Lagevrio
Lagevrio (molnupiravir) is an antiviral medication that was given Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) by the FDA in December 2021 to treat people with mild-to-moderate COVID-19. It's a capsule that's taken by mouth and a full course of treatment only lasts 5 days. Most people don't have many side effects with Lagevrio (molnupiravir). But possible side effects include diarrhea, nausea, and dizziness. Lastly, this medication doesn't have any known medication interactions.
What is Lagevrio (molnupiravir)?
What is Lagevrio (molnupiravir) used for?
- Mild-to-moderate COVID-19 in adults who are at high risk for severe illness and aren't able to receive other FDA-authorized treatments
How Lagevrio (molnupiravir) works
Lagevrio (molnupiravir) is a nucleoside analog that treats COVID-19 by targeting the virus. It works by disrupting the process that the virus uses to make copies of itself. This means the virus won't be able to make any more copies of itself to further spread infection.
Drug facts
More on Lagevrio (molnupiravir) essentials
Side effects of Lagevrio (molnupiravir)
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
- Diarrhea (2%)
Less Common Side Effects
- Nausea
- Dizziness
Lagevrio (molnupiravir) serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Serious allergic reaction: feeling faint, dizziness, trouble breathing, swelling in the face, swollen tongue, difficulty swallowing, itchy skin, rash, hives, nausea, vomiting
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The following Lagevrio (molnupiravir) side effects have also been reported
Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:
- Allergic reactions—skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report these to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):
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Pros and cons of Lagevrio (molnupiravir)
Pros
- Can be taken at home, instead of needing to receive treatment at a facility
- Taken by mouth, good for people who are afraid of needles
- Only need to take it for 5 days
- No known interactions with other medications
Cons
- Not a first-choice medication for COVID-19
- Need to take it within 5 days of getting sick with COVID-19
- Can't be used in people with severe COVID-19 illness, including those who are hospitalized
- Not recommended for people under age 18 years old because of high risk for bone and cartilage damage
Pharmacist tips for Lagevrio (molnupiravir)
- You can take Lagevrio (molnupiravir) with or without food. Swallow the tablets whole. Don't chew, crush, or break the medication because it might not work as well.
- For each dose of the medication, you should be taking four capsules total at one time. Each capsule contains 200 mg of Lagevrio (molnupiravir).
- Finish your full 5-day course of Lagevrio (molnupiravir) even if you feel better before you're done. Stopping this medication too early can put you at risk for serious COVID-19 illness. Make sure to take steps to protect yourself and others while you're taking this medication in order to get well soon and to prevent others from getting sick with COVID-19.
- If you miss a dose of Lagevrio (molnupiravir) and it's been less than 10 hours since the time you usually take it, then take your dose as soon as possible and continue with your regular schedule. But if more than 10 hours have passed since the time you usually take it, just skip this dose and take your next dose at your regularly scheduled time. Never take two doses of the medication to make up for a missed dose.
- Lagevrio (molnupiravir) is prescribed for you only. Don't share it with others, even if they have similar symptoms as you. This medication might not be right for everyone.
- If you're sexually active and able to have children, make sure to use birth control when you're taking Lagevrio (molnupiravir) because this medication might cause birth defects. Women are recommended to use birth control during treatment and for 4 days after the last dose of Lagevrio (molnupiravir).
- Lagevrio (molnupiravir) might cause damage to sperm. Men who are sexually active with women are recommended to use a form of birth control (e.g., condoms) during treatment and for at least 3 months after the last dose of Lagevrio (molnupiravir).
- If your COVID-19 symptoms get worse, get medical help right away. This medication won't prevent all COVID-19 cases from getting worse. Call 911 if you experience symptoms such as worsening cough, trouble breathing, chest pain that doesn't go away, confusion, hard time staying awake, and pale or blue-colored skin.
Common questions about Lagevrio (molnupiravir)
No, but Lagevrio (molnupiravir) was given Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) by the FDA to prevent serious illness during the COVID-19 outbreak. An EUA temporarily allows medications that didn't go through the traditional FDA approval process to be used during a public health emergency because there's an immediate need for the medication. Because Lagevrio (molnupiravir) can only be prescribed under EUA, your provider needs to go through a checklist to decide whether or not you qualify for this medication.
You're at a higher risk for severe COVID-19 illness if you're over 65 years old or have certain conditions, such as diabetes, obesity, kidney problems, heart problems, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or active cancer. Lagevrio (molnupiravir) is used to treat mild-to-moderate COVID-19 symptoms in people who have one or more of these risk factors. If you're not sure whether you have a risk factor for severe illness, talk to your healthcare provider.
