Oral antiviral medications for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 are widely available across Wisconsin. People who have symptoms of COVID-19 are encouraged to get tested to confirm the diagnosis, but there are situations where treatment with antiviral medications are advisable even if test results are not available. People should seek a prescription for antiviral pills through their healthcare provider or a designated Test-to-Treat site if they:
- Are ages 12 and over for Paxlovid, ages 18 and over for Lagevrio
- Have mild to moderate COVID-19 symptoms that started in the past 5 days
- Are at risk of developing severe COVID-19. Risk factors for becoming severely ill with COVID-19 include (but are not limited to):
- Age 50+
- Asthma
- Diabetes
- Numerous Cardiovascular Conditions
- Immunocompromised
- Chronic Kidney or Liver Disease
- Overweight
- Physical Inactivity
- Pregnancy
- Smoking
Remember, these treatments and preventative tools do not replace the need to stay up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines. Vaccines and boosters remain the most effective way to prevent severe illness that may require hospitalization if you get COVID-19.
NIH Recommendations for Treatment of Non-hospitalized Adults with COVID-19
The following treatments are recommended by the National Institutes of Health for non-hospitalized patients with COVID-19.
Preferred Therapies: In order of preference |
Paxlovid: Anti-viral taken orally twice daily for 5 days, initiated within 5 days of symptom onset |
Remdesivir (Veklury): IV Anti-Viral administered over three days, initiated within 7 days of symptom onset |
Alternative Therapies: For use only when preferred therapies are not available. Listed in alphabetical order |
Lagevrio: Anti-viral taken orally twice daily for 5 days, initiated within 5 days of symptom onset |
Not all medications are appropriate for all individuals. These treatments require a prescription from a clinician with prescribing authority. Lagevrio can be prescribed by a doctor, nurse practitioner, or a physician’s assistant. Paxlovid can be prescribed by each of those clinicians as well as by pharmacists. You can seek treatment through your primary care provider, at Test to Treat sites, or by using the free DHS COVID-19 treatment telehealth service. No insurance is needed, and no cost will be incurred if you use this telehealth service. For more information on COVID-19 treatments, visit COVID-19: Treatments and Medications | Wisconsin Department of Health Services. To find locations near you, see the treatment locator map.
On May 24, 2022 the CDC issued an alert about Rebound infections after treatment with Paxlovid. Individuals experiencing COVID-19 symptoms after treatment with Paxlovid should follow CDC’s guidance on isolation and take precautions to prevent further transmission. Patients should re-isolate for at least 5 days. Per CDC guidance, they can end their re-isolation period after 5 full days if fever has resolved for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication) and symptoms are improving. The patient should wear a mask for a total of 10 days after rebound symptoms started. Contact a healthcare provider if your COVID-19 rebound symptoms persist or worsen. If you experience Rebound COVID-19 after Paxlovid you are encouraged to report to Pfizer using the following online tool: Pfizer Safety Reporting.
For more information or to help find locations near you, please call the Waukesha County COVID-19 Call Center at (262)896-8430 (press 1 for English or 2 for Spanish then select option 1).
Click here to return to the Main COVID-19 webpage.
