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Remdesivir

Information about Remdesivir

Remdesivir Uses

Remdesivir is used in the treatment of Coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

How Remdesivir works

Remdesivir is a broad-spectrum antiviral medicine. It works by inhibiting an RNA dependent enzyme called RNA polymerase that helps the SARS-CoV-2 virus make more copies of itself. By doing so, it decreases viral load in the body.

Common side effects of Remdesivir

Headache, Rash, Extravasation, Increased prothrombin time, Increased transaminase level in blood

CONTENT DETAILS

Written By

Dr. Sakshi Jain

MS, BDS

Reviewed By

Dr. Varun Gupta

MD Pharmacology, MBBS

Last updated

16 Nov 2023 | 08:13 AM (UTC)

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Available Medicine for Remdesivir

RedyxDr Reddy's Laboratories Ltd

₹41501 variant(s)

RemdizGlenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd

₹45001 variant(s)

CipremiCipla Ltd

₹40001 variant(s)

RemwinSun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd

₹24501 variant(s)

Jubi-RJubilant Generics Limited

₹34001 variant(s)

Redyx LReddy Pharmaceuticals

₹27001 variant(s)

DesremMylan Pharmaceuticals Pvt Ltd - A Viatris Company

₹48001 variant(s)

RemizacSun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd

₹39501 variant(s)

RemifavFavnox Pharmaceuticals Private Limited

₹45001 variant(s)

Expert advice for Remdesivir

Remdesivir is used to treat coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19 infection) in hospitalized adults and children 12 years of age and older who weigh at least 88 pounds (40 kg).
Renal and liver function of the patient (with kidney and liver problem respectively) should be monitored before and during treatment with Remdesivir.
The doctor should be informed about all other prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements that you are taking. Remdesivir may interact with other medicines.
Inform your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
After completing the treatment with Remdesivir and stay at the hospital, maintain a healthy lifestyle at home in order to recover quickly.
COVID 19 can be life-threatening but can be prevented by taking vaccination, wearing masks, and maintaining social distancing wherever possible.

Frequently asked questions for Remdesivir

Remdesivir

Q. What is Covid-19?

Coronavirus disease 2019, better known as Covid-19, is an illness of the lungs caused by a virus called SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2), which is seen to infect humans for the very first time. Covid-19 is a highly infectious viral disease that spreads from one person to another at a very fast pace. Persons suffering from Covid-19 are likely to have breathing difficulties, fever and cough as the major symptoms.

Q. What is Remdesivir? What is it used for?

Remdesivir is a medicine that belongs to a class of medicines called antiviral medicines. In recent laboratory studies, Remdesivir has shown to be effective in managing hospitalized patients suffering from severe Covid-19 infection. Although Remdesivir has not been approved for treating Covid-19 patients, some studies suggest that patients who were treated with Remdesivir showed faster recovery compared to those who were taking some other treatment. However, the safety and efficiency of Remdesivir in the treatment of Covid-19 is yet to be established and there are many clinical trials going on for the same.

Q. What is Emergency Use Authorization?

Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) is a declaration issued by the Food Drug and Cosmetic Act (FDA) to use certain medicines, vaccines or devices to diagnose, treat or prevent a serious medical condition (such as Covid-19 in the current scenario) in case there is an outbreak of such an illness that poses threat to public health. FDA may not approve the use of any such medical measures but may still allow it to be used against the illness weighing the benefits against the risks involved.

Q. How is Remdesivir administered?

Remdesivir is administered only in hospitalized patients, both children as well as adults, who have severe Covid-19 infection, as an injection intravenously (into a vein) by a doctor only and should not be self-administered. Severe Covid-19 infection means those patients whose oxygen saturation (SpO2) ≤94% on room air or those who require supplemental oxygen, mechanical ventilation, and/or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Follow your doctor’s instructions carefully to get maximum benefit from Remdesivir.

Q. Who can be treated with Remdesivir?

EUA has recently permitted the use of Remdesivir in managing only hospitalized patients who are suspected to have or are suffering from severe Covid-19 infection, as it has shown quicker recovery in both adults and children who are facing serious breathing difficulties due to severe Covid-19 infection.

Q. How does Remdesivir work?

Remdesivir is still being studied in the various ongoing clinical trials. So far, it is seen that Remdesivir inhibits replication of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes Covid-19), a process by which this virus multiplies and helps in spreading the infection. In this way the amount of virus in the human body decreases, thereby leading to faster recovery.

Q. What are the possible side effects of Remdesivir?

The possible side effects of Remdesivir may be anemia (low number of red blood cells), fever, kidney damage, nausea, vomiting, shivering, sweating, low blood pressure and increased levels of liver enzymes. However, these are not all of the side effects of Remdesivir and we are yet to know more of the side effects. Remdesivir and its use in treating Covid-19 is still being studied and evaluated. Therefore, it is important to know that there might be more risks involved with the use of Remdesivir.

Q. Is Remdesivir safe?

There is limited data available to support the safety or effectiveness of Remdesivir in managing hospitalized patients with severe Covid-19 patients. Its use has been permitted for treating severely infected hospitalized patients, both adults and children, only after weighing the benefits against the possible side effects and risks involved. However, there are various ongoing clinical trials and the safety of Remdesivir is yet to be established in patients receiving it.

Q. Can a pregnant woman infected with Covid-19 be treated with Remdesivir?

There is limited data available regarding the use of Remdesivir in treating Covid-19 patients. The safety and efficacy of Remdesivir in pregnant or breastfeeding mothers is not known yet. If you are planning a baby, pregnant or breastfeeding, consult your doctor if you are tested positive for Covid-19 or even if you are suspected of Covid-19 infection. Your doctor will decide what is best for you depending on your condition.

Q. What should I tell my doctor before receiving Remdesivir?

Before receiving Remdesivir, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions, such as kidney or liver problems, any serious illnesses such as heart disease or diabetes, including any allergies. Let your doctor know if you have been taking any medications (prescription, over-the-counter, vitamins, or herbal products) for any other illnesses. This is because Remdesivir may affect or be affected by the way other medicines work. Especially tell your doctor if you are taking any medicines containing chloroquine phosphate or hydroxychloroquine sulfate. Additionally, you should inform your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or if you are breastfeeding to prevent any harm to the baby.

Q. I have diabetes and high blood pressure, can I take Remdesivir to prevent Covid-19?

No. Remdesivir should not be used to prevent Covid-19. There is no data available for its role in preventing Covid-19.

Q. Can Remdesivir be given to a highly suspected patient who is COVID negative on all reports?

Remdesivir has been approved by Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) in view of the ongoing pandemic for emergency use only. Therefore, it should not be used as a preventive therapy for suspected cases. You should use Remdesivir only in proven COVID patients, where clinically indicated.