COVID-19 Antiretroviral Therapy: Paxlovid – a new medication used to combat COVID-19 by hindering the virus's growth.
The NHS is now offering new treatments for COVID-19 patients at high risk, including Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir/ritonavir), an oral antiviral medication. Here's what you need to know about Paxlovid, including its side effects, usage instructions, and multilingual resources for non-English speakers.
## Side Effects and Usage Instructions
Paxlovid is designed to treat adults with COVID-19 who are at a higher risk of progressing to severe disease. Common side effects include abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, altered sense of taste, muscle pain, and headache.
Less common but important side effects include liver enzyme elevation, allergic reactions, and drug interactions. It's essential to inform your prescriber or pharmacist about all medications, including over-the-counter drugs and supplements, due to ritonavir's inhibition of the CYP3A4 enzyme, which can lead to interactions with many common medications.
Typically, three tablets (two nirmatrelvir and one ritonavir) are taken together twice daily for five days, starting as soon as possible after diagnosis of COVID-19 and within five days of symptom onset. Paxlovid can be taken with or without food.
Dose adjustments may be needed for those with liver or kidney impairment, and the safety during pregnancy and breastfeeding is not fully established. Always consult a healthcare provider for specific advice.
## Multilingual Guidance
For non-English speakers, the NHS and UK healthcare providers offer interpretation services, written information in multiple languages, and translated instructions. Local pharmacies often have translated instructions or can verbally translate usage and side effect information.
For example, the usage instructions in Spanish are as follows:
> **Instrucciones de uso para Paxlovid en español** > Tome tres tabletas juntas (dos de nirmatrelvir y una de ritonavir) dos veces al día durante cinco días. > Puede tomar Paxlovid con o sin alimentos. > Empiece el tratamiento lo antes posible después de ser diagnosticado con COVID-19. > Informe a su médico sobre todos los medicamentos que esté tomando, para evitar interacciones peligrosas.
Side effect summaries are also available in multiple languages, including Spanish.
## Availability of Translations
Many NHS resources provide leaflets or digital information in languages such as Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, French, Polish, and Urdu. An audio version, English large print version, and Braille version of the leaflet are also available to download or order.
## Additional Advice
If you are prescribed Paxlovid and require information in another language, contact your pharmacy or GP surgery for assistance. It's crucial to report any side effects to the UK Yellow Card scheme or your healthcare professional.
The treatments offered include antibody and antiviral treatments. Copies of printed publications and the full range of digital resources for immunization programs can now be ordered and downloaded online. However, a log-in is required to register and place an order for the resources.
For more information about Paxlovid for pregnant or breastfeeding individuals, please consult your healthcare provider. The resources support the immunization programs and are available in various languages, including English, Albanian, Arabic, Bengali, Bulgarian, Chinese (simplified and traditional), Estonian, Farsi, French, Greek, Gujarati, Hindi, Latvian, Lithuanian, Panjabi, Pashto, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Romany, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog, Turkish, Twi, Ukrainian, Urdu, and Yiddish.
[1] NHS (2022). Paxlovid: who can have it and how to take it. Retrieved from
[2] Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) (2022). Paxlovid: summary of product characteristics. Retrieved from
Paxlovid, a new treatment for high-risk COVID-19 patients, also has versions with multilingual resources available for non-English speakers, such as Spanish instructions: "Instrucciones de uso para Paxlovid en español > Tome tres tabletas juntas (dos de nirmatrelvir y una de ritonavir) dos veces al día durante cinque días." Furthermore, health-and-wellness information, including therapies-and-treatments like Paxlovid, is available in multiple languages like Arabic, Bengali, and Chinese, to ensure better accessibility for a diverse population.
