At this point, most people have experienced the joy of spending time with a friend or family member, only to receive an “I just tested positive for COVID” text message the next day.
Until now, there wasn’t much you could do other than sit and wait to see if you get sick, too. However, earlier this summer, the Food and Drug Administration approved a COVID-19 prevention pill, Xocova, for people 12 and older who are directly exposed to someone with the disease. The medication is designed to help you avoid getting COVID.
“So your best friend at work tells you he’s sick at home and he just had a positive test at home, and you’ve been exposed. You can contact your doctor and take this medication,” said Dr. William Schaffner, professor of preventive medicine in the department of health policy at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee.
“This will significantly decrease your risk of getting COVID, particularly if you start it as soon as possible after exposure,” Schaffner said.
Studies show that when you take the drug within three days of exposure, it reduces your chances of getting COVID by two-thirds. “And even if you do get COVID, the infection seems to be milder and a little bit briefer,” he said.
While Xocova is the only COVID-targeting post-exposure prevention drug on the market, other pharmaceutical companies are working on additional treatment options, like a nasal spray that will (hopefully) also prevent COVID.
The pill is not intended to protect you when attending large events or traveling.
Xocova is intended for use by those who have major exposure to COVID. “These are really people you live with, people you share an office with,” said Dr. Mark Loafman, a family physician in Chicago. “This is the kind of contact that promotes the spread of COVID.”
It is not intended to be taken after a concert to maintain good health. It is also not intended to be taken as a preventative measure before a big event, such as a show or vacation.
“Could you take it before you go to the concert? There’s no evidence that it works that way,” Schaffner said. “It hasn’t been tested that way. It might offer some benefit, but I don’t think most doctors will be as free, I should say, to prescribe the drug.”
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This may cause mild side effects.
This drug is what’s called a “protease inhibitor” and doctors have a “ton of experience” with these types of drugs for treating viral infections, Loafman said.
“I wouldn’t consider it experimental new medicine in that sense,” Loafman said.
It may cause mild side effects such as gastrointestinal upset, congestion, and muscle pain. Specifically, in the trials, there were “relatively few side effects,” Schaffner said, including diarrhea, headache and cough.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if there were mild symptoms like that, but in general we know that’s preferable to a COVID infection, which will be all of those and probably more,” Loafman said.
It’s a short-term medication taken for five days, so the symptoms are fairly mild and short-lived, Schaffner added.
It’s expensive, which could deter many people from taking it, Loafman said. Without insurance, Xocova can cost up to $1,400. Some private insurance plans cover medications, so they will be much cheaper for some people and even free under some health insurance plans and assistance programs.
“It appears that efforts are underway to ensure its availability,” Loafman added.
This medicine is not a replacement for the COVID-19 vaccine.
“Primary prevention, as we call it, is always better. It’s when you have your own immune system” that fights infections, Loafman said. This means it’s best to boost your immune system by getting vaccinated against COVID-19.
The medication can be another method of prevention, in addition to the vaccine, but should not replace the injection.
“Certainly don’t skip the vaccine. Don’t wait until this (medication) is your backup source. But if you need it, talk to your doctor and see if it’s an option based on your exposure situation,” Loafman said.
Schaffner added: “The first thing we always recommend is COVID vaccination. Obviously, with a particular emphasis on high-risk individuals, those over 65, but anyone with an underlying medical condition, and of course, if you’re immunocompromised.”
Additionally, “follow precautions: cover your sneezes, wash your hands, try to stay home or work remotely when sick for the first few days,” Loafman said.
Wearing a high-quality mask also protects you against COVID-19, in addition to other viruses like the flu and colds.
Don’t let your guard down just because there is now this preventative antiviral treatment, Loafman said. “It’s a complement, it’s not a replacement.”
Gn Health
