Molnupiravir
Description
Molnupiravir is an oral antiviral medicine used to treat mild to moderate COVID-19 (coronavirus disease caused by a virus known as SARS-CoV-2) in adults. It helps in reducing viral load and disease severity by preventing the virus from multiplying. The medicine does not help in the prevention of COVID-19.
Molnupiravir may cause side effects like nausea, vomiting, dizziness, headache, diarrhoea, etc. Consult your doctor if these symptoms persist or become severe.
Molnupiravir may be taken with or without food as directed by your doctor. The dose and duration of treatment will be decided by your doctor based on the severity of your condition. Avoid taking more than the prescribed dose or for a longer duration than recommended.
Molnupiravir is not recommended for use in children less than 18 years of age and people needing hospitalization for COVID. It is also not recommended to be taken for more than five consecutive days. Consult your doctor if your condition lasts or becomes worse.
Molnupiravir is not recommended for use if you are allergic to it. Inform your doctor if you have any other medical conditions before taking this medicine. Also, inform your doctor about all your current medications to avoid any undesired effects. Consult your doctor if you are pregnant or are breastfeeding.
QUICK LINKS:
Side effects
Major & minor side effects for Molnupiravir
- Nausea or Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Severe skin rash and hives
Uses of Molnupiravir
What is it prescribed for?
- Treatment of Mild to moderate Coronavirus disease (COVID-19)
Read More
Concerns
Commonly asked questions
- Onset of actionThe amount of time required for Molnupiravir to show its action is not clinically established.
- Duration of effectThe amount of time for which Molnupiravir remains active in your body is not clinically established.
- Safe with alcohol?Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
- Is it habit forming?No habit-forming tendency has been reported for Molnupiravir.
- Usage in pregnancy?Due to the lack of safety data in humans, Molnupiravir is not recommended for use during pregnancy unless necessary. Consult your doctor before taking this medicine.
- Usage while breast-feeding?It is not known if Molnupiravir passes into breastmilk. Hence, breastfeeding is not recommended during treatment with Molnupiravir and for four days after the last dose.
Allergy
Molnupiravir is not recommended for use if you are allergic to it. However, seek immediate medical attention if you notice any symptoms such as skin rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, breathing difficulty, etc.
Warnings for special population
Pregnancy
Due to the lack of safety data in humans, Molnupiravir is not recommended for use during pregnancy unless necessary. Consult your doctor before taking this medicine.
Breast-feeding
It is not known if Molnupiravir passes into breastmilk. Hence, breastfeeding is not recommended during treatment with Molnupiravir and for four days after the last dose.
General warnings
Use in children
Molnupiravir is not recommended for use in children below 18 years of age as the safety and efficacy data are not clinically established.
Missed Dose
Try not to skip a dose of Molnupiravir. Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is time for your next dose, skip the missed one. Do not double the dose to compensate for a missed one.
Overdose
Do not take excess doses than that prescribed by your doctor. Seek immediate medical attention in case of an overdose with Molnupiravir for further guidance.
All drugs interact differently for person to person. You should check all the possible interactions with your doctor before starting any medicine.
Interaction with Alcohol
Description
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Instructions
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Interaction with Medicine
Disease interactions
Disease
Information not available.
Food interactions
Information not available.
Lab interactions
Information not available.
Molnupiravir may be taken with or without food as instructed by your doctor. Avoid taking more than the prescribed dose. Treatment with this medicine should be initiated within five days of the onset of COVID-19 symptoms
Avoid taking Molnupiravir for more than five days, unless prescribed by your doctor.
Avoid sharing your medicine with others even if they have similar symptoms.
Molnupiravir is not effective in preventing COVID-19.
Women of childbearing potential should use effective birth control while taking this medicine and for four days after the last dose.
Miscelleneous
How it works
Molnupiravir works by preventing the virus from multiplying, thereby reducing viral load and disease severity.
Legal Status
Classification
Category
Antiviral agents
Schedule
Schedule H
Medicines.org.uk. 2022. [online] Available at: < [Accessed 16 February 2022].
GOV.UK. 2022. Patient Information Leaflet for Lagevrio. [online] Available at: < [Accessed 16 February 2022].
Image loading failed
Information on this page was last updated on 16 Feb 2022
Disclaimer
We’ve made all possible efforts to ensure that the information provided here is accurate, up-to-date and complete, however, it should not be treated as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Practo only provides reference source for common information on medicines and does not guarantee its accuracy or exhaustiveness. The absence of a warning for any drug or combination thereof, should not be assumed to indicate that the drug or combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for any given patient. Practo does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information provided above. If you have any doubts about your medication then we strongly recommend that you consult with your doctor, nurse or healthcare provider. See detailed T&C here.