U.S. Allows Pharmacists to Prescribe Paxlovid Directly

[babylonsister]

U.S. Allows Pharmacists to Prescribe Paxlovid Directly
By Carolyn Crist
photo of paxlovidCOVID-19 drug


July 7, 2022 – Pharmacists can now prescribe Paxlovid, Pfizer’s COVID-19 antiviral pill, directly to patients.

The FDA revised the drug’s emergency use authorization on Wednesday, letting state-licensed pharmacists screen patients and determine if they are eligible for Paxlovid, according to The Associated Press.

Previously, only doctors could prescribe the antiviral drug, the AP reported. With some limits, pharmacists can now prescribe the medication for patients who face high risks for severe COVID-19.

“The FDA recognizes the important role pharmacists have played and continue to play in combatting this pandemic,” Patrizia Cavazzoni, MD, director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, said in a statement.

“Since Paxlovid must be taken within five days after symptoms begin, authorizing state-licensed pharmacists to prescribe Paxlovid could expand access to timely treatment for some patients who are eligible to receive this drug for the treatment of COVID-19,” she said.

more...

https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20220707/us-allows-pharmacists-prescribe-paxlovid-directly

[Eliot Rosewater]

1. HUGE news and development...I bet pharmacies are gonna not be crazy about it though

as in they will start looking like doctor waiting rooms.

But this is good news.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

2. This is great news

[Baitball Blogger]

3. .

[Sympthsical]

4. Good and bad

Good, because people will have better access to the drug.

Bad, because there is a pharmacist shortage, so this should make things fun for them. Seriously, pharmacists are crazy, crazy overworked these days. Even managers and higher ups are going to the pharmacy and working as clerks to give workers a day or two off. My partner is a regional pharmacy manager, and he's been sent all over the place. Just to work behind the counter. That's how short some locations are.

It's messy.

[bullwinkle428]

5. How would this work? If I showed proof of a positive home test, would I

be eligible to pick up Paxlovid?

[elias7]

6. Paxlovid has variable dosing based on renal function, to which pharmacists don't have access to

Not a good idea and a potentially huge medical legal liability for a pharmacist, who shouldn’t be prescribing in the first place.