COVID-19 Therapeutic Treatments
Mercy Urgent Care is pleased to offer therapeutic treatments for the treatment of mild-to-moderate COVID-19 in adults and children [12 years of age and older weighing at least 88 pounds] with positive COVID-19 test results.
COVID treatments offered include Paxlovid and Molnupiravir oral antiviral pills. If you are in need of COVID therapeutic treatments, please make an appointment at your nearest Mercy Urgent Care location and indicate COVID treatment as your reason for visit. Antibody infusion services are no longer available as of September 5, 2022.
Prioritization of Patients at Highest Risk of Progression to Severe COVID-19
Anti-SARS-CoV-2 therapeutics are of greatest benefit for nonhospitalized patients who have risk factors for progression to severe COVID-19. The risks for progression are substantially higher for those who are not vaccinated or who are vaccinated but not expected to mount an adequate immune response to the vaccine.
Please note that prevention against COVID-19 with therapeutic treatments is not a substitute for vaccination against COVID-19 and is not authorized for pre-exposure prevention.
The following medical conditions or other factors may place patients at higher risk for progressing to severe COVID-19:
- Older age (for example, age ≥65 years of age)
- Obesity or being overweight (for example, BMI >30)
- Pregnancy
- Chronic kidney disease
- Diabetes
- Immunosuppressive disease or immunosuppressive treatment
- Cardiovascular disease (including congenital heart disease) or hypertension
- Chronic lung diseases (for example, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma [moderate-to-severe], interstitial lung disease, cystic fibrosis and pulmonary hypertension)
- Sickle cell disease
- Neurodevelopmental disorders (for example, cerebral palsy) or other conditions that confer medical complexity (for example, genetic or metabolic syndromes and severe congenital anomalies)
- Having a medical-related technological dependence (for example, tracheostomy, gastrostomy, or positive pressure ventilation (not related to COVID 19)) Other medical conditions or factors (for example, race or ethnicity) may also place individual patients at high risk for progressing to severe COVID-19.
For additional information on medical conditions and factors associated with increased risk for progressing to severe COVID-19, see the CDC website. Healthcare providers should consider the benefit-risk for an individual patient.
COVID Therapeutic Treatments offered at Mercy Urgent Care
Paxlovid Oral Antiviral Pills
The FDA has authorized the emergency use of Paxlovid for the treatment of mild-to-moderate COVID-19 in adults and children [12 years of age and older weighing at least 88 pounds] with positive COVID-19 test results, and who are at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19, including hospitalization or death. Paxlovid is a 5 day treatment course that is started within five days of symptom onset.
Paxlovid is not recommended for: People who have certain liver or kidney disease, are pregnant or breast feeding, or are taking certain medication. Patients should provide a complete medication list to the provider, including supplements, prescriptions and over-the-counter medications.
Molnupiravir Treatment Process
- Make an appointment at your nearest Mercy Urgent Care location and indicate COVID treatment as your reason for visit.
- Patient will be tested for COVID and pregnancy if necessary.
- Provider will prescribe oral antiviral pills if appropriate, after an evaluation of health history and performing a medication list interaction check.
Paxlovid consists of 2 medicines: nirmatrelvir and ritonavir. Take two pink tablets of nirmatrelvir with oe white tablet of ritonavir by mouth two times each day (in the morning and in the evening) for five days. For each dose, take all three tablets at the same time.
Possible side effects of PAXLOVID are:
- Allergic Reactions. Allergic reactions can happen in people taking Paxlovid, even after only 1 dose. Stop taking Paxlovid and call your healthcare provider right away if you get any of the following symptoms of an allergic reaction:
- hives
- trouble swallowing or breathing
- swelling of the mouth, lips, or face
- throat tightness
- hoarseness
- skin rash
- Liver Problems. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any of these signs and symptoms of liver problems:
- loss of appetite
- yellowing of your skin and the whites of eyes (jaundice)
- dark-colored urine
- pale colored stools and itchy skin
- stomach area (abdominal) pain.
- Resistance to HIV Medicines. If you have untreated HIV infection, Paxlovid may lead to some HIV medicines not working as well in the future.
- Other possible side effects include:
- altered sense of taste
- diarrhea
- high blood pressure
- muscle aches
Molnupiravir Oral Antiviral Pills
Merck’s oral antiviral treatment, Molnupiravir, is available for the treatment of mild-to-moderate COVID-19 in adults ages 18 and up with positive COVID-19 test results. The five-day treatment course will be available for patients who are at high risk for severe progression, including hospitalization or death, and within five days of symptom onset.
Molnupiravir is not authorized for:
- Use in patients less than 18 years of age
- Use in patients currently hospitalized or requiring hospitalization for COVID-19
- Use longer than five days
- Prevention of COVID-19
- Use during pregnancy
Molnupiravir Treatment Process
- Make an appointment at your nearest Mercy Urgent Care location and indicate COVID treatment as your reason for visit.
- Patient will be tested for COVID and pregnancy if necessary.
- Provider will prescribe oral antiviral pills if appropriate, after an evaluation of health history.
Molnupiravir is taken orally as four 200 mg capsules (800 mg) every 12 hours for five days, with or without food. The capsules must be swallowed whole—do not open, break, or crush capsules. If a dose is missed within ten hours of the time it is usually taken, take as soon as possible and resume the normal dose schedule. If a dose is missed by more than ten hours, do not take the missed dose and instead take the dose at the next regularly scheduled time. Treatment must be taken within five days.
The most adverse reactions to Molnupiravir are diarrhea, nausea and dizziness, but are rare. Molnupiravir is not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding. A negative pregnancy test is required for patients of childbearing potential (ages 18-50) prior to prescription.
Paxlovid and Molnupiravir are both available to patients at no cost, but patients will be responsible for provide visit and required tests. Please check with your insurance prior to treatment for coverage information, insurance may or may not cover co-pays or cost share based on your individual policy coverage. Mercy Urgent Care will bill you for any portion not covered by insurance.
