Skip to main content

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) to make PAXLOVID available for the treatment of COVID-19 in certain patients.

PAXLOVID

PAXLOVID is authorized for emergency use

  • PAXLOVID has not been approved, but has been authorized for emergency use by FDA under an EUA, for the treatment of mild-to-moderate COVID-19 in pediatric patients 12 years of age and older weighing at least 88 pounds (40 kg) who are at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19, including hospitalization or death.
  • The emergency use of PAXLOVID is only authorized for the duration of the declaration that circumstances exist justifying the authorization of the emergency use of drugs and biological products during the COVID-19 pandemic under Section 564(b)(1) of the Act, 21 U.S.C. § 360bbb-3(b)(1), unless the declaration is terminated or authorization revoked sooner.
Information icon
What’s in the box

Each pack contains several blister cards with morning and evening doses of PAXLOVID. Each dose contains 2 types of medicine: nirmatrelvir
tablets (pink) and a ritonavir tablet (white to off-white).

There are 2 dose pack options available for PAXLOVID: the standard dose pack and a reduced dose pack. A healthcare
professional may
prescribe the reduced dose to a patient if they have kidney disease. Talk
to a healthcare professional to make sure
they have the right dose
pack.

Atoms accent
Take a closer look at PAXLOVID packaging
Learn about what’s inside and on the box.
Standard Dose Pack
Standard Flat Pack Standard Blister Pack
The box contains 10 single-dose blister cards, with each blister card holding 1 dose.
Reduced Dose Pack
Reduced Flat Pack Reduced Blister Pack
For more dosing information, see our Patient PAXLOVID Packaging Flashcard.

How to take PAXLOVID

icons_card_1_new

The patient should take the first dose of PAXLOVID in the morning or evening (depending on when the prescription is picked up), or at the time a healthcare professional recommends.

  • Patients should not remove the PAXLOVID tablets from the blister card before the dose is ready to be taken
  • All tablets in a dose should be taken at once or one right after the other
  • Patients should swallow tablets whole. They should not break, chew, or crush the tablets
  • PAXLOVID can be taken with or without food

Speak with a healthcare professional if you or the patient have any questions or if the patient experiences any side effects from taking PAXLOVID.

If they are taking a ritonavir- or cobicistat-containing medicine to treat hepatitis C or HIV-1 infection, they should continue to take their medicine as prescribed by a healthcare professional.

safety-yellow-icon

Patients should repeat at the same time each morning and evening until all tablets have been taken.

  • Patients should take PAXLOVID at the same time each morning and evening
  • Patients should not stop taking PAXLOVID without talking to a healthcare professional, even if they feel better
risk-factor

If a dose is missed:

  • By less than 8 hours, patients should take it
  • By more than 8 hours, patients should skip it and resume the next scheduled dose
  • Patients should not take more than 1 dose at a time
  • Patients should make sure to take all doses
icons_card_4

Call a healthcare professional if:

  • A side effect bothers the patient
  • The patient takes more than 1 dose at a time
  • The patient doesn't feel better or they feel worse after 5 days
  • You or the patient have any questions

Have more questions about PAXLOVID?

Explore FAQs
howtotake-footer

Important Safety Information

Expand

Significant Drug Interactions. PAXLOVID can interact with other medicines, causing severe or life-threatening side effects or death. Do not take PAXLOVID if you are taking any of the following medicines:

  • alfuzosin
  • amiodarone
  • apalutamide
  • carbamazepine
  • colchicine
  • dihydroergotamine
  • dronedarone
  • eletriptan
  • eplerenone
  • ergotamine
  • finerenone
  • flecainide
  • flibanserin
  • ivabradine
  • lomitapide
  • lovastatin
  • lumacaftor/ivacaftor
  • lurasidone
  • methylergonovine
  • midazolam (oral)
  • naloxegol
  • phenobarbital
  • phenytoin
  • pimozide
  • primidone
  • propafenone
  • quinidine
  • ranolazine
  • rifampin
  • rifapentine
  • St. John’s Wort (hypericum perforatum)
  • sildenafil (Revatio®) for pulmonary arterial hypertension
  • silodosin
  • simvastatin
  • tolvaptan
  • triazolam
  • ubrogepant
  • voclosporin

These are not the only medicines that may cause serious or life-threatening side effects if taken with PAXLOVID. PAXLOVID may increase or decrease the levels of other medicines. It is very important to tell your healthcare professional about all the medicines you are taking, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements, because additional laboratory tests or changes in the dose of your other medicines may be necessary during treatment with PAXLOVID. Your healthcare professional may also tell you about specific symptoms to watch out for that may indicate that you need to stop or decrease the dose of some of your other medicines. Do not start taking a new medicine without telling your healthcare professional.

