Oral Treatments for COVID-19
The first oral treatments for COVID-19 in Australia, Lagevrio® (molnupiravir) and Paxlovid® (nirmatrelvir + ritonavir), were provisionally approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) on 18 January 2022.
Australia is one of the first countries in the world to approve oral treatments for COVID-19, joining the United Kingdom, United States, Canada and Japan.
Lagevrio and Paxlovid have both been found to be effective in treating mild to moderate COVID-19 in adults aged 18 years of age and older, who do not require supplemental oxygen, and who are at increased risk of progression to hospitalisation.
The advantage of these oral medications is that many people will be able to receive treatment for COVID-19 in their own homes without the need to travel to the hospital for treatment as an inpatient.
Both treatments should be administered as soon as possible after a diagnosis of COVID-19 to achieve the best outcome.
While these new medications will not be suitable for everyone and prescribing doctors will need to work with individual patients to determine whether they are suitable, they offer another tool to use in the response to COVID-19.
Learn more about how you can access oral treatments.
Eligibility for oral COVID-19 treatments
Most cases of COVID-19 are mild and can be managed at home. Others who are at higher risk may need specific antiviral treatments prescribed by their healthcare provider. Learn about who is eligible for COVID-19 treatments.
Eligibility for oral COVID-19 treatments
Antiviral treatments taken as capsules or tablets may help stop COVID-19 infection from becoming severe. Courses of these antiviral treatments need to be started as soon as possible after symptoms from COVID-19 begin.
People at higher risk of illness are eligible for antiviral treatments.
Learn more about oral treatments for COVID-19.
Senior Australians and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
If you test positive for COVID-19, you may be eligible for antiviral treatments if you and are:
65 years or older with 2 risk factors
75 years or older with 1 risk factor
Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, 50 years or older and with 2 risk factors.
Risk factors for these groups include:
less than 2 doses of a COVID-19 vaccine
neurological conditions like stroke or dementia
chronic respiratory conditions
obesity or diabetes
congestive heart failure, kidney failure or cirrhosis
living in residential aged care or disability care
living remotely with reduced access to higher-level healthcare.
People aged 18 years and older
If you test positive for COVID-19, you may be eligible for antiviral treatments if you and are 18 years or older and are moderately to severely immunocompromised.
Moderately or severely immunocompromised conditions include:
blood cancer or some red blood cell disorders (thalassemia, sickle cell disease)
transplant recipient
primary or acquired (HIV) immunodeficiency
chemotherapy or whole-body radiotherapy in the last 3 months
high dose corticosteroids or pulse corticosteroid therapy in the last 3months
immunosuppressive treatments in the last 3 months
rituximab in the last 12 months
cerebral palsy or down syndrome
congenital heart disease
severe physical or intellectual disabilities requiring residential care.
View the Lagevrio® and Paxlovid® fact sheets on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme website for the full list of risk factors.
Who should not have antiviral COVID-19 treatments
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding you should not have oral COVID-19 treatments. Instead, ensure you are up to date with your COVID-19 vaccinations.
If you have severe kidney or liver disease you should not have Paxlovid COVID-19 treatment. Talk to your healthcare provider about alternative oral treatments.
COVID-19 treatments and fertility
If you are prescribed the oral treatment Paxlovid for COVID-19 and you are also taking the prescribed birth control 'the pill', you should use extra contraception as the treatment may affect how the pill works.
Also, it is recommended you use effective forms of contraception:
during treatment and for 4 days after with Lagevrio
during treatment and for 7 days after with Paxlovid.
Men should use contraception during and for 3 months after taking Lagevrio.
Talk to your healthcare provider about contraceptives and what is best for your situation.
