Got COVID? What over-the-counter medicine, antivirals or antibody treatments are best?

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A Star-Telegram reader asks: What over-the-counter medicine is good if you have COVID?

If you’re generally healthy and have a mild or moderate case of COVID-19, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends you take acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) or naproxen (Aleve). These medications will help relieve any symptoms you have.

But if you have a weak immune system, you should talk to your doctor. He or she may prescribe a treatment based on your needs.

What antibody treatments or antivirals for COVID are available?

Your doctor may decide to give you a prescription. These treatments currently exist:

• Monoclonal antibody treatments: These help your immune system recognize and respond more effectively to the coronavirus. They are injections called: bamlanivimab and etesevimab (brand name Eli Lilly), casirivimab and imdevimab (brand name REGEN-COV), and sotrovimab (brand name Xevudy). Evusheld (tixagevimab and cilgavimabcan) be taken before virus exposure to help protect you from COVID-19 if you’re high-risk.
  
  

• Antiviral pills: like Pfizer’s Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir and ritonavir) and molnupiravir (brand name Merck) that reduce the ability of the virus to multiply and spread through your body.
  
  

You may need to be hospitalized if your illness is severe. In that case, hospitalists will likely administer antiviral drug remdesivir (brand name Veklury) or monoclonal antibody treatment tocilizumab (brand name Actemra).