How Do I Take PAXLOVID?

Patients should complete the entire course of treatment, which consists of:

Morning Dose

One dose in the morning consisting of:

• Two pink tablets (150 mg of nirmatrelvir)
• One white tablet (100 mg of ritonavir)

Evening Dose

One dose in the evening consisting of:

• Two pink tablets (150 mg of nirmatrelvir)
• One white tablet (100 mg of ritonavir)

Dosage

• Your doctor will decide how much PAXLOVID you will need to take. It will depend on whether you have kidney problems.
• The standard dose is two pink tablets (300 mg of nirmatrelvir) together with one white tablet (100 mg of ritonavir) to be taken twice per day (morning and evening) for 5 consecutive days.
• If you suffer from reduced kidney function, your doctor may tell you to only take one pink tablet (150 mg of nirmatrelvir) with one white tablet (100 mg of ritonavir).
• Nirmatrelvir and ritonavir tablets can be taken with or without food.
• The tablets should be swallowed whole and not chewed, broken, or crushed.

If you forget to take PAXLOVID

• If you miss a dose of PAXLOVID within 8 hours of the time it is usually taken, take it as soon as you remember.
• If you miss a dose by more than 8 hours, skip the missed dose and take the next dose at your regular time. Do not take 2 doses of PAXLOVID at the same time.

If you take more than your prescribed dose of PAXLOVID

If you have taken more than your prescribed dose of PAXLOVID at any time, you may need urgent medical attention.

You should immediately:

• phone the Poisons Information Centre (by calling 13 11 26), or
• contact your doctor, or
• go to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital.

You should do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.

What should I know before I take PAXLOVID?

Warnings

Do not take PAXLOVID if:

• You are allergic to nirmatrelvir and/or ritonavir or any of the ingredients listed in the consumer medicine information.
• You are taking any of these medicines. Taking PAXLOVID with these medicines may cause serious or life-threatening side effects or affect how PAXLOVID work:
  • alfuzosin, silodosin, medicine to treat symptoms of an enlarged prostate
  • ranolazine, medicine to treat chronic chest pain (angina)
  • pethidine, medicine to relieve pain
  • amiodarone, flecainide medicine to correct or change heart rhythm or lower blood pressure
  • neratinib, apalutamide, venetoclax, medicine to treat certain types of cancers
  • colchicine, medicine to treat gout
  • lurasidone, clozapine medicine to treat certain mental and emotional health conditions
  • eplerenone, ivabradine, medicine used to treat heart failure; eplerenone, medicine for high blood pressure
  • ergometrine, medicine to stop excessive bleeding that may occur following childbirth, miscarriage or termination of pregnancy
  • simvastatin, medicine to lower blood cholesterol
  • eletriptan, medicine used to treat migraine headaches
  • finerenone, medicine used to treat kidney disease and type 2 diabetes
  • naloxegol, medicine used to treat constipation
  • sildenafil, when used to treat high blood pressure in the lungs
  • avanafil,vardenafil, when used for erectile dysfunction
  • diazepam, medicine to assist anxiety, agitation or muscle spasms, spasticity
  • triazolam, zolpidem medicine that works in the brain to help you sleep
  • tolvaptan, medicine used to treat kidney problems or low sodium levels in the blood
  • carbamazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, primidone, medicine to treat epilepsy to prevent convulsions, fits
  • rifampicin, medicine to treat tuberculosis
  • lumacaftor/ivacaftor, medicine used to treat cystic fibrosis
  • St. John’s Wort (hypericum perforatum), a herbal remedy used for depression and anxiety

Check with your doctor if you:

• Have or have had problems with your liver.
• Have or have had problems with your kidneys.
  During treatment, you may be at risk of developing certain side effects. It is important you understand these risks and how to monitor for them. See additional information under Section Are there any side effects?

Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Tell your doctor if you become pregnant or plan to become pregnant, breastfeeding or plan to breast feed. You should not breast-feed your baby while taking PAXLOVID and for 7 days after stopping treatment.

You should not be taking PAXLOVID if you are pregnant.

Women of childbearing potential should be on an effective contraceptive method before starting treatment and for 7 days after stopping treatment.

What if I am taking other medicines?

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including any medicines, vitamins or supplements that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.

