The Covid-19 pandemic started almost two years ago, and since then, health providers and organizations have studied and used several treatments and vaccines to help save people’s lives. There are several Covid-19 vaccines available such as mRNA, viral vector vaccines, and others. Recent data estimated there had been more than 30 million cases of Covid-9 infections in the U.S., making the pandemic a top priority for the Government, the FDA, the CDC, and other organizations.
Available Covid-19 treatments in the U.S.
In October 2020, the FDA authorized Veklury, known as remdesivir, to treat the Covid-19 infection. This medication can be used in people 12 years old or older, and patients must weigh at least 88 pounds to qualify for the remdesivir treatment. This drug has been tested in several trials worldwide, and it has been used in combination with other medications such as interferon beta-1a and concentrated antibodies.
Another authorized treatment is plasma therapy, with medication used for renal replacement therapy. The monoclonal antibody therapy can be used for those confirmed positive for the virus or have been declared close contact with an infected person. This new therapy prevents patients from developing severe symptoms, and it reduces the viral load. The monoclonal antibody treatment can be administered for those 12 +.
Baricitinib, known as olumiant, is an anti-inflammatory drug, and health experts are conducting the first trials to see if it can treat several Covid-19 symptoms.
In another trial, health experts are studying three possible drugs as treatment for the new coronavirus infection. One of them is ivermectin, used for parasitic infections in animals, fluvoxamine, a medication used for depression patients, and fluticasone, an inhaled steroid. This will be a remote trial, meaning that anyone in the U.S. can enroll. Researchers behind the study will send the drugs to the patient’s house, thus eliminating the need for the latter to live next to a hospital facility.