What you should know about molnupiravir

This is an automatically translated article.

1. What is Molnupiravir? Molnupiravir is an antiviral drug that is used in patients with COVID-19 to reduce severe progression to hospitalization or death from the disease. With a phase 3 clinical trial just completed and posted, the drug received emergency FDA approval in December 2021.
During the past 2 years, COVID-19 has become an ever-declining hot topic. heat in Vietnam and around the world. Referring to molnupiravir, perhaps no one is not interested. However, can anyone take molnupiravir? Or is molnupiravir a panacea to help you and your family prevent COVID-19 infection? Or can molnupiravir cure all COVID-19 infections? For answers to these questions, please read the information below to better understand this drug.

2. Which patients should take molnupiravir? Molnupiravir should be started early, within 5 days of symptom onset or positive test in adult patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 infection. In addition, at least one major prognostic risk factor included: age over 60 years, active cancer, chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, obesity (BMI ≥30), severe heart disease (such as heart failure, coronary heart disease, cardiomyopathy) or diabetes.
This means that the drug will be most beneficial in patients with at least one symptom and at least one risk factor for exacerbation. In particular, the drug is effective when taken early, within 5 days of the first symptoms of the disease.
With results from a phase 3 clinical trial, it has been shown that molnupiravir reduces the risk of death and hospitalization in mild to moderate COVID-19 patients at high risk of worsening. Although the reduction in mortality and hospitalization is not very high (6.8% compared to placebo), given the traumatic loss of COVID-19 we have seen in recent times, molnupiravir is one of the measures. measures to improve outcomes for people with Covid-19.

3. Who should be cautious when deciding to use molnupiravir? Some of the patients excluded from the phase 3 clinical study included: patients requiring hospitalization within 48 hours, patients on hemodialysis or with a glomerular filtration rate less than 30ml/min/1.73m2. , women who became pregnant or refused contraception during the trial to at least 4 days after completing the regimen, had severe neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, or had received the COVID vaccine. The drug has not been tested in children.
This means that safety and efficacy have not been established in these patients. If you fall into one of these categories, your doctor will need to talk to you about the risk that the effectiveness may be reduced and the side effects may be increased with the medication. Children have not been studied nor have an appropriate dose level. There is not enough information available for use in nursing women. Therefore, according to the instructions for use of the drug, you should stop breastfeeding from the time you start using the drug until at least 4 days after completing the regimen.
Your doctor and medical staff will advise you with the necessary information and use this medicine only if the benefits outweigh the risks.

4. The molnupiravir dosing regimen? According to the dose levels studied in clinical trials, molnupiravir was administered at a dosage regimen of 800 mg (4 tablets of 200 mg) twice daily, 12 hours apart, for 5 days.
The drug should be swallowed whole with a sufficient amount of water (eg, a glass of 150-200 ml of water). You can take the pill at any time after a meal (before or after a meal) but do not chew or crush the tablet.
In case you forget a dose within 10 hours, you should take it as soon as you remember. If you miss a dose by more than 10 hours, just take your next scheduled dose without taking any more. Do not take a double dose at a time, even if you forget to take it.

5. What are the possible side effects of taking molnupiravir? Due to the emergency approval of the drug during a worldwide epidemic, the side effects may not be fully known or the mechanism of the drug is well understood. The most commonly observed side effects of the drug may include headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and rash.
Talk to your doctor and medical staff about any unusual symptoms, discomfort while taking the drug or when you suspect you have a side effect of the drug.

6. Things to keep in mind when using molnupiravir Before using the drug, you need to talk to your doctor about your medical history and the medications you are taking, as well as whether you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Do not arbitrarily buy drugs from unreliable sources because the quality of drugs will directly affect your health.
You need to complete 5 full days of treatment according to the regimen for optimal effect. At the same time, you need to strictly follow the isolation rules as advised by your doctor and medical staff, even if you have completed the regimen or no longer have symptoms to ensure infection prevention.
You need to use birth control during the time of taking the pill until at least 100 days after completing the regimen. Contraception also needs to be applied in the case of male users.
Please talk to your doctor or medical staff to monitor and take care of you all symptoms and signs of unusual discomfort during the time of using the drug for advice and timely treatment.

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