Studies showed that taking Lagevrio (molnupiravir) lowers the risk of death or needing hospital care by 30% compared with placebo. People in the study had one or more risk factors for severe COVID-19 illness. And they started taking Lagevrio (molnupiravir) within 5 days of having mild-to-moderate COVID-19 symptoms. Keep in mind that the virus that causes COVID-19 can change over time, so this might affect how well Lagevrio (molnupiravir) works over time as well.
You take Lagevrio (molnupiravir) by mouth with or without food. Make sure to swallow the capsules whole. And keep in mind that it takes 4 capsules total (each with 200 mg of molnupiravir) to make up each full dose of Lagevrio. So you should be taking 4 capsules of Lagevrio (molnupiravir) twice daily for 5 days for a full treatment.
Lagevrio (molnupiravir) isn't recommended in pregnancy. Currently, there aren't enough studies done to understand how this medication affects human pregnancy, but animal studies show that it can cause birth defects. Because of this risk, your provider might ask you to take a pregnancy test before you start this medication. But in some cases, the benefits of using Lagevrio (molnupiravir) during pregnancy outweigh the risks. If you and your provider decide that this medication is appropriate during your pregnancy, you're highly encouraged to join the COVID-19 International Pregnancy Registry.
Lagevrio (molnupiravir) isn't recommended for people who are breastfeeding. Animal studies show that it can get into breastmilk. Because of the risk of possible harm to nursing babies, you should stop breastfeeding during treatment and for 4 days after the last dose of Lagevrio (molnupiravir). If you're currently breastfeeding, you can consider pumping and throwing away the breast milk during this time. Ask your provider if you have any questions about breastfeeding with this medication.
No, Lagevrio (molnupiravir) and Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir / ritonavir) aren't the same. While they're both oral medications with EUA from the FDA to treat mild-to-moderate COVID-19, there are some key differences. (1) Paxlovid can be taken by children ages 12 and older, but Lagevrio can only be taken by adults ages 18 and older because of possible bone and cartilage damage in people who are younger. (2) Lagevrio should only be taken when there's no other FDA-authorized option for COVID-19, while Paxlovid doesn't have this recommendation. (3) Paxlovid can interact with many medications, whereas Lagevrio isn't currently known to have any interactions. To learn more, read this article about the differences between the two.
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Risks and warnings for Lagevrio (molnupiravir)
Lagevrio (molnupiravir) can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Birth defects
- Risk factors: Currently pregnant
Babies born to mothers who take Lagevrio (molnupiravir) during pregnancy might be at risk for birth defects. Because of this risk, your provider might ask you to take a pregnancy test before you start this medication. In some cases, your provider and you might decide the need to use Lagevrio (molnupiravir) during pregnancy outweighs its risks. If you decide to take this medication, you're highly encouraged to join the COVID-19 International Pregnancy Registry.
To prevent pregnancy while taking Lagevrio (molnupiravir), women who are able to have children should use birth control during treatment and for 4 days after the last dose of Lagevrio (molnupiravir). Men who are sexually active with women should use birth control during treatment and for at least 3 months after the last dose of Lagevrio (molnupiravir).
Bone and cartilage damage
- Risk factors: People under 18 years old
Lagevrio (molnupiravir) can't be used in people younger than 18 years old because it might cause bone and cartilage damage. Let your provider know if you have signs and symptoms of bone or cartilage damage, including joint or bone pain, swelling of the joints, and a clicking or grinding sensation in the joint.
Risk of serious allergic reaction
Though rare, some people have experienced serious allergic reactions after taking Lagevrio (molnupiravir). Get medical help right away if you experience symptoms of anaphylaxis, including swelling in the face, trouble breathing, and hives.
Lagevrio (molnupiravir) dosage
Capsule| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 200mg | 40 capsules | $1,011.18 | $25.28 |
Typical dosage for Lagevrio (molnupiravir)
The typical dose is 800 mg (taken as four 200 mg capsules) by mouth every 12 hours for 5 days.
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How much does Lagevrio (molnupiravir) cost?
$1,011.18
What are alternatives to Lagevrio (molnupiravir)?
Treatment of COVID-19 infection in people aged 28 days or older and weigh at least 3 kg (6.6 lbs), and are either: - Hospitalized or - Not hospitalized but have mild-to-moderate COVID-19 and are at high risk of developing severe COVID-19
