COVID Treatment Overview

When to see a healthcare provider

You should also see a healthcare provider if you have mild to moderate symptoms that have gotten worse after about 3 days of home treatment. See a doctor right away if your symptoms are severe or you’re at high risk of developing severe COVID. Those at high risk include anyone who is 65 or older, and those with underlying conditions like heart disease, cancer, diabetes, or obesity.

Your doctor may prescribe an antiviral medication or want you to go to the hospital for more advanced treatment.

