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Favipiravir - Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Drug warnings, and precautions

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Favipiravir is an antiviral medicine used to treat viral infections and coronavirus disease. Read below to learn more.

Medically reviewed by Dr. Shubadeep Debabrata Sinha
Published At February 7, 2022
Reviewed At May 22, 2024

Education:

BDS

Professional Bio:

Dr. Chithranjali is a passionate Dentist with five years of clinical experience. She pursued BDS from JSS Dental College and Hospital, Mysore. She is working in icliniq as a content moderator and is eloquent in English.

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Education:

MBBS

Professional Bio:

Dr. Shubadeep Debabrata Sinha is a Family Physician with more than 27 years of clinical experience. He completed his MBBS in Seth GS Medical College and KEM Hospital, Mumbai, MD from Topiwala National Medical College and BYL Nair Hospital, Mumbai, Diploma in Diabetes from Apollo, FCGP from IMA-CGP, and PG Diploma in Infectious Diseases in New South Wales University. Currently, he is practicing in Sinhaz Clinics & Tenet Diagnostics in Hyderabad, India.

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Favipiravir - Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Drug warnings, and precautions
Table of Contents

Introduction:

Favipiravir is an antiviral medicine used to manage patients suffering from mild to moderate COVID-19 infection. It stops the SARS-CoV-2 virus from multiplying, reducing the viral load in the body, restricting the spread of the infection, and helping speed up the recovery process.

Favipiravir should not be self-medicated. Favipiravir should be taken as per the doctor’s advice. One should avoid taking this medication if pregnant, breastfeeding, suffering from any liver or kidney disease, or allergic to it.

Drug Group:

Favipiravir belongs to the group of antiviral drugs. Antiviral drugs are given to treat any viral infections. These are prescription medicines and cannot be sold over-the-counter. Some studies have shown early antiviral treatment can even reduce the risk of death due to COVID.

What Is Favipiravir Used For?

Favipiravir is used for managing patients suffering from mild to moderate COVID-19 infection. Adults under restricted emergency use use it.

How Does Favipiravir Work?

Favipiravir is an antiviral drug. It stops the multiplication of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, decreasing the viral load in the body. As a result, the spread of the infection is restricted, thus speeding up the recovery process.

What Is the Dosage for Favipiravir?

The dosage of Favipiravir depends on the disease's severity and the treatment response. Do not self-medicate or change the dosage of the medication without the advice of the treating physician, and take the drug only as prescribed by your doctor. Taking the drug at a fixed time can have optimal effects.

How to Use Favipiravir?

1) Take this drug at the dose and duration as the doctor advises.

2) Swallow it as a whole. Do not chew, crush, or break the tablet.

3) This tablet can be taken with or without food.

4) It is beneficial if taken at a fixed time.

How Long Should One Take Favipiravir?

The duration of taking this drug depends on the disease's severity and the treatment response. So follow the doctor’s advice while taking this drug. Do not stop or start the drug on your own without consulting your doctor.

When Is Favipiravir Given For the Patients?

Favipiravir is usually given to mildly infected individuals rather than those with a severe COVID-19 infection. It is always better to use antiviral drugs at an early stage so that they can be effective in treating COVID-19 infection. Delaying the treatment can only slow the recovery process and worsen the existing symptoms.

Missed Dose:

If one needs to remember to take the dose, take it as soon as possible unless it is time for the next dose. In that case, skip the missed dose and return to your regular schedule. Take only a small dose to make up for the missed dose.

Overdose:

Take the drug as advised by the doctor. In case you happen to take an overdose of Favipiravir, reach out to the nearest hospital or doctor immediately.

What Are the Drug Warnings and Precautions For Drug Favipiravir?

Favipiravir should be avoided in the following conditions:

  • Allergic to Favipiravir

Favipiravir should not be consumed when you have developed a prior allergic reaction to the drug. If you have experienced an allergic reaction, please inform the doctor beforehand.

  • Pregnancy or Breastfeeding

Favipiravir should not be prescribed to treat COVID-19 infection in pregnant or breastfeeding women. It is not considered safe to be used by pregnant women or breastfeeding women as it can cause harmful effects on the baby. If a person is pregnant or planning to get pregnant and tests positive for COVID-19, talk to their doctor. Do not self-medicate. A doctor will assess the condition and decide what the best solution is.

  • Children

Favipiravir is usually not administered to children because some experimental data suggests that Favipiravir can cause severe side effects in younger age groups.

  • Elderly People

Favipiravir should be given to elderly people with caution as, most often, elderly people have compromised organ function.

  • Kidney Disease

It should be used with caution by people with kidney disease. Consult the doctor.

  • Liver Disease

Talk to the doctor, as it has to be given with caution.

Can Favipiravir Be Given to Patients With Gout?

No, this drug should not be given to patients who have gout or patients who have increased uric acid levels.

What Are the Side Effects of Favipiravir?

The common side effects of Favipiravir are:

  • An increase in the level of uric acid in blood.

  • Diarrhea.

  • Decreased white blood cell count (Neutrophils).

  • Increased liver enzymes.

  • Allergic dermatitis.

  • Muscle pain.

