Lagevrio Dosages for Adults: Your GoodRx Guide

Being sick with COVID-19 is no fun. And for some people, the viral illness can lead to serious health complications. If you have a higher risk of developing severe COVID, it’s likely that your healthcare team will recommend treatment to help lower your risk.

Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir / ritonavir) is typically the first choice for treating mild-to-moderate COVID. But not everyone can take it (often because of its many drug interactions). In this case, your prescriber may consider Lagevrio (molnupiravir). It works differently from Paxlovid and doesn’t have any known interactions.

As with all COVID treatments, it’s crucial to take Lagevrio as prescribed for it to be most effective. But what’s the usual Lagevrio dosage? And do you need to take a different dose if you have liver or kidney issues?

Good to know: Lagevrio shouldn’t be prescribed to children and adolescents under age 18. So we won’t be discussing children’s dosages here.

What’s the typical Lagevrio dosage for COVID?

The typical Lagevrio dosage for COVID is 800 mg (4 capsules) by mouth every 12 hours for 5 days. You can take your doses with or without food. So if the medication upsets your stomach, try taking it with something to eat.

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Start taking Lagevrio as soon as possible after testing positive for COVID and within 5 days of first feeling symptoms.

You should swallow Lagevrio capsules whole. But if you have a feeding tube, there are steps you should follow to prepare a dose:

1. Open four capsules, and dump their contents into a clean container that has a lid.

2. Add 40 mL of water to the container.

3. Put the lid on the container, and shake for 3 minutes. It’s OK if the capsule contents don’t fully dissolve yet.

4. Flush your feeding tube with 5 mL of water.

5. Draw the mixture in the container into the appropriate syringe for your tube.

6. Administer the mixture into your feeding tube. If you have a gastrojejunostomy (GJ) tube, administer your dose using the gastric port.

7. If there’s any residue left in the container, add 10 mL of water to it and mix. Use the same syringe to draw up and administer the additional mixture. Repeat this step until there’s no residue left in the container.

8. When you’re done administering your dose, flush your tube with 5 mL of water twice (10 mL total).

The steps above are meant only for people with nasogastric (NG), orogastric (OG), and gastrostomy (G) tubes that are 12F or larger, or with GJ tubes that are 14F or larger. Talk to a healthcare professional if you’re using a smaller feeding tube.

Do not open the capsules if you’re taking Lagevrio by mouth. If you have trouble swallowing pills, tell your prescriber. They may suggest a different COVID treatment, such as the IV medication Veklury (remdesivir).

Are there dosage adjustments for health conditions?

Many medications have different dosages for people with certain health conditions, such as liver and kidney disease. But Lagevrio does not. So if you have kidney or liver problems, you’ll take the standard dosage of the medication discussed above.

But not everyone can take Lagevrio. You shouldn’t take this COVID treatment if you:

• Are pregnant

• Are under 18 years old

• Are in the hospital because of COVID

• Have an allergy to any active or inactive ingredient in Lagevrio

It’s recommended to avoid nursing while taking Lagevrio and for 4 days after your last dose. You may want to pump and discard (“pump and dump”) milk during this time. Experts aren’t sure if the medication passes into breast milk.

Lagevrio and contraception

Lagevrio can harm a developing fetus. There are protective steps to take with Lagevrio even if you’re not pregnant or planning a pregnancy.

If you’re able to get pregnant, you should use a reliable form of contraception during Lagevrio treatment and for 4 days after your last dose. Lagevrio isn’t known to interact with hormonal birth control. So if this is your choice for contraception, you can continue to use it without needing to use a backup method of protection.

If you’re able to get your partner pregnant, you should use a reliable method of contraception, such as condoms, while taking Lagevrio and for at least 3 months after finishing it. Lagevrio may be present in sperm for several weeks after taking your last dose.

What happens if you miss a dose of Lagevrio?

Correcting missed doses of Lagevrio depends on how long it’s been since you missed:

• If it’s been less than 10 hours since your missed dose: Take your missed dose as soon as you remember. Take your next dose at its usual time.

• If it’s been 10 hours or more since your missed dose: Skip the missed dose. Take your next dose at its usual time.

Don’t take a double dose or extra medication to try to make up for missed doses. This can raise your risk of side effects.

What should you do if you take too much Lagevrio?

There are no studies that confirm what could happen if a person takes too much Lagevrio. But you may notice more side effects than usual. Common side effects include diarrhea, nausea, and dizziness.

If you’ve taken too much Lagevrio, it’s a good idea to contact your prescriber. They can provide the next steps you should follow. You can also call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 for guidance.

How to save on Lagevrio

There are ways to save on Lagevrio, which is available as a brand-name medication. GoodRx can help you navigate between patient assistance programs and copay savings cards to save money on your prescription:

• Save with a copay savings card. If you have commercial insurance, you may be eligible to pay as little as $10 for Lagevrio using a savings card from the manufacturer.

• Save with a patient assistance program. If you’re uninsured or underinsured, you may be eligible for Lagevrio’s patient assistance program, which offers the medication free of cost.

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Written by:

Christina Aungst, PharmD

Christina Aungst, PharmD, is a pharmacy editor for GoodRx. She began writing for GoodRx Health in 2019, transitioning from freelance writer to editor in 2021.

Reviewed by:

Tegan Smedley, PharmD, APh

Tegan Smedley, PharmD, APh, has 10 years of experience as a pharmacist. She has worked in a variety of settings, including retail, hospital, and ambulatory care.

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