COVID-19 antiviral therapy
UCHealth is encouraging people at risk of getting very sick from COVID-19 to test as soon as they detect symptoms. There are treatments available at your local pharmacies that can prevent severe illness, but they need to be taken with 5 days of when you first have symptoms. In some pharmacies you can test and get treatment all in the same visit.
Recent changes in the COVID-19 variant, Omicron, have caused the nation’s current monoclonal treatment option to be ineffective. UCHealth continues to offer antiviral therapy for those at greatest risk of getting very sick from COVID-19.
Who should be considered for antiviral therapy?
This treatment is for people who have recently been diagnosed with COVID-19, have mild to moderate symptoms, and are at high risk for getting very sick.
People at risk of getting very sick from COVID-19 include:
- People who are age 65 or older.
- People who are overweight (with a BMI of 26 or greater).
- Pregnant people.
- People with a weakened immune system (immunocompromised).
- People with certain conditions, such as: cancer; kidney, liver, lung or sickle cell disease; dementia; diabetes; Down syndrome; heart conditions; HIV infection; certain mental health conditions; current or former smoker; organ transplant recipient; stroke; substance use disorder; tuberculosis.
Benefits and risks of antiviral therapy
Benefits of antiviral therapy
For people at high risk of getting very sick from COVID-19, antiviral therapy, given early, can greatly reduce the chance of getting COVID-19 and prevent the disease from becoming severe. It also reduces the chance of needing to be in the hospital. The treatment can also shorten how long COVID-19 symptoms last.
Possible side effects
Most people handle antiviral therapy very well. Some people may have infusion-related side effects, such as nausea and dizziness. These only last a short time and go away on their own. As with any medicine, there is the chance for mild or more severe allergic reactions. These are not common.
How to get antiviral therapy at UCHealth
Option 1: Contact your primary care provider:
If you tested positive for COVID-19 and need to discuss if antiviral therapy is right for you, please call your UCHealth primary care provider as soon as possible.
A UCHealth provider will determine if you qualify for treatment. If your provider decides you qualify, they will submit an order. Someone will reach out to you to schedule the therapy prescribed by your provider. UCHealth infusion clinics are not accepting walk-in patients. You must have an appointment.
Option 2: UCHealth Virtual Urgent Care and Urgent Care:
If you do not have a UCHealth primary care provider, you can schedule a visit with UCHealth Virtual Urgent Care or at a UCHealth Urgent Care clinic.
A UCHealth provider will determine if you qualify for treatment. A visit with a UCHealth provider is required in order to determine if you qualify for antiviral therapy. Please note that any UCHealth Urgent Care location can evaluate you in order to determine if you qualify. If a provider decides you qualify, they can write a prescription or submit an order. Once an order is submitted, the scheduling team will review patient risk and antiviral medicine availability. If criteria are met and medicine is available, an appointment for treatment will be scheduled.
Frequently asked questions
Who is considered high risk?
People at risk of getting very sick from COVID-19 include:
- People who are age 65 or older.
- People who are overweight (with a BMI of 26 or greater).
- Pregnant people.
- People with a weakened immune system (immunocompromised).
- People with certain conditions, such as: cancer; kidney, liver, lung or sickle cell disease; dementia; diabetes; down syndrome; heart conditions; HIV infection; certain mental health conditions; current or former smoker; organ transplant recipient; stroke; substance use disorder; tuberculosis.
For more information, see the CDC guidelines for those at high risk.
Can antiviral therapy treat COVID-19?
Increasing data from clinical trials show that when used early in the course of COVID-19, antiviral therapy can reduce the need to be admitted to the hospital and decrease the risk of death. For the greatest effect, treatment should be given as soon as possible, ideally within the first week after the start of symptoms.
How long does it take for antiviral therapy to work?
Healing from COVID-19 is different for each patient. This is true even for patients who have been given antiviral therapy. The main job of the antiviral therapy is to keep the infection from getting worse. The goal is to avoid the most serious problems. These include being admitted to the hospital and death. If symptoms do get worse after having antiviral therapy, please get medical help.
For relief of minor symptoms such as a headache or body aches, over-the-counter medicines can be taken (such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen).
When can you get a COVID-19 vaccine or booster after getting antiviral therapy?
If you received antiviral therapy because you were sick with or exposed to COVID-19, you can get your COVID-19 vaccine at any time.
If you already received one or both doses of the vaccine and you are eligible, you can receive antiviral treatment.
References
National Institute of Health. COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines. Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Monoclonal Antibodies (https://www.covid19treatmentguidelines.nih.gov/therapies/antivirals-including-antibody-products/anti-sars-cov-2-monoclonal-antibodies/)
Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). COVID-19 Treatments and Medications (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/treatments-for-severe-illness.html)
Colorado Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute (CCTSI). mAb Colorado (https://medschool.cuanschutz.edu/mab-colorado)