5 steps to weather another covid winter

“The data are overwhelmingly clear that our older Americans are once again bearing the highest burden of severe outcomes from COVID-19,” Tom Tsai, M.D., senior policy advisor for the White

House COVID-19 Response Team, told AARP. Tsai points to a few different factors that could be contributing to the low utilization rates, and potential drug interactions is one of them.

Paxlovid doesn’t mix with a number of prescription medications, including some common blood thinners, statins and blood pressure meds. “And I think that providers have been kind of scared

away from its use because of the long list of interactions and the fact that you do have to spend some time and take care in really knowing what the patient’s taking, and sometimes adjust

their medicines,” Rupp adds. Finding out from your doctor ahead of time if you’re eligible for Paxlovid based on your own prescription regimen — and also where you can get the prescription

filled if you need it — is key, Tsai says. “Patients need to be their own advocate, especially around treatments, because time is of the essence,” he adds. In fact, Paxlovid works best if

it’s started in the first five days of symptom onset. Rupp suspects another possible reason for the lag in the prescription’s use is due to individuals delaying treatment until it’s too

late. COVID symptoms may start out as mild, “and then by the time they really start getting in trouble, it’s probably past peak efficacy,” Rupp says. Reports of Paxlovid rebound — or testing

positive for COVID-19 right after Paxlovid treatment — could also be to blame. However, Tsai says emerging research suggests that rebound may not be due to treatments, but instead is “more

of a phenomenon of the COVID-19 itself.” IF YOU ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR PAXLOVID, there are other treatment options. While less effective than Paxlovid, the antiviral molnupiravir (brand name

Lagevrio) is available as a prescription pill, and it has fewer drug interactions, Tsai says. Your doctor may also recommend an infusion of monoclonal antibodies or remdesivir. “Part of the

treatment strategy is to not rely only on one treatment option, but to ensure that Americans have access to a range of therapeutic options to keep them safe this fall and winter,” Tsai says.

 3. SYMPTOMS? TAKE A TEST Suffering from the sniffles? Have a sore throat, or feel a cough coming on? With vaccines, boosters and a constantly evolving virus, it’s harder than ever to

distinguish symptoms of COVID-19 from that of a cold, or even the flu. And that’s why it’s important to test. If your symptoms are due to COVID-19 and you’re eligible for a treatment, you’ll

want to get started on it right away. You’ll also want to steer clear of others while you’re sick to avoid spreading the virus.