Molnupiravir for sale at a drugstore in Hanoi. (Photo: VNA)TheMoH said Molnupiravir should only be used to treat mild to moderate cases inpatients with at least one risk factor for severe disease progression.
Themedicine should only be used by COVID-19 patients with symptoms that havedeveloped for five days or less, and Molnupiravir should not be used for morethan five days consecutively. In particular, it should not be used for post orpre-exposure prophylaxis.
Theadvice came after local medical units reported that people have been flockingto buy the medicine to store in advance, or by people with COVID but withoutsymptoms
Theministry said that COVID-19 patients with mild symptoms should use the medicinewhen their saturation of peripheral oxygen (SpO2) is higher than 96 percent andthe respiratory rate is less than 20 times per minute.
Thosewith moderate symptoms should use the medicine when the SpO2 is at 94-96 percent,the respiratory rate is 20-25 times per minute, and when an x-ray lung lesionshows less than 50 percent.
Thosewith underlying diseases can also use the medicine, the ministry said.
Thedosage of the medicine is 800mg, two times a day, over five days.
Molnupiraviris not recommended for use during pregnancy. Breastfeeding women are told tonot breastfeed while using the medicine and for four days after the last doseof Molnupiravir.
Themedicine should also not be used on COVID-19 patients under 18 years old, as itcan affect the development of bones and cartilage.
Molnupiravircan affect sperm in men, therefore, a reliable method of contraception shouldbe used during treatment and for at least three months after the last dose ofMolnupiravir./.
VNA
