Deena Bearsley

(Reuters). – The Use of Pfizer Inc (NYSE)’s COVID-19 Antiviral Paxlovid spiked last week. But some doctors are reconsidering using the drugs for patients with lower risk after warnings from the U.S. Public Health Agency that the symptoms may recur once people have completed a course. It is recommended that the patient be isolated a second and that the person not take it again.

According to Dr. Sandra Kemmerly of Ochsner Health, New Orleans, more quarantine “isn’t a crowd pleaser.” For those who aren’t really at risk,… “I would not recommend they take it.

As the number of infections has increased, so too has Paxlovid’s use by Pfizer. It is approved to treat new infected people at high risk. Last week, 162,000 units were administered – an increase of more than 33,000 per week since late last year when Paxlovid was first introduced. Officials from the Biden Administration have advocated for widespread use of Paxlovid (which was purchased by the government and is provided free).

However, there have been more cases of people reporting that their symptoms were relieved by Paxlovid but then returned a few days later after taking the five-day course.

According to case reports and fears that patients who have relapsed could spread the disease, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advised that Paxlovid users isolate for at least five additional days, in case symptoms return.

Northwell Health chief of epidemiology, public health, and prevention Dr. Bruce Farber stated, “I’m not going to give it to anyone who is very low risk and are not very ill. Especially people who are vaccinated. Paxlovid will still be recommended for those with serious health issues or who are older than 75.

In an email, Pfizer stated that it was monitoring data but believed the detection of a virus in the returned patients is not unusual and is not unique to its drug. A spokesperson for Pfizer stated that no resistance has been seen in Paxlovid patients.

Paxlovid’s Emergency Authorization states that this should only be used for people newly infected with high risk factors. However, doctors have said that many other patients may also need a prescription.

“We receive a lot more requests, maybe someone is travelling and they want it to be just in case,” Dr. Tara Vijayan of UCLA Health Los Angeles said. We aren’t offering it just in case.”

It is not clear whether rebound symptoms are related to Paxlovid or simply part of COVID-19’s natural progression, according to the CDC. However, the agency didn’t raise any concerns regarding health effects.

Vijayan stated that COVID had historically been characterized by stuttering – patients will experience a temporary improvement and then feel more miserable the next day. But, we’ve not experienced these rebound symptoms in other COVID treatment options. He was referring to monoclonal antibodies.

“The few patients who do rebound are usually mild,” Dr. Earl Strum of Keck Medicine of USC Los Angeles, said.

There are many questions about how Paxlovid can help given the high rate of COVID-19 infected people. After a December study of high-risk, unvaccinated COVID patients suffering from conditions such as diabetes that showed an 88% decrease in deaths or hospitalizations, the drug was approved.

The Delta version was still popular, but has been replaced by Omicron, which is more easily transmitted.

There is so much more baseline immunity. “There are still many infections but not as serious,” Northwell’s Farber stated.

According to him, the Paxlovid-related COVID rebound rate was around 10%. This is higher than the 3-4 percent rate that Pfizer cited in trials.

Jason Gallagher, an infectious diseases expert at Temple University’s School of Pharmacy, said the rebounds do not detract from the drug’s utility. He said, “It stops you from going to hospital… If you become symptomatic, that stinks. But the overall drug is a success.”