COVID-19 Medications Explained: What Works, What Doesn’t

Updated at 2025-04-19

Since the outbreak of COVID-19 in late 2019, the global medical community has raced to find effective treatments to manage symptoms, reduce severity, and lower mortality rates. While vaccines play a crucial role in preventing severe illness, medications remain essential for treating infected individuals. Over the past few years, various drugs have been studied, approved, or repurposed to combat the effects of the virus. These are some of the main medications used for COVID-19 and their effects.

1. Antiviral Medications (Learn more on DoseMed)

Antiviral drugs target the virus directly, aiming to stop it from multiplying in the body.

Remdesivir (Veklury): One of the first antivirals authorized for COVID-19 treatment, remdesivir works by inhibiting viral replication. It is administered intravenously, usually for hospitalized patients. Studies have shown it can reduce recovery time in moderately ill patients, though its benefit in severe cases is still debated.
Molnupiravir (Lagevrio): An oral antiviral, molnupiravir is used for non-hospitalized patients with mild to moderate symptoms at high risk for complications. It can help reduce hospitalization and death if taken within five days of symptom onset. Side effects are generally mild, including nausea and dizziness.
Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir/ritonavir): A combination oral therapy, Paxlovid is one of the most effective treatments for early-stage COVID-19. It reduces the risk of hospitalization and death in high-risk patients. However, drug interactions with other medications must be carefully managed due to ritonavir’s effects on liver enzymes.

2. Anti-inflammatory and Immunomodulatory Drugs (Learn more on DoseMed)

COVID-19 can trigger an overactive immune response, causing inflammation and damage, especially in the lungs. Immunomodulatory medications help control this.

Dexamethasone: This corticosteroid became widely used after studies showed it reduced mortality in hospitalized patients requiring oxygen or mechanical ventilation. It helps by dampening the body’s inflammatory response.
Baricitinib and Tocilizumab: These drugs are used for severe COVID-19 cases. Baricitinib (a Janus kinase inhibitor) and tocilizumab (an IL-6 receptor antagonist) help reduce inflammation and improve survival in patients with high inflammatory markers.

3. Monoclonal Antibodies (Limited Use)

Early in the pandemic, monoclonal antibodies like bamlanivimab and casirivimab/imdevimab were used to neutralize the virus. However, as the virus mutated (notably with the Omicron variant and its subvariants), many monoclonal antibodies lost effectiveness and were phased out from regular use.

4. Supportive Treatments

These include antipyretics (like acetaminophen for fever), fluids for hydration, and oxygen therapy. While they don’t target the virus, they are essential for managing symptoms and supporting recovery, especially in moderate to severe cases.

Current Status of Treatments