COVID-19 treatments | Coronavirus | UC Davis Health

There are two COVID-19 oral treatments that are authorized by the FDA for treatment of the virus:

Pfizer's COVID-19 pill, an oral antiviral called Paxlovid, was the first to receive emergency use authorization from the FDA in Dec. 2021. It's for treatment of mild-to-moderate COVID-19 in adults and children ages 12 and older who weigh about 88 pounds or more. The medication is recommended for those who have one or more risk factors for becoming very ill due to COVID-19. This treatment should be given within five days of the onset of symptoms.

Merck's pill, called molnupriavir, was approved for emergency use authorization by the FDA in Dec. 2021. It's used to treat mild-to-moderate COVID-19 infection in adults who are at high risk for developing severe COVID-19. The pill is available by prescription only and is not authorized to be used for patients younger than 18. This treatment should be given within five days of symptoms showing.

Learn about how to find treatments in California

If you have COVID-19 symptoms and want to take a medicine at home, Paxlovid is likely your best option.

There are no over-the-counter or non-prescription medication options that are effective in treating COVID-19. Over-the-counter medications may only relieve your symptoms.

Due to the lack of effectiveness against currently variants of SARS-CoV-2, there are currently no monoclonal antibodies recommended for treatment or prevention in the U.S. Talk to your doctor about effective outpatient oral treatment options Paxlovid and Molnupiravir.

Learn more about COVID-19 treatments from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Remdesivir is an antiviral drug. It targets the replication and progression of viral infections such as SARS-CoV-2. It is authorized for emergency use for people who are either:

• hospitalized or
• who are not hospitalized but have mild to moderate COVID-19 and are at high risk for progression to severe illness

Long COVID is estimated to have affected around 16 million working-age adults in the U.S. Patients, also known as COVID long haulers, report a wide range of physical and mental health conditions including general discomfort, fatigue, difficulty breathing, heart issues, migraines, and mental health impairments.

While there is no standard treatment for post-COVID, clinicians have relied on many traditional treatments like pulmonary rehab for patients with trouble breathing. Occupational therapy has helped people with brain fog return to their pre-COVID lives.

The Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program at UC Davis Health is accredited by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation. It empowers patients with lung conditions through education, exercise, motivation, and support to help improve their quality of life. The team of specialists provide a wide range of care including a complete evaluation, monitored and supervised exercise, education, psychosocial support and nutritional guidance.

Learn more about UC Davis Health’s respiratory therapy and its important in helping post-COVID recovery

An analysis of seven studies of severely ill COVID-19 patients treated with corticosteroids, including dexamethasone, found the drugs significantly helped reduced deaths from the disease. The World Health Organization (WHO) strongly recommends steroids for treatment of patients with severe or critical COVID-19 worldwide, but it recommended against steroid use when the disease is mild.

The international clinical trials studied dexamethasone, hydrocortisone and methylprednisolone – inexpensive and widely available steroids commonly used to reduce inflammation and moderate the body’s immune system.

Yes, but perhaps not at the same levels as during the early stages of the pandemic. The National Institutes for Health (NIH) has developed guidelines for adults with COVID-19 who are receiving supplemental oxygen. The NIH recommends close monitoring for worsening respiratory status and the use of a mechanical ventilator, if it becomes necessary.

However, experts also say that when COVID-19 patients require mechanical ventilation, there is risk of lung injury due to the ventilation itself. Physicians are being very thoughtful about the use of ventilators because of those concerns. We have changed our treatment methods as more research becomes available and are trying to avoid using ventilators, when possible, due to the negative effects they can have on lung inflammation.