What is Paxlovid: Uses, Warnings & Interactions

Take Paxlovid exactly as instructed.

Doses are taken once in the morning and once at bedtime.

The first dose is taken either in the morning or at bedtime on the day you pick up the dose pack.

Paxlovid can be taken with or without food. 

Do not remove the tablets from the blister pack until ready to take a dose.

Swallow two pink tablets (nirmatrelvir) one after another with a drink of water and immediately swallow one white tablet (ritonavir) with a drink of water.

Swallow the tablets whole. Do not break, crush, or chew the tablets.

Store Paxlovid tablets in their original carton at room temperature.

A missed dose can be taken within eight hours of its scheduled time.

If more than eight hours have passed from the time scheduled for the dose, skip the missed dose. Take the next dose at its regular time.

Do not take two doses to make up for a missed dose.

Paxlovid is not safe for everyone.

Do not take Paxlovid if you have had an allergic reaction to nirmatrelvir, ritonavir, or other drugs called protease inhibitors.

Paxlovid is contraindicated for use with a large number of other drugs and supplements because of the risk of serious or life-threatening problems. The prescriber will need a complete account of all drugs being taken or used.

It is very important that any doctor or other healthcare provider who treats you knows that you are using this medicine. Paxlovid can cause serious and even life-threatening problems in people taking certain drugs.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have:

• Kidney problems

• Liver problems

• Have an HIV-1 infection

Paxlovid can cause serious allergic or drug reactions. Immediately contact a healthcare professional if you experience itching, hives, trouble breathing, or severe skin rash.

Talk to the prescriber if symptoms don’t improve after five days of taking Paxlovid.

Ritonavir, one of the active ingredients in Paxlovid, has a large number of significant drug interactions.

To avoid potentially hazardous or life-threatening drug interactions, tell the prescribing healthcare provider about all prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, herbal remedies, and supplements in use before using Paxlovid.

Tell other healthcare providers you are taking Paxlovid before they prescribe new medications.

Because of the risk of serious or life-threatening drug interactions, the following drugs can never be taken along with Paxlovid. In some cases, Paxlovid is prohibited even if the drug is immediately discontinued. The list of contraindicated drugs is long:

• Alfuzosin

• Amiodarone

• Addyi (flibanserin)

• Apalutamide

• Carbamazepine

• Colchicine

• Corlanor (ivabradine)

• Dihydroergotamine

• Dronedarone

• Eletriptan

• Eplerenone

• Ergotamine

• Finerenone

• Flecainide

• Latuda (lurasidone)

• Lomitapide

• Lovastatin

• Lumacaftor/ivacaftor

• Lupkynis (voclosporin)

• Methylergonovine

• Midazolam (oral)

• Naloxegol

• Phenobarbital

• Phenytoin

• Pimozide

• Primidone

• Propafenone

• Quinidine

• Ranolazine

• Rifampin

• Rifapentine

• St. John’s Wort (hypericum perforatum)

• Revatio (sildenafil) for pulmonary arterial hypertension

• Silodosin

• Simvastatin

• Tolvaptan

• Triazolam

• Ubrelvy (ubrogepant)

Doctors may need to discontinue, reduce doses, or monitor the following types of medications in people taking Paxlovid:

• Asthma maintenance treatments

• Corticosteroids

• Migraine drugs

• Narcotic pain relievers

• Macrolide antibiotics such as erythromycin and clarithromycin

• Antifungal medications

• Antiviral medications

• Blood pressure drugs

• Statins

• Heart rhythm medications

• Pulmonary hypertension treatments

• Blood thinners

• Anticancer drugs

• Antidepressants

• Antipsychotics

• Sedatives

• Anti-seizure medications

• Drugs that block the immune system

• Alpha blockers

• Anticholinergic drugs

Paxlovid reduces the effectiveness of birth control pills and other hormonal contraceptives. Women taking Paxlovid should use another form of birth control while taking Paxlovid tablets.