Antivirals are medications that help your body fight off certain viruses that can cause disease. Antiviral drugs are also preventive. They can protect you from getting viral infections or spreading a virus to others. Show
What are viruses?Viruses are tiny (microscopic) infectious agents that grow and multiply only inside living cells of an organism. Viruses have receptors that allow them to attach to healthy (host) cells in your body. Once a virus attaches to and enters a host cell, it can replicate (make copies of itself). The host cell dies, and the virus infects other healthy cells. Sometimes, viruses remain in a host cell without replicating or damaging it. The virus is still there (which means you could be contagious), but you don’t have symptoms. This latent, or inactive, virus can become active at any time and cause symptoms or be passed on to others. The way viruses spread depends on the type of virus. Viruses can spread through: modes of viral spread (differs by type of virus):
How do antiviral medications work?Antiviral medicines work differently depending on the drug and virus type. Antivirals can:
What do antivirals treat?Most viruses clear up without antiviral medications. Healthcare providers prescribe antivirals to treat chronic or life-threatening viral infections, including: Can antivirals cure viral infections?Antiviral drugs can ease symptoms and shorten how long you are sick with viral infections like the flu and Ebola. They can rid your body of these viruses. Viral infections like HIV, hepatitis and herpes are chronic. Antivirals can’t get rid of the virus, which stays in your body. However, antiviral medicines can make the virus latent (inactive) so that you have few, if any, symptoms. Symptoms that develop while you take antivirals may be less severe or go away faster. Can antivirals prevent the spread of viral infections?Yes, antiviral drugs can keep you from getting certain viral infections after a suspected or known exposure. For instance, taking specific antivirals:
How do you take antiviral medications?Most antivirals are oral drugs that you swallow. But you may also receive antiviral medications as: · Eyedrops. · Inhaled powder. · Injection (shot) into a muscle. · IV into a vein. · Topical (skin) ointments or creams. How long do you need to take antiviral drugs?Treatment length varies depending on the antiviral drug and viral infection. You may need one dose of an IV drug or a week of oral medicine. People who have chronic ailments like HIV may take daily antivirals for life. This drug regimen keeps the virus from becoming active. It can prevent the virus from infecting others. Antibiotics help the immune system fight off bacterial infections. Bacteria typically reproduce outside of cells, making it easier for medicines to target them. An antibiotic can usually treat many different types of bacterial infections. But the drugs do not affect viruses. Each antiviral only works against a specific virus. Because viruses inside cells are harder to target, antiviral drugs are more challenging to develop. There are more viruses than antiviral drugs to treat them. Side effects from antivirals vary depending on the drug type and strength (dosage). You may experience: What is antiviral resistance?Skipping doses or starting and stopping an antiviral medicine can allow a virus to change/adapt so that the antiviral is no longer effective. This is antiviral resistance. People who take antivirals for extended periods are more prone to antiviral resistance. Who shouldn’t take antiviral medications?Antivirals are relatively safe medicines. Children as young as two weeks, as well as pregnant and breastfeeding individuals, can take certain antiviral medications. Guidelines for who shouldn’t take antivirals vary depending on the drug. Your healthcare provider can determine whether an antiviral medicine is safe for you. A note from Cleveland Clinic Antiviral medications can treat certain viruses, putting an end to symptoms. For people with chronic viral infections, antiviral drugs can stop the virus from multiplying and causing problems. The medicine also lowers your chances of giving the virus to others. Your healthcare provider may prescribe an antiviral as a preventive measure if you have a known viral exposure. Taking antiviral medicines for a long time, or failing to take them as prescribed, can lead to antiviral resistance.
Answers to frequently asked questions about COVID-19 antiviral medicines.
Antivirals are medicines that help stop a virus infecting healthy cells or multiplying in the body. Fortunately, we have antivirals that work against COVID-19. They work best when taken as soon as possible, usually within 5 days from when your symptoms start. They come in either pill form to be taken by the mouth or can be given intravenously (directly into the bloodstream). COVID-19 antivirals do not work against other viruses like the flu. They are only prescribed to eligible people who have tested positive to COVID-19 through a rapid antigen test (RAT) or PCR (nose and throat swab) test. Antiviral medicines target the virus (SARS-CoV-2) that causes COVID-19 to prevent it infecting healthy cells in your body and multiplying. This helps stop the spread of the virus through your body and helps your immune system to fight off the infection. By reducing how severe the illness is, you are less likely to go to hospital, develop breathing difficulties, need assistance with oxygen or intensive care treatment, or die from COVID-19. It’s important to note that antivirals are not a substitute for vaccination. The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has approved two oral antiviral treatments for COVID-19 in Australia called Lagevrio® (molnupiravir) and Paxlovid® (nirmatrelvir + ritonavir). They are both available in NSW. Most people who are eligible for antivirals will be prescribed oral antivirals, which come in tablet or capsule form, so you can take these medicines at home rather than needing to go to hospital for treatment. There are some other options available such as antiviral injections and in those cases your doctor may advise you to go to a hospital or clinic to receive your antiviral treatment intravenously. Your GP will let you know the best treatment option for you. For more information on antivirals available in NSW read the below medicine information sheets:
Who is eligible for antivirals:
If you test positive to COVID-19, have symptoms but do not require hospitalisation, and are at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19, you may also be eligible for antivirals. More advice on the eligibility criteria can be found on the Department of Health’s website. COVID-19 antivirals are only prescribed to eligible people who have tested positive to COVID-19 through a rapid antigen test (RAT) or PCR (nose and throat swab) test. Although registering a RAT test is no longer mandatory, voluntarily registering your result helps you access antiviral medicines if you are eligible. Steps for accessing antivirals:
You will only be sent a SMS from Healthdirect Australia if you have:
3. Call your GP immediately to discuss antivirals (usually via telehealth). Antivirals work best within 5 days from the start of symptoms. 4. If your GP says you are eligible for antivirals, they will send you a prescription (online or paper copy). It’s recommended you ask your pharmacy to arrange home delivery for your medication or ask someone to collect it on your behalf and drop it off. If you believe you are at high risk of getting seriously ill from COVID-19 and have not received the NSW Health survey and not been able to get in touch with your GP, you can contact the National Coronavirus Helpline on 1800 020 080 and/or NSW Health’s COVID-19 and Flu care at home support line on 1800 960 933. Nurses on the line will be able to check if you’re eligible for antivirals. Antivirals can only be used in the early stages of infection and are not suitable for everyone. Most people can manage COVID-19 safely at home without the need for antivirals. They may be beneficial to people who are at higher risk of progressing to severe illness, depending on their circumstances. You can use the COVID-19 Symptom and Antiviral Eligibility Checker to find out if you may be eligible for antiviral medication. All medicines can potentially have side effects but most will disappear with time or when you stop treatment. Antiviral side effects vary depending on what medicine you are being treated with. Please read the medicine information sheets below for more information on side effects:
As antiviral medicines are new, information about how well they work is still being collected. That’s why it is important to speak to your doctor and see if you are eligible for the treatments. Your doctor will tell you if they are safe for you to use. Oral antivirals, Lagevrio® and Paxlovid® are available on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) in Australia and are heavily subsidised. There are specific PBS eligibility criteria for antivirals and if you meet the criteria you can access antivirals at a minimal cost. For those who are eligible under the PBS, COVID-19 oral antiviral treatments cost less than $10 for concession card holders, or around $45 for everyone else who is eligible. |
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