Taking Paxlovid with other medicines and herbal supplements

If you are taking ritonavir as part of your treatment for HIV or hepatitis C infection, you can continue taking your treatment as usual.

Cautions with other medicines

Some medicines do not mix well with Paxlovid. Tell your doctor if you're taking:

• medicines such as methylphenidate or dexamfetamine for attention deficit hyperactivity disorders (ADHD)
• painkillers such as morphine, fentanyl, methadone, pethidine, buprenorphine or other medicines similar to morphine
• medicines for heart conditions and irregular heartbeats such as digoxin, amiodarone, flecainide or ranolazine
• cancer treatments such as afatinib, abemaciclib, apalutamide, ceritinib, dasatinib, nilotinib, vincristine, vinblastine, encorafenib, fostamatinib, ibrutinib or venetoclax
• medicines used to prevent blood clots (anticoagulants) such as warfarin, apixaban, dabigatran or rivaroxaban
• carbamazepine, lamotrigine or phenytoin, used for epilepsy
• medicines for depression or anxiety such as amitriptyline, fluoxetine, imipramine, nortriptyline, paroxetine or sertraline
• allergy medicines, such as fexofenadine or loratadine
• antibiotics (antibacterials) such as rifabutin, rifampicin, erythromycin, fusidic acid, atovaquone, bedaquiline, delamanid, clarithromycin or sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim
• antifungals such as ketoconazole, voriconazole or itraconazole
• medicines for HIV or AIDS such as amprenavir, atazanavir, darunavir, fosamprenavir, efavirenz, maraviroc, raltegravir or zidovudine
• medicines for mental health or mood disorders, such as clozapine, pimozide, haloperidol, risperidone, quetiapine or lurasidone
• medicines for asthma and other lung-related problems such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), such as salmeterol or theophylline
• medicines for high blood pressure (hypertension) such as amlodipine, diltiazem or nifedipine
• medicines for high blood pressure in the blood vessels that supply the lungs, such as bosentan or riociguat
• medicines for hepatitis C virus infection such as glecaprevir/pibrentasvir
• medicines used to lower cholesterol such as atorvastatin, simvastatin, fluvastatin, pravastatin, rosuvastatin or lomitapide
• medicines used to suppress your immune system such as ciclosporin, tacrolimus or everolimus
• medicines for erectile dysfunction (also known as impotence) such as sildenafil, tadalafil, avanafil or vardenafil
• medicines used as sedatives or to help sleep such as alprazolam, buspirone, clonazepam, flurazepam, midazolam or zolpidem
• steroids used to treat inflammation, such as budesonide, dexamethasone, fluticasone propionate, prednisolone or triamcinolone
• bupropion for smoking cessation
• oral or patch contraceptives containing ethinylestradiol
• levothyroxine for underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism)
• colchicine for gout
• alfuzosin for prostate problems
• cisapride for stomach problems

Paxlovid and COVID-19 vaccines

There is no evidence that Paxlovid affects the COVID-19 vaccine.

COVID-19 treatments do not replace vaccinations. Vaccines are given to help your immune system fight a future COVID-19 infection.

The COVID-19 vaccine is not recommended within 4 weeks of having COVID-19.

Mixing Paxlovid with herbal remedies and supplements

Do not take St John's wort, the herbal remedy for depression, while you are being treated with Paxlovid. This is because it may make your course of treatment less effective.

There is not enough information to say that other herbal remedies or supplements are safe to take with Paxlovid. They are not tested in the same way as pharmacy and prescription medicines. They're generally not tested for the effect they have on other medicines.