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COVID-19: Treatments and Medications

Medical professional with mask wearing patient

While most people with COVID-19 have mild illness and recover at home, some people require medical care and treatment. Treatments for COVID-19 should always be prescribed by a doctor. If you have COVID-19 symptoms, contact a doctor right away and do not delay treatment.

In addition to COVID-19 treatments, a doctor may recommend the following to relieve symptoms:

  • Medications to reduce fever (such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen)
  • Drinking water to stay hydrated
  • Getting plenty of rest to help your body fight off the virus

Talk to a doctor to see which COVID-19 treatment or medication may be right for you. They can help determine if you are eligible.

Test to Treat program

Department of Health Services (DHS) is partnering with the federal government on a new Test to Treat program as part of the National COVID-19 Preparedness Plan. Through this program, people have access to “one-stop” test and treat locations. Select pharmacies and federally qualified health centers will provide rapid COVID-19 testing. If the person is qualified for treatment, a doctor will offer the medication on the spot. See Test to Treat locations.

Oral antiviral drugs authorized for treatment of COVID-19

If you have symptoms of COVID-19, oral antiviral pills can help prevent severe illness. In December 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized two oral antiviral medications for people with mild to moderate COVID-19 symptoms who are risk for severe illness:

  • Paxlovid
  • Lagevrio (also called molnupiravir)

These medications stop the virus from replicating in your body which reduces your risk of severe COVID-19 illness, hospitalization, or death. These medications are limited to people who are at high risk of developing severe COVID-19. Both Paxlovid and Lagevrio must be started within the first five days of symptom onset.

A third antiviral treatment called Remdesivir is FDA approved for people diagnosed with COVID-19. This is an intravenous treatment that is available at some health care facilities. This medication is not distributed by the federal government, and we do not track its availability on our maps.

Paxlovid

Paxlovid is an oral antiviral medicine that can be used to treat mild to moderate COVID-19 symptoms.

Paxlovid prevents the virus that causes COVID-19 from replicating in your body. This helps reduce your chance of being hospitalized or dying from COVID-19. Paxlovid must be started within five days of symptom onset.

Paxlovid is for people with mild to moderate COVID-19 symptoms:

  • Who are 12 years or older and weigh at least 88 lbs (40 Kg).
  • Who are at high risk for severe COVID-19 illness, hospitalization, or death.

Note: Paxlovid should not be used with certain medications. For patients with moderate kidney disease, a lower dose Renal Paxlovid is available. Talk with a doctor or pharmacist and review the fact sheet for patients.

Paxlovid is available by prescription from a doctor or pharmacist throughout Wisconsin. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you are eligible to take Paxlovid.

Ask your doctor about what out-of-pocket costs you may incur.

Patients who rely on Medicare or Medicaid for insurance coverage and those who are uninsured may continue to receive free Paxlovid through the PAXCESS patient assistance program.

Patients with private insurance may also register with PAXCESS to receive discounted prescriptions.

Yes, it is important to continue isolation while you take Paxlovid.

Lagevrio (molnupiravir)

Lagevrio is an oral antiviral medicine that can be used to treat mild to moderate COVID-19 symptoms.

Lagevrio prevents the virus that causes COVID-19 from replicating in your body, which helps reduce your chance of being hospitalized or dying from COVID-19.

In order to be effective, Lagevrio must be started within five days of symptom onset.

Lagevrio is for people with mild to moderate COVID-19 symptoms:

  • Who are 18 years and older.
  • Who are at a high risk for severe COVID-19 illness, hospitalization, and death.
  • Who do not have access to other COVID-19 treatments.

Note: Talk to a doctor if you have any allergies, are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed, have any serious illness, and are taking any medications (prescription, over the counter, vitamins, or herbal products) before taking Lagevrio.

Lagevrio is not recommended for use in pregnancy. If you plan to take this medicine and could become pregnant, use birth control during treatment of Lagrevio and for four days after the last dose. If you could get someone pregnant, use birth control for at least three months after the last dose.

Lagrevio is available by prescription throughout Wisconsin.

Ask a doctor if you are eligible to take Lagrevio.

Ask your doctor about what out-of-pocket costs you may incur.

Yes, it is important to continue isolation while you take Lagevrio.

Remdesivir

Remdesivir is an intravenous medicine that can be used to treat mild to moderate COVID-19 disease.

For non-hospitalized patients, it is administered three times over three days and must be started within seven days of symptom onset. For hospitalized patients, it can be administered for up to 10 days. Remdesivir prevents the virus that causes COVID-19 from replicating in your body, which helps prevent you from getting severely sick.

Remdesivir is for people with mild to moderate COVID-19 illness:

  • Who are 28 days of age and older and weighing at least 3 kg.
  • Who are currently positive for COVID-19.
  • Who are at high risk for severe COVID-19 illness, hospitalization, or death.

Note: Remdesivir should not be used if you are allergic to it. Talk with a doctor and review the fact sheet for patients.

Ask a doctor if you are eligible to take remdesivir.

Ask your doctor about what out-of-pocket costs you may incur.

Yes, it is important to continue isolation while you take remdesivir.

Test to Treat and other distribution locations

The link to the Health and Human Services (HHS) map below shows locations that have received shipments of COVID-19 therapeutics authorized for emergency use by the Food and Drug Administration. Allocations are made on demand to each Healthcare Emergency Readiness Coalition region, with additional allocations to populations largely served by long-term care pharmacies and correctional institutes. As Wisconsin receives more allocations from the federal government, additional locations may receive COVID-19 therapeutics. Many federally qualified health centers and tribal health centers will receive allocations directly from the federal government. The number of courses available at each location is listed.

This HHS map shows Test to Treat locations as well as distribution locations that have received allocations of oral antiviral pills and courses available:

  • PAXLOVIDTM
  • Renal PAXLOVIDTM
  • LagevrioTM (molnupiravir)

Get vaccinated against COVID-19

COVID-19 treatments and medications should not be used as replacements for prevention measures such as wearing a mask and vaccination. For the best protection against COVID-19 and circulating variants, get vaccinated and get your booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine.

Learn about the vaccine

Adult showing a bandage on her arm after a vaccination
Last revised April 16, 2024