Merck COVID Pill Approved by FDA May Be Risky for Pregnant People

Merck COVID pill Paxlovid pfizer molnupiravir Merck pregnant women pregnant people developmental abnormalities fetal death Dr. Cameron Wolfe FDA U.S. Food and Drug Administration contraception

By Lili Scott , Parent Herald Dec 28, 05:34 am

Photo: (Photo : AURIE DIEFFEMBACQ/BELGA MAG/AFP via Getty Images)

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved two types of COVID pills for treating patients at home to reduce their chances of complications and even death from the virus. However, studies have shown that one pill might be risky for pregnant people or those planning to have a baby.

Paxlovid from Pfizer and molnupiravir from Merck received authorization from the FDA in mid-December 2021, which means the drugs could be now be prescribed to COVID-19 patients. However, along with the approval, the FDA also advised against giving molnupiravir to women heavy with a child or planning to have babies.

Merck COVID Pill's Risks on Parents

According to the health agency, a woman who can still reproduce or has plans to have a baby should be using contraception for at least four days after receiving molnupiravir. On the other hand, their male partners should be using contraception for at least three months if they took the Merck COVID pills while sick with the virus.

According to the New York Times, data from Merck's study on molnupiravir using mice subjects indicated that the drug may cause developmental abnormalities or fetal death. Molnupiravir works well on COVID-19 since it has components that insert into the DNA of the virus so it won't replicate and become more infectious.

However, in the process, its effect on the DNA might unintentionally impact people with healthy reproductive capabilities and the cells that divide during a pregnancy. However, the FDA also stated that Paxlovid and molnupiravir are supposed to be given to high-risk adults only and are still not the preferred COVID treatment that has been currently in use at most hospitals, such as remdesivir or sotrovimab. All of these pills are also not recommended for treating kids with COVID.

The FDA said that patients should carefully discuss their COVID-19 treatment plan with their healthcare providers, especially if they plan to have a baby or are currently pregnant or breastfeeding. Patients who are medicating for other illnesses, like hypertension or diabetes, should also talk to their doctors. The experts said that the best method for lowering the risks against the virus is still vaccination.

Crucial Treatment Window

According to infectious disease expert, Dr. Cameron Wolfe of the Duke University, patients who want to be medicated with Paxlovid or molnupiravir at home must do so within five days of the manifestation of the symptoms like cough, fever, or headache. He said that these drugs carry a crucial treatment window. If the patient is already having difficulty breathing, the COVID-19 pills might not work anymore and may need hospitalization.

Paxlovid or molnupiravir will be authorized and prescribed in limited supplies. A full treatment course is good for five days. It's also expected to work against the COVID-19 Omicron variant.

Nonetheless, the medical community still believes that these COVID pills are "breakthrough drugs" and will make a significant difference in changing the course of the pandemic. Despite the concerns about side effects, Pfizer and Merck's scientists have shown that there is hope out of this public health crisis.