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Fatigue<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Memory problems<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Trouble sleeping<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Shortness of breath<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Anxiety and depression<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">General body pain and discomfort<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Difficulty thinking or concentrating<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Children can also experience long COVID, with symptoms such as:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Fatigue<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Headaches<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Weight loss<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Muscle pain<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Trouble sleeping<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Stuffy or runny nose<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Difficulty thinking or concentrating<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">So far, some studies have shown a significantly reduced risk of developing the condition if you\u2019re vaccinated as opposed to not being vaccinated. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thelancet.com\/journals\/laninf\/article\/PIIS1473-3099(21)00460-6\/fulltext\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">One study<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> found a 50% lower risk of persistent COVID-19 symptoms in patients who were vaccinated, while <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.medrxiv.org\/content\/10.1101\/2022.02.23.22271388v1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">another study<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> \u2014 which is still new and requires more research \u2014 found a 41% lower risk.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">While there\u2019s no conclusive answer just yet, being vaccinated appears to reduce but not eliminate your risk of long COVID. However, it\u2019s best to be safe than sorry and continue to take precautions if someone around you may have symptoms of the virus, as well as get fully vaccinated \u2014 including a fourth booster dose, if eligible \u2014 if you haven\u2019t yet.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Is Paxlovid a replacement for the COVID-19 vaccine?<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Paxlovid should absolutely not be considered a substitute for vaccinations, since you might not be eligible to receive a prescription. And, Paxlovid can only be used once you\u2019ve been exposed to the virus and have mild to moderate symptoms, not as a prevention method.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Vaccines are your first line of defence against hospitalization and death caused by COVID-19, and prevention is key when it comes to staying safe from the virus.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">It has been a long two years, but science has also come a long way. Moving at lightning speed, we now have vaccinations and antiviral medication to help stop the virus from making people sicker.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">With that being said, it\u2019s still important to take precautions and avoid seeing others if you feel you may have COVID-19, and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.getmaple.ca\/covid-19\/testing\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">test yourself or get tested<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> if you feel you may have the virus. Jumping on this early enough \u2014 specifically in that five-day window\u2014 could mean that you may take Paxlovid and avoid potential complications. Remember, the sooner the better when it comes to taking this antiviral pill.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">This pandemic may feel like it has gone on forever, but it\u2019s still too early to let your guard down with the virus spreading. It remains crucial to continue to stay away from others if they\u2019re sick or if you\u2019re feeling sick, and to monitor your own symptoms as we continue to get through this together.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The information presented here is for educational purposes and is not meant to replace the advice from your medical professional.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">When using virtual care, all medical treatment is at the sole discretion of the provider. Virtual care is not meant for medical emergencies, and your provider will determine if your case is appropriate for virtual care. If you are experiencing an emergency like chest pain or difficulties breathing, for example, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic it was hard to imagine the speed at which there would be vaccines to help people combat the virus. At that point, you could only dream of accessible medication that you\u2019d be able to take to stop COVID-19 in its tracks. In late November of 2021, Pfizer, the&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":27101,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false},"categories":[7384],"tags":[],"acf":{"image":{"ID":27101,"id":27101,"title":"Paxlovid&amp;COVID-19_1180x483_v2","filename":"PaxlovidCOVID-19_1180x483_v2.jpg","filesize":124685,"url":"https:\/\/www.getmaple.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/PaxlovidCOVID-19_1180x483_v2.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.getmaple.ca\/blog\/paxlovid-what-you-need-to-know\/paxlovidcovid-19_1180x483_v2\/","alt":"","author":"23","description":"","caption":"","name":"paxlovidcovid-19_1180x483_v2","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":27057,"date":"2022-05-04 18:48:06","modified":"2022-05-04 18:48:06","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.getmaple.ca\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1180,"height":483,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.getmaple.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/PaxlovidCOVID-19_1180x483_v2-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/www.getmaple.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/PaxlovidCOVID-19_1180x483_v2-300x123.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":123,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.getmaple.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/PaxlovidCOVID-19_1180x483_v2-768x314.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":314,"large":"https:\/\/www.getmaple.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/PaxlovidCOVID-19_1180x483_v2-1024x419.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":419,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.getmaple.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/PaxlovidCOVID-19_1180x483_v2.jpg","1536x1536-width":1180,"1536x1536-height":483,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.getmaple.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/PaxlovidCOVID-19_1180x483_v2.jpg","2048x2048-width":1180,"2048x2048-height":483,"square1200":"https:\/\/www.getmaple.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/PaxlovidCOVID-19_1180x483_v2.jpg","square1200-width":1180,"square1200-height":483,"square600":"https:\/\/www.getmaple.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/PaxlovidCOVID-19_1180x483_v2-600x483.jpg","square600-width":600,"square600-height":483,"square300":"https:\/\/www.getmaple.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/PaxlovidCOVID-19_1180x483_v2-300x300.jpg","square300-width":300,"square300-height":300,"square200":"https:\/\/www.getmaple.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/PaxlovidCOVID-19_1180x483_v2-200x200.jpg","square200-width":200,"square200-height":200,"square100":"https:\/\/www.getmaple.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/PaxlovidCOVID-19_1180x483_v2-100x100.jpg","square100-width":100,"square100-height":100,"feature1200":"https:\/\/www.getmaple.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/PaxlovidCOVID-19_1180x483_v2.jpg","feature1200-width":1180,"feature1200-height":483,"feature1100":"https:\/\/www.getmaple.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/PaxlovidCOVID-19_1180x483_v2-1100x483.jpg","feature1100-width":1100,"feature1100-height":483,"feature800":"https:\/\/www.getmaple.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/PaxlovidCOVID-19_1180x483_v2-800x400.jpg","feature800-width":800,"feature800-height":400,"feature400":"https:\/\/www.getmaple.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/PaxlovidCOVID-19_1180x483_v2-400x200.jpg","feature400-width":400,"feature400-height":200,"facebook1200":"https:\/\/www.getmaple.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/PaxlovidCOVID-19_1180x483_v2.jpg","facebook1200-width":1180,"facebook1200-height":483,"medium_retina":"https:\/\/www.getmaple.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/PaxlovidCOVID-19_1180x483_v2.jpg","medium_retina-width":1180,"medium_retina-height":483,"large_retina":"https:\/\/www.getmaple.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/PaxlovidCOVID-19_1180x483_v2.jpg","large_retina-width":1180,"large_retina-height":483}},"intro_text":"","meta_description":"Paxlovid, a COVID-19 oral antiviral pill, is available in Canada. Read more to find out about its side effects and just how effective it is.","add_promotional_banner":false,"add_call_to_action":true,"call_to_action_text":"See a doctor online","call_to_action_button_text":"Get started","call_to_action_link":"[mpl-register-link]","show_age_gate":false,"reviewer":false,"author":false},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v18.4 (Yoast SEO v18.9) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Paxlovid in Canada. Oral Treatment for COVID-19 - Maple<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Paxlovid, a COVID-19 oral antiviral pill, is available in Canada. 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