  • Miscarriages.

Does Favipiravir Cause Fever?

No, this drug does not cause fever. In fact, it is used to treat the symptoms of COVID-19.

What Are the Drug Interactions of Favipiravir?

Certain drugs react or interact when taken along with Favipiravir.

They include:

  • Pyrazinamide (a drug used to treat tuberculosis): Uric acid is absorbed in the renal tube.

  • Theophylline - Interaction occurs with this drug and can increase the level of Favipiravir in the body.

  • Famciclovir (antiviral drug): When Famciclovir is taken along with Favipiravir, the level of the active ingredients in the body can decrease.

  • Sulindac (a medicine used to treat swelling): When taken along with Favipiravir, the body's level of Sulindac decreases.

  • Repaglinide (anti-diabetic medicine).

Can Alcohol Be Consumed with Favipiravir?

It is still unknown if it is safe to consume alcohol with Favipiravir, but it is always better to avoid consuming alcohol when taking this drug to have better benefits.

Conclusion

Favipiravir tablets are used to treat mildly infected COVID-19 patients. To prevent the spread of coronavirus disease, COVID-19-infected patients should stay home and avoid going out.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How Is Remdesivir Different From Favipiravir?

Remdesivir and Favipiravir are “repurposed drugs'’ to be used against COVID-19. Both drugs are structurally related to the segments of RNA, and both must be activated intracellularly to be able to show clinical effects. Remdesivir was the first FDA-approved (Food and Drug Administration) drug for hospitalized COVID patients. According to studies, Remdesivir proved more potent than Favipiravir in preventing COVID in cell culture.

Is It Okay to Prescribe Favipiravir During Pregnancy?

Animal study reports have contraindicated the prescription of Favipiravir for pregnant women. It has been found that the drug can also disperse into the sperm. Although there is no sufficient human data, a solitary case of Favipiravir in a pregnant, ebola-positive mother showed no congenital abnormalities in the offspring. The child was born with an ebola infection and recovered, but the mother passed away due to postpartum hemorrhage.

Is It Okay to Prescribe COVID Antivirals During Pregnancy?

Generally, COVID-antivirals are contraindicated in pregnancy, but the diction carries no accurate data. Pregnant mothers may be prescribed Remdesivir in those who have a better baseline clinical status. The fetuses were delivered through cesarean, mostly due to emergencies. However, according to a small study, pregnant women may be safely prescribed Paxlovoid antiviral drugs.

Which Are the Anti-COVID Antiviral Drugs Prescribed?

Remdesivir is the only FDA-approved antiviral drug available against COVID. However, other drugs have also been used against the same. The list of antiviral drugs prescribed against COVID includes:
- Ritonavir-boosted Nirmatrelvir.
- Molnupiravir.
- High-titer COVID-19 convalescent plasma (CCP).
- Tixagevimab plus Cilgavimab.
- Interferons.
- Interferon alfa or lambda.
- Nitazoxanide.
- Bamlanivimab plus Etesevimab. 
- Bebtelovimab.
- Casirivimab plus Imdevimab.
- Sotrovimab.
- Chloroquine or Hydroxychloroquine.
- Azithromycin.
- Lopinavir.
- Ritonavir.
- Systemic interferon beta.

What Does COVID Cough Feel Like?

Cough is the hallmark of COVID-19 infection. But it needs to be differentiated from coughs originating from flu, common cold, and seasonal allergies. Mostly (about 67 percent of individuals), COVID cough appears as a dry cough with no mucus. COVID cough starts after two days to two weeks of exposure with fever, nausea, dry coughing, and other additional symptoms like body pain, fatigue, loss of taste or smell, or both.

Who Should Be Prescribed Paxlovid?

Although Paxlovid can minimize COVID illness, it is not meant for everyone. The ones who qualify for a Paxlovid infection include the ones who are at an increased risk of infection, like carrying a weakened immune system, asthma, cancer, liver disease, lung disease, heart disease, and obesity. It is also important to note that Paxlovid causes adverse reactions with cholesterol-lowering statins, hence must be avoided. Paxlovid has also been prescribed for pregnant women.

What Can Be Done to Hasten COVID Recovery?

Some measures to hasten COVID recovery include:
- Add fresh fruits and vegetables to each meal.
- Arm the diet with proteins.
- Say hello to warm foods and drinks.
- Break the relationship with cold foods and drinks.
- Multivitamin supplements, especially include zinc.
- Sufficient rest.

Can COVID-19 Cause Fevers?

Fever is one of the most common symptoms of COVID, other than cough and respiratory symptoms. However, it is possible to have no fever or a low-grade one in the initial days of infection. Fever was found in over 78 percent of COVID-infected individuals and 89 percent of hospitalized ones.

Is It Possible for Antibiotics to Worsen COVID?

Although antibiotics do not affect the COVID load, physicians do not usually hold back with prescriptions as viral infections can lead to bacterial pneumonia. But the risk of antibiotic resistance is high. According to a study, a history of a recent antibiotic regimen significantly increased the presenting severity of COVID-19.
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Dr. Shubadeep Debabrata Sinha from iCliniq
Dr. Shubadeep Debabrata Sinha

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