COVID Antiviral Pills Cause Life-Threatening Reactions When Used With Many Common Meds: FDA

COVID Antiviral Pills Cause Life-Threatening Reactions When Used With Many Common Meds: FDA
Paxlovid, a Pfizer COVID-19 pill, is seen manufactured in Ascoli, Italy, in this undated photo obtained by Reuters on Nov. 16, 2021. Pfizer/Handout via Reuters
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Pfizer’s antiviral oral drug developed to treat COVID-19 can cause severe or life-threatening reactions when used with common medications including some anticoagulants, antidepressants, and cholesterol-lowering statins, according to a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) fact sheet (pdf).

Paxlovid is the first oral medication of its kind authorized by the FDA to treat COVID-19, with the aim of reducing the need for hospitalization before patients become too ill from the infection.