Before taking PAXLOVID, tell your healthcare professional about all your medical conditions, including if you:

  • have kidney or liver problems, including hepatitis.
  • have Human Immunodeficiency Virus 1 (HIV-1) infection. PAXLOVID may lead to some
    HIV-1 medicines not working as well in the future.
  • are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, breastfeeding, or plan to breastfeed.

Tell your healthcare professional if you are taking combined hormonal contraceptive (birth control). PAXLOVID may affect how your birth control works. People who can become pregnant should use another or an alternative effective form of birth control.

PAXLOVID may cause serious side effects, including:

  • Allergic reactions, including severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis). Do not take PAXLOVID if you are allergic to nirmatrelvir, ritonavir, or any of the ingredients in PAXLOVID. Stop taking PAXLOVID and call your healthcare professional right away if you get any of the following symptoms of an allergic reaction:

    • skin rash, hives, blisters, or peeling skin
    • painful sores or ulcers in the mouth, nose, throat, or genital area
    • trouble swallowing or breathing
    • swelling of the mouth, lips, tongue, or face
    • hoarseness
    • throat tightness
  • Liver problems. Tell your healthcare professional right away if you have any of the following signs and symptoms of liver problems during treatment with PAXLOVID:

    • loss of appetite
    • yellowing of your skin and the whites of your eyes
    • dark-colored urine
    • pale-colored stools
    • itchy skin
    • stomach-area (abdominal) pain

The most common side effects of PAXLOVID include: altered sense of taste and diarrhea.

Other possible side effects include:

  • headache
  • abdominal pain
  • vomiting
  • high blood pressure
  • nausea
  • feeling generally unwell

These are not all of the possible side effects of PAXLOVID. For more information, ask your healthcare professional or pharmacist.

There is limited experience treating pregnant women or breastfeeding mothers with PAXLOVID.
For a mother and unborn baby, the benefit of taking PAXLOVID may be greater than the risk
from the treatment. It is recommended that you use effective barrier contraception or do not
have sexual activity while taking PAXLOVID. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, discuss
your options and specific situation with your healthcare professional.



Take PAXLOVID exactly as your healthcare professional tells you. If you take too much PAXLOVID, call your healthcare professional or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away. If you are taking a ritonavir- or cobicistat-containing medicine to treat hepatitis C or HIV-1 infection, you should continue to take your medicine as prescribed.



Talk to your healthcare professional if you do not feel better or if you feel worse after 5 days.


Please see Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers and Fact Sheet for Patients, Parents, and Caregivers.

AUTHORIZED USE

The FDA has authorized the emergency use of PAXLOVID for the treatment of mild-to-moderate COVID-19 in children 12 years of age and older weighing at least 88 pounds (40 kg) who are at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19, including hospitalization or death, under an EUA.

PAXLOVID is not FDA-approved or available under EUA for use in children younger than 12 years of age or weighing less than 88 pounds (40 kg). There is limited information about the safety and effectiveness of using PAXLOVID in these patients.


Please see Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers and Fact Sheet for Patients, Parents, and Caregivers.

AUTHORIZED USE

The FDA has authorized the emergency use of PAXLOVID for the treatment of mild-to-moderate COVID-19 in children 12 years of age and older weighing at least 88 pounds (40 kg) who are at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19, including hospitalization or death, under an EUA.

PAXLOVID is not FDA-approved or available under EUA for use in children younger than 12 years of age or weighing less than 88 pounds (40 kg). There is limited information about the safety and effectiveness of using PAXLOVID in these patients.


Please see Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers and Fact Sheet for Patients, Parents, and Caregivers.