Some medicines cause serious or life-threatening side effects or affect how PAXLOVID work. These include:

• medicines listed under What should I know before I take PAXLOVID?
• tamsulosin, medicine to treat symptoms of an enlarged prostate
• fentanyl, hydrocodone, oxycodone, methadone, piroxicam, medicine to treat pain
• digoxin, medicine to treat certain heart conditions
• lidocaine, disopyramide, medicine to correct or change heart rhythm
• afatinib, abemaciclib, ceritinib, dasatinib, nilotinib, encorafenib, ibrutinib, vinblastine, vincristine, medicine to treat certain types of cancer
• aripiprazole, brexpiprazole, cariprazine, haloperidol, risperidone, quetiapine, medicine to treat certain mental and emotional conditions
• apixaban, clopidogrel, dabigatran, rivaroxaban, ticagrelor, warfarin, medicine to treat or prevent blood clots
• clonazepam, lamotrigine, medicine to prevent or treat convulsions, fits
• amitriptyline, fluoxetine, imipramine, nortriptyline, paroxetine, sertraline, medicine to treat depression
• loratadine, medicines to treat allergies.
• atovaquone, clarithromycin, erythromycin, rifabutin, ketoconazole, isavuconazonium sulfate, voriconazole, itraconazole medicine to treat infections
• atazanavir, darunavir, efavirenz, fosamprenavir, maraviroc, nevirapine, saquinavir, tipranavir, raltegravir, zidovudine, bictegravir/ emtricitabine/ tenofovir, medicine to treat HIV
• glecaprevir/pibrentasvir or sofosbuvir / velpatasvir/ voxilaprevir, medicine to treat hepatitis C
• salmeterol, medicine to treat severe lung conditions, including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• amlodipine, diltiazem, felodipine, nifedipine, verapamil, medicine to treat angina or lower blood pressure
• ivacaftor, elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor, tezacaftor/ivacaftor, medicine used to treat cystic fibrosis
• saxagliptin, medicine used to lower blood sugar levels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus
• bosentan, riociguat, medicine to treat high blood pressure in the lungs
• ethinylestradiol, medicine to treat hormone deficiency or for contraception
• ciclosporin, everolimus, tacrolimus, sirolimus, medicine to suppress the immune system
• tofacitinib, upadacitinib, medicine used to treat inflammatory conditions including rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis or ulcerative colitis
• darifenacin, medicine used to decrease the urgency and the frequency of urination
• sildenafil, when used to treat erectile dysfunction
• tadalafil, medicine used to treat erectile dysfunction or high blood pressure in the lungs
• atorvastatin, rosuvastatin, medicine to lower cholesterol
• alprazolam, midazolam, suvorexant, zolpidem, medicine to help you sleep
• clorazepate, medicine used to treat anxiety, convulsions, fits or help you sleep
• bupropion, a medicine to assist in giving up smoking
• betamethasone, budesonide, ciclesonide, dexamethasone, fluticasone, methylprednisolone, mometasone, triamcinolone, medicine to treat various inflammatory conditions including allergies, asthma or eczema

If you are taking any of these medications, please speak to your doctor before you commence PAXLOVID.

Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure about what medicines, vitamins or supplements you are taking and if these affect PAXLOVID.

What should I know while taking PAXLOVID?

Nirmatrelvir must be taken together with ritonavir.

Tell your doctor if you become pregnant or plan to become pregnant, or if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.
Call your doctor straight away if you become pregnant while taking this medicine.

Things you should NOT do
Do not stop taking this medicine suddenly or change the dosage without consulting with your doctor.

Do not give your medicine to anyone else, even if they have the same condition as you.

Driving or using machines
Be careful before you drive or use any machines or tools until you know how PAXLOVID affects you.

Drinking Alcohol
No information available

Looking after your medicine
Store PAXLOVID below 25°C.
Store it in a cool dry place away from moisture, heat or sunlight; for example, do not store it:

• in the bathroom or near a sink, or
• in the car or on window-sills.

Do not take this medicine after the expiry date.
Keep it where young children cannot reach it.

If you no longer need to take this medicine or it is out of date, take it to any pharmacy for safe disposal.

How to verify your tablets are authentic

PAXLOVID must be prescribed by a licensed healthcare provider and supplied by a Government approved pharmacy or medical facility.

Authentic PAXLOVID, from Pfizer Australia Pty Ltd., will include the Pfizer name on the label and will be packaged in 5 aluminum push-through blister cards. Individual doses are not for sale. PAXLOVID will be packaged in a rectangular carton. The carton has a colourless, glossy coating that contains a repeated pattern of the Pfizer name and logo all over the tablet, and these repeating features are seen in a contrasting matte finish.

PAXLOVID consists of tablets for a 5-day oral treatment regimen, with morning and evening doses.

To verify that the tablets are legitimate, look for the following specific text on each side of the tablet

Tablet	Text
nirmatrelvir	Front: 3CL | Back: PFE
ritonavir	Front: NK | Back: No text

Pfizer is committed to patient safety and ensuring that people have accurate information about PAXLOVID, including how it is accessed and administered. We are actively monitoring for offers of illegitimate PAXLOVID to protect patients from products that might be dangerous and lead to serious or life-threatening harm.

If you suspect the product you have received may be counterfeit, contact us at 1800 675 229 or visit www.pfizermedicalinformation.com.au