1. Why am I taking PAXLOVID?

PAXLOVID is a medicine that has two different tablets; one containing the active ingredient, nirmatrelvir and the other containing the active ingredient, ritonavir.
PAXLOVID is used to treat COVID-19 in adults who are at increased risk of progression to hospitalisation or death.
For more information, see Section 1. Why am I taking PAXLOVID? in the full CMI.

2. What should I know before I take PAXLOVID?

Do not take if you have ever had an allergic reaction to PAXLOVID or any of the ingredients listed at the end of the CMI.
Talk to your doctor if you have any other medical conditions or if you have reduced kidney or liver function. You must not take PAXLOVID with certain medicines because these medicines may cause serious or life-threatening side effects or affect how PAXLOVID works.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed. 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. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed.
For more information, see Section 2. What should I know before I take PAXLOVID? in the full CMI.

3. What if I am taking other medicines?

Some medicines may interfere with PAXLOVID and affect how it works.
A list of these medicines is in Section 3. What if I am taking other medicines? in the full CMI.

4. How do I take PAXLOVID?

You doctor will decide how much PAXLOVID you will need to take. It will depend on whether you have kidney problems. Nirmatrelvir must be taken together with ritonavir.

More instructions can be found in Section 4. How do I take PAXLOVID? in the full CMI

5. What should I know while taking PAXLOVID?

For more information, see Section 5. What should I know while taking PAXLOVID? in the full CMI.

6. Are there any side effects?

Side effects may include diarrhoea, vomiting, headache, allergic reactions, high blood pressure, changes in taste or a metallic taste in the mouth, nausea, abdominal pain and generally feeling unwell.

For more information, including what to do if you have any side effects, see Section 6. Are there any side effects? in the full CMI.

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PAXLOVID®

Active ingredient(s): nirmatrelvir and ritonavir

Consumer Medicine Information (CMI)

This leaflet provides important information about taking PAXLOVID. You should also speak to your doctor or pharmacist if you would like further information or if you have any concerns or questions about taking PAXLOVID.

Where to find information in this leaflet:

1. Why am I taking PAXLOVID?

PAXLOVID contains the active ingredients nirmatrelvir and ritonavir.

PAXLOVID is used to treat COVID-19 in adults who are at increased risk of progression to hospitalisation or death.

2. 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 at the end of this leaflet.
• 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
  • avanafil, vardenafil, when used for erectile dysfunction
  • sildenafil, when used to treat high blood pressure in the lungs
  • 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 6. 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.

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

• medicines listed in Section 2. 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, medicine 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
• 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
• bosentan, riociguat, medicine to treat high blood pressure in the lungs
• atorvastatin, rosuvastatin, medicine to lower cholesterol
• alprazolam, midazolam, suvorexant, 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.

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.

4. How do I take PAXLOVID?

How much to take

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 150 mg tablets of nirmatrelvir together with one 100 mg tablet of ritonavir.

If you suffer from reduced kidney function, your doctor may tell you to only take one 150 mg tablet of nirmatrelvir with one 100 mg tablet of ritonavir.

Nirmatrelvir and ritonavir tablets can be taken with or without food.

Nirmatrelvir must be taken together with ritonavir.

The tablets should be swallowed whole and not chewed, broken, or crushed.

When to take PAXLOVID

Take PAXLOVID tablets every 12 hours at about the same time each morning and evening. It will help you remember when to take it.

How to long to take PAXLOVID

PAXLOVID is to be taken for 5 days.

Continue taking PAXLOVID until you finish the pack or until your doctor recommends.

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 too much PAXLOVID

If you think that you have taken too much PAXLOVID, 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.

5. What should I know while taking PAXLOVID?

Things you should do

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

Things you should not do

Do not stop taking this medicine 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 is 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 windowsills.

Do not take this medicine after the expiry date.

Keep it where young children cannot reach it.

Getting rid of any unwanted medicine

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

6. Are there any side effects?

All medicines can have side effects. If you do experience any side effects, most of them are minor and temporary. However, some side effects may need medical attention.

See the information below and, if you need to, ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any further questions about side effects.

Side effects

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice anything else that may be making you feel unwell.

Other side effects not listed here may occur in some people.

Reporting side effects

After you have received medical advice for any side effects you experience, you can report side effects to the Therapeutic Goods Administration online at www.tga.gov.au/reporting-problems. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

Always make sure you speak to your doctor or pharmacist before you decide to stop taking any of your medicines.

7. Product details

What PAXLOVID contains

Nirmatrelvir tablet

Ritonavir tablet

Do not take this medicine if you are allergic to any of these ingredients.

What PAXLOVID looks like

Nirmatrelvir tablet

• A pink, oval film-coated tablet debossed with ‘PFE’ on one side and ‘3CL’ on the other side.

Ritonavir tablet

• A white to off-white coated, oval tablet marked with the "a" logo and "NK"; or
• A white to off-white coated, oval tablet marked with "NK" on one side.

Pack size

• PAXLOVID is supplied in a carton of 30 tablets in five PA/Al/PVC/Al blister cards marked as "Morning Dose" and "Evening Dose" for the tablets to be taken each morning and each evening.

Australian Registration Number

PAXLOVID: AUST R 377572.

Who distributes PAXLOVID

Pfizer Australia Pty Ltd

Sydney NSW

Toll Free Number: 1800 675 229

www.pfizermedinfo.com.au  

This leaflet was prepared in August 2024.