MADISON COUNTY, Alabama (WHNT) – Two antiviral pills are approved to treat high-risk patients who have contracted COVID-19. One is already in limited circulation in the state, according to the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH); but doctors warn that it is not a universal drug.

ADHD’s Dr Wes Stubblefield said these pills hold tremendous promise when it comes to helping keep people out of the hospital, but for some patients they may be less effective, and even potentially dangerous. , if they are mixed with certain medicines.

Stubblefield said it’s extremely important to have an open dialogue with your doctor before finalizing a prescription for the antiviral pill from Merck or Pfizer.

A limited amount of Pfizer prescriptions are available at select Walmart pharmacies statewide. Stubblefield said Merck’s should ship soon.

Even though Pfizer is almost 90% effective in preventing serious illness, compared to 30% for Merck, he said Pfizer may cause more interactions, even potentially toxic, if the patient also takes certain types of blood thinners, d ‘antidepressants, pain relievers and more, according to the FDA.

If the patient has kidney or liver disease, it may be necessary to vary the dosage of the drug on a case-by-case basis to ensure that it can be eliminated.

Dr Stubblefield said the onus is on the prescriber, but it can get complicated, especially if a patient goes to a walk-in clinic that may not have a medical history on their records. This is why he says that it is crucial for the patient to exercise due diligence.

“It is absolutely essential that everyone who is prescribed this drug talk to the prescriber to tell them exactly what they are taking so that they can check the lists and make sure there are no complications with it. this particular drug, and the list is quite long to be honest, ”he said.

Stubblefield said the pill is not a substitute for vaccination and that supply is still extremely limited at this point across the country, including Alabama.

For the FDA’s drug listing for the prescription of Pfizer, also known as Paxlovid, click here. The table with the list of potentially interactive drugs is Table 1, pages 9-15.