Treatments for COVID-19
COVID-19 medications are now available through your doctor, local pharmacies, and health clinics.
There are several options for accessing treatment:
- Contact your health care provider. Primary care and urgent care providers can make referrals for treatment.
- If you are 18+ and can’t get a timely appointment with a medical provider, see if you qualify for a telehealth appointment and assistance to get treatment. Teleheath Self-Referral Program.
- Visit a Test to Treat location and, if eligible, receive a prescription from a provider. This website also lets you search for pharmacies that can fill prescriptions for some COVID-19 treatments.
-
- People who need help to find a Test to Treat site can call 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489) to get help in English, Spanish, and more than 150 other languages – 8am to midnight ET, 7 days a week.
- The Disability Information and Access Line (DIAL) is available for people with disabilities. Call 1-888-677-1199, Monday-Friday from 9am to 8pm ET or email DIAL@usaginganddisability.org.
- Monoclonal antibodies are now available in Carroll County, including in your home. Visit American Infusion Services for more information or to see if you qualify.
Treatments used for COVID-19 should be prescribed by a healthcare provider. People have been seriously harmed and even died after taking products not approved for use to treat or prevent COVID-19, even products approved or prescribed for other uses. Talk to a healthcare provider about what option may be best for you.
Home treatment for COVID-19 Symptoms
Your healthcare provider might recommend the following to relieve symptoms and support your body’s natural defenses:
- Taking medications, like acetaminophen or ibuprofen, to reduce fever
- Drinking water or receiving intravenous fluids to stay hydrated
- Getting plenty of rest to help the body fight the virus
If you are sick, take steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
If you are more likely to get very sick from COVID-19
New COVID-19 treatments may lessen the severity of symptoms and help keep high-risk patients out of the hospital. Talk to your health care provider as soon as you test positive for COVID-19 so they can determine the best treatment for you.
There are differences between treatment options:
| Frequently Asked Questions | Monoclonal Antibody Treatment (mAb) | Paxlovid (Pfizer)And Molnupiravir (MERCK) | Evusheld (AstraZeneca) | Remdesivir |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| What kind of treatment is it? | Intravenous infusion | Oral antiviral (pill) | Intramuscular injection | Intravenous infusion over 3 days |
| Who is eligible to receive it? | Adults and adolescents at risk (12 and older) at risk of severe COVID-19 | Adults and adolescents (12 and older) at risk of severe COVID-19 (18+ for molnupiravir) |
High risk individuals who do not have COVID-19 |
High risk individuals who are symptomatic within 7 days, all ages + expansion only for 40kg+ and 12 yrs+;And pediatric patients weighing 3.5 kg to less than 40 kg or pediatric patients less than 12 years of age weighing at least 3.5 kg, with positive results of direct SARS-CoV-2 viral testing |
| When do you receive the treatment? | Must receive within 5 days of symptom onset, the sooner the better | For best results treatment should begin within 5 days of symptom onset | Would receive as a preventive measure for those at high risk of serious illness or death | Must receive within 7 days of symptom onset, the sooner the better |
| How long is the treatment? | One IV infusion followed by a one-hour observation | 5-day treatment regimen | Two IM injections given at the same time; benefits last 6 months | Three infusions over a three day period |
| How do you get this treatment? | Talk to a healthcare provider right away if you test positive for COVID or have been exposed | Talk to a healthcare provider right away if you test positive for COVID | Providers with eligible, high risk patients will prescribe if appropriate | Talk to a healthcare provider right away if you have symptoms or test positive for COVID |
FDA fact sheets:
For the latest updates, visit:
Maryland Department of Health’s COVID Link treatment options page
Maryland Department of Health’s COVID Link Monoclonal Antibody page
Monoclonal antibody treatment is now available in Carroll County:
Starting the week of January 24th, the State of Maryland will begin administering monoclonal antibody treatments on the Carroll Hospital campus. Visit https://covidlink.maryland.gov/content/testing/monoclonal-antibody-treatment/ to learn more and see who qualifies for the treatments. A physician order is required.