Dosage and strength
Nirmatrelvir comes as 150mg tablets and ritonavir comes as 100mg tablets.
One Paxlovid dose is:
- 2 nirmatrelvir tablets
- 1 ritonavir tablet
You'll take 1 dose (2 tablets of nirmatrelvir and 1 tablet of ritonavir) twice a day for 5 days.
How to take it
It's important that you start taking Paxlovid within 5 days (or 7 days, if advised by a healthcare professional) of getting COVID-19 symptoms.
Swallow the tablets whole with a drink of water. Do not chew, break or crush the tablets. You can take them with or without food.
Take one dose of 3 tablets in the morning and one dose of 3 tablets in the evening for 5 days.
Leave around 12 hours between your morning dose and evening dose.
How long to take it for
Take Paxlovid for 5 days. Even if you start to feel better, it's important you complete the course.
If you forget to take it
It's important not to skip a dose as Paxlovid is most effective when taken early on.
If you forget to take one of your tablets but remember within 8 hours, take the missed dose as soon as you can. Still take your next dose at the usual time.
If you forget to take your dose and it's been more than 8 hours, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the usual time.
Do not take 2 doses to make up for a missed one.
If you take too much
Urgent advice: Contact 111 for advice now if:
- you take more than your prescribed dose of Paxlovid
Go to 111.nhs.uk or call 111
Stopping Paxlovid
Do not stop taking Paxlovid before you have finished all 5 days of the course without talking to your doctor first.
If you stop taking Paxlovid, it may no longer protect you from the severe symptoms of COVID-19.