Tag: Covid 19

Discovered in the 1970s and developed from a soil microorganism, ivermectin has since become a versatile pharmaceutical with widespread applications in both human and veterinary medicine. The drug has a complex history and has been the subject of both Nobel Prize-winning research and modern misinformation campaigns.

According to a 2023 study, early in the pandemic, roughly 40–50% of people with COVID-19 experienced impaired smell or taste. The question of **what medication is used for loss of taste and smell** is complex, as effective treatment is not one-size-fits-all and depends heavily on the underlying root cause.

Pregnant individuals are at a higher risk of developing severe complications from COVID-19 compared to their non-pregnant counterparts. The question of **is remdesivir safe for pregnancy?** has evolved as more data has become available from compassionate use programs, registries, and observational studies, providing better guidance for clinicians and expectant mothers.

According to the PINETREE trial, a 3-day course of intravenous remdesivir reduced the risk of hospitalization or death by 87% in high-risk, non-hospitalized COVID-19 patients compared to placebo. This impressive statistic highlights that answering 'What is the success rate of remdesivir?' is highly dependent on the specific clinical context, including disease severity and timing of administration.

Drug-induced immune thrombocytopenia (DITP) is estimated to affect about 10 people per million annually [1.7.1]. A critical question for clinicians has been: **can remdesivir cause thrombocytopenia**, especially when treating COVID-19, a disease also known to lower platelet counts? [1.6.3]

In late 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized the first oral antiviral treatments for COVID-19, Paxlovid and Lagevrio, for high-risk patients to help prevent severe illness. Understanding **what is the difference between Paxlovid and Lagevrio** is crucial for patients, as these medications vary significantly in their mechanisms of action, overall effectiveness, potential for drug interactions, and eligibility criteria.

Despite being a widely recognized antiviral for COVID-19, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved formulation of remdesivir, sold under the brand name Veklury, does not come in a pill form and is only administered via intravenous (IV) infusion. This method of delivery is crucial for the drug's effectiveness and is a key difference from other available COVID-19 treatments.

Paxlovid is a specific 5-day antiviral treatment course for COVID-19, and premature discontinuation is strongly discouraged by health authorities. Therefore, understanding why it is not advisable to stop Paxlovid after 3 days is crucial for patient outcomes.

While severe COVID-19 disease is a recognized cause of pulmonary fibrosis, evidence does not suggest a causal link between the antiviral drug remdesivir and this condition. In fact, some studies indicate that remdesivir may have a protective effect against the lung scarring caused by severe viral infections. This article explores the current scientific understanding of remdesivir's effects on the lungs.

Based on analysis of FDA adverse event data, Paxlovid has been associated with a higher number of neurologic-related adverse events compared to other COVID-19 medications used to treat the virus. So, **does Paxlovid affect the nervous system**? The answer is yes, though primarily with mild and often transient symptoms, with the potential for more significant effects due to drug interactions.