Important Safety Information

Significant Drug Interactions. PAXLOVID can interact with other medicines, causing severe or life-threatening side effects or death. Do not take PAXLOVID if you are taking any of the following medicines:

  • alfuzosin
  • amiodarone
  • apalutamide
  • carbamazepine
  • colchicine
  • dihydroergotamine
  • dronedarone
  • eletriptan
  • eplerenone
  • ergotamine
  • finerenone
  • flecainide
  • flibanserin
  • ivabradine
  • lomitapide
  • lovastatin
  • lumacaftor/ivacaftor
  • lurasidone
  • methylergonovine
  • midazolam (oral)
  • naloxegol
  • phenobarbital
  • phenytoin
  • pimozide
  • primidone
  • propafenone
  • quinidine
  • ranolazine
  • rifampin
  • rifapentine
  • St. John’s Wort (hypericum perforatum)
  • sildenafil (Revatio®) for pulmonary arterial hypertension
  • silodosin
  • simvastatin
  • tolvaptan
  • triazolam
  • ubrogepant
  • voclosporin

These are not the only medicines that may cause serious or life-threatening side effects if taken with PAXLOVID. PAXLOVID may increase or decrease the levels of other medicines. It is very important to tell your healthcare professional about all the medicines you are taking, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements, because additional laboratory tests or changes in the dose of your other medicines may be necessary during treatment with PAXLOVID. Your healthcare professional may also tell you about specific symptoms to watch out for that may indicate that you need to stop or decrease the dose of some of your other medicines. Do not start taking a new medicine without telling your healthcare professional.

Before taking PAXLOVID, tell your healthcare professional about all your medical conditions, including if you:

  • have kidney or liver problems, including hepatitis.
  • have Human Immunodeficiency Virus 1 (HIV-1) infection. PAXLOVID may lead to some HIV-1 medicines not working as well in the future.
  • are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, breastfeeding, or plan to breastfeed.

Tell your healthcare professional if you are taking combined hormonal contraceptive (birth control). PAXLOVID may affect how your birth control works. People who can become pregnant should use another or an alternative effective form of birth control.

PAXLOVID may cause serious side effects, including:

  • Allergic reactions, including severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis). Do not take PAXLOVID if you are allergic to nirmatrelvir, ritonavir, or any of the ingredients in PAXLOVID. Stop taking PAXLOVID and call your healthcare professional right away if you get any of the following symptoms of an allergic reaction:

    • skin rash, hives, blisters, or peeling skin
    • painful sores or ulcers in the mouth, nose, throat, or genital area
    • trouble swallowing or breathing
    • swelling of the mouth, lips, tongue, or face
    • hoarseness
    • throat tightness
  • Liver problems. Tell your healthcare professional right away if you have any of the following signs and symptoms of liver problems during treatment with PAXLOVID:

    • loss of appetite
    • yellowing of your skin and the whites of your eyes
    • dark-colored urine
    • pale-colored stools
    • itchy skin
    • stomach-area (abdominal) pain

The most common side effects of PAXLOVID include: altered sense of taste and diarrhea.

Other possible side effects include:

  • headache
  • abdominal pain
  • vomiting
  • high blood pressure
  • nausea
  • feeling generally unwell

These are not all of the possible side effects of PAXLOVID. For more information, ask your healthcare professional or pharmacist.

There is limited experience treating pregnant women or breastfeeding mothers with PAXLOVID. For a mother and unborn baby, the benefit of taking PAXLOVID may be greater than the risk from the treatment. It is recommended that you use effective barrier contraception or do not have sexual activity while taking PAXLOVID. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, discuss your options and specific situation with your healthcare professional.



Take PAXLOVID exactly as your healthcare professional tells you. If you take too much PAXLOVID, call your healthcare professional or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away. If you are taking a ritonavir- or cobicistat-containing medicine to treat hepatitis C or HIV-1 infection, you should continue to take your medicine as prescribed.



Talk to your healthcare professional if you do not feel better or if you feel worse after 5 days.



Please see Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers and Fact Sheet for Patients, Parents, and Caregivers.

close-buttonCLOSE

AUTHORIZED USE

The FDA has authorized the emergency use of PAXLOVID for the treatment of mild-to-moderate COVID-19 in children 12 years of age and older weighing at least 88 pounds (40 kg) who are at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19, including hospitalization or death, under an EUA.

PAXLOVID is not FDA-approved or available under EUA for use in children younger than 12 years of age or weighing less than 88 pounds (40 kg). There is limited information about the safety and effectiveness of using PAXLOVID in these patients.