What you need to know about the COVID-19 drug Molnupiravir

We are all getting used to living with the COVID-19 pandemic, aren't we? You may have heard about the new medications being given during this time. Molnupiravir is a special pill that is used to treat COVID-19 infections that are at a higher risk of becoming severe. The name may sound a bit strange to you, but it is very important to know exactly what this medicine is. So, if a doctor prescribes this medicine to you or someone in your family, we will talk about everything you need to know about it without any fear or doubt.

Simply put, what is Molnupiravir?

Molnupiravir is a type of antiviral medication. It is specifically designed to fight the COVID-19 virus . However, it is not a medicine that is given to all COVID-19 patients. It is only given to people with mild to moderate symptoms, but who are at high risk of developing severe disease .

Think about it this way: if your elderly grandmother, or someone with other medical conditions like diabetes, heart disease, obesity, or kidney disease, gets COVID-19, their condition is more likely to worsen. That's why doctors prescribe this medicine to people at risk.

This medicine works in our bodies in a very amazing way. Simply put, this medicine stops the COVID-19 virus from replicating, i.e., infecting, and spreading inside our body's cells. It's like putting a big barrier to the virus's journey. This means the virus loses the opportunity to spread throughout the body and worsen the disease.

Things you need to tell your doctor before taking this medicine

Before taking any medication, it is important to tell your doctor about your health condition. This is also true before taking Molnupiravir. You should definitely tell your doctor about the following:

How exactly do you use this medicine?

To get the most out of a medication, you need to use it as directed. Here are the steps you need to follow when taking Molnupiravir.

• Drink with a glass of water: This medicine should be swallowed whole. Drink plenty of water for this purpose.
• Swallow the capsule whole: Never break, crush, or chew this medicine. Doing so may affect the effectiveness of the medicine. Swallow the capsule whole.
• Before or after food: You can take this medicine before or after food. However, some people may experience slight stomach discomfort or nausea after taking this medicine. If this happens, it is better to take the medicine with some food.
• Take it at the right time: If your doctor tells you to take it twice a day (12 hours apart), try to take it at the same time every day. Try to take it around 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. This will help keep the concentration of the medicine in your body at the same level.
• Complete the prescribed number of days: This is a mistake that many people make. After taking the medicine for two or three days, you may feel better. However, even if you feel that way, you should still take the medicine for the full number of days prescribed by your doctor (usually 5 days). If you don't, the virus remaining in your body may not be completely eliminated, and the virus may mutate to become resistant to the medicine.

What to do if you miss a dose of medication?

With the busyness of life, sometimes you may forget to take your medicine. If that happens, don't worry. Here's what to do:

• If you forget to take your pill and it is not more than 10 hours late , take it as soon as you remember. Then take your next dose at the usual time.
• However, if it's more than 10 hours late when you remember, don't take the missed dose. Skip it completely and take your next dose at the scheduled time.
• Do not take two doses of medication at once to make up for a missed dose for any reason. Doing so may result in an overdose.

What if the dosage of the medicine increases?

If you think you have accidentally taken more than the prescribed dose, you should take immediate action. You can call the National Poisons Information Centre at the Colombo National Hospital . Or, go to the Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) of the nearest hospital.

Special notice for pregnant, expecting and breastfeeding women!

This section is extremely important. Molnupiravir has the potential to harm an unborn baby. Therefore, special care should be taken with this.

• For women:
• If you are pregnant or have any possibility of becoming pregnant, you should avoid taking this medicine. Your doctor will definitely ask you about this before prescribing the medicine.
• If you are a woman of childbearing age, you must use a very reliable form of birth control while taking this medication and for 4 days after stopping the medication.
• If you suspect you are pregnant during this time, inform your doctor immediately.

• For men:
• This advice is not just for women. If you are a man, you should use a reliable form of birth control (for example, a condom) to prevent your partner from getting pregnant while you are taking this medicine and for 3 months after you stop taking it , because this medicine can affect sperm.

• For nursing mothers:
• If you are a nursing mother, avoid breastfeeding your baby while taking this medicine and for 4 days after stopping the medicine. During this time, any expressed milk should be removed and discarded.

Side effects that may occur due to medication

Like any medicine, Molnupiravir can cause side effects in some people, but most of the time these are not serious.

If you experience any unusual symptoms that are not mentioned on this list, it is best to tell your doctor about them.

How to store and dispose of medicine safely?

• Storage:
• Keep out of reach of children and pets.
• Store at room temperature (between 20 and 25 degrees Celsius). Keep away from excessive heat and moisture.
• If the expiration date has passed, do not use the medicine.

• Removal:
• Don't just throw expired or no longer needed medicines in the trash.
• The best way is to return the medicine to the pharmacy, but that facility is not available everywhere in our country.
• If that's not possible, here's how to do it: Take the medicine capsules out of the packet. Mix them well with used tea leaves, coffee grounds, or soil. Then, put this mixture in a tightly sealed polythene bag and throw it in the trash. This will prevent anyone or any animal from accidentally ingesting the medicine.

In conclusion, Molnupiravir is a valuable drug that can help prevent the severity of COVID-19. But it should only be used under the strict guidance of a doctor, and in the exact manner prescribed. If you have any further questions about this drug, do not hesitate to ask your doctor.

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