Most people who are infected with COVID-19 will be able to recover at home. Some of the same things you do to feel better when you have a cold - get enough rest, stay hydrated, and take anti-fever and painkillers - also help with COVID-19. In addition, the FDA has also approved possible treatment of hospitalized people with COVID-19 and other drugs to prevent the continuation of COVID-19 in people who are not hospitalized but at high risk of serious illness. Scientists continue to work hard to develop alternative therapies.
In October 2021, Merck released promising research results on the oral drug COVID-19. Compared with placebo, an antiviral drug, called molnupiravir, significantly reduced the risk of hospitalization and death of people with mild or moderate COVID-19 who were at high risk of severe COVID. If the FDA approves or approves this drug, molnupiravir will be the first oral treatment of COVID-19 at the onset of the disease to reduce the severity of the disease. The study results were based on data from 775 study participants from the US and around the world. To be eligible for this study, participants had to be found to have moderate to moderate COVID-19, had developed symptoms less than five days prior to their enrollment in the study, and had at least one risk factor. are at high risk of serious side effects from COVID-19. None of the participants were hospitalized during the study. About half of the study participants took the antiretroviral drug molnupiravir; four pills, twice a day, five days, orally. The remaining study participants took a placebo. Patients taking molnupiravir had a better chance of being hospitalized or dying from COVID-19 just like those taking a placebo. During the 29-day study period, 28 out of 385, or 7.3%, participants who took molnupiravir were hospitalized, and none of the group died. In the placebo group, 53 of the 377, or 14.1%, participants were hospitalized, including eight participants in the group who died. The antiviral drug was effective against several types of COVID, including a variant of Delta. The study was planned, placebo-controlled, and double-blind - the gold standard in the study design. The results were announced in a press release and were not reviewed by peers or published in a medical journal. According to a media report, the risk of adverse events and side effects of the drug was comparable to the molnupiravir and placebo groups.
Molnupiravir was developed by Merck and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics. It works by disrupting COVID's viral ability to replicate.
Another drug, remdesivir (Veklury), can also reduce the risk of hospitalization if given early during an infection. But remdesivir should be given intravenously in a medical setting.
The prospect of having an oral antiviral to combat COVID-19 is exciting, but it is no substitute for vaccination. The COVID vaccine remains more important than ever. We need layers to protect ourselves from this viral threat. We hope that molnupiravir will be part of that defense.
In November 2020, the FDA approved emergency use for two monoclonal antibody treatments (bamlanivimab, by Eli Lilly; and a combination of casirivimab and imdevimab, developed by Regeneron). Both treatments are approved for hospitalized adults and children over the age of 12 with mild and moderate COVID-19 symptoms who are at risk of developing severe COVID-19 or hospitalization. For these patients, authorized treatment may reduce the risk of hospitalization and emergency room visits. These treatments should be given by injection (IV) as soon as the symptoms appear.
If you are recovering at home, these steps can help reduce symptoms:
Although you don’t need to sit in bed, you should get plenty of rest.
Keep plenty of water.
To reduce fever and relieve aches and pains, take acetaminophen. Make sure you follow the directions. If you are taking any combination of flu or flu medications, keep track of all ingredients and dosages. With acetaminophen, the daily dose from all products should not exceed 3,000 milligrams.
Dexamethasone:
Many doctors, including those in the United States, have been treating COVID-19 patients with corticosteroids since the epidemic began. It makes sense for biologic in those patients who have developed a hyper-immune response (cytokine storm) to a viral infection. In these cases, an overdose of the immune system damages the lungs and other organs, and often leads to death. Dexamethasone and other corticosteroids (prednisone, methylprednisolone) are powerful anti-inflammatory drugs. They are easily available and inexpensive.
The NIH COVID-19 treatment guidelines recommend the use of dexamethasone in certain hospitalized people with severe COVID-19. This recommendation is based on the RECOVERY test results. In the study, more than 6000 hospitalized patients with COVID-19 randomly received dexamethasone or standard treatment. Patients who needed more oxygen or ventilators and who received dexamethasone had a lower chance of dying within 28 days than those who received standard care. Dexamethasone was not beneficial for patients who did not require respiratory support.
Tocilizumab:
The FDA has approved the EUA emergency use of tocilizumab (Actemra) for the treatment of hospitalized adults and children 2 years and older who receive systemic corticosteroids such as dexamethasone, and in need of extra oxygen, inhalation. , or heart- A ventilator, also known as extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Tocilizumab is a monoclonal antibody, already approved by the FDA to treat a number of autoimmune diseases.
Anticoagulation drugs ("blood drugs"):
Almost all people admitted to the hospital with COVID receive medication to help prevent blood clots. Doctors often prescribe low doses of heparin or enoxaparin. However, some patients require full doses of anticoagulants if they have already developed blood clots or are at high risk for doing so. Doctors always need to weigh the risk of serious bleeding when prescribing full doses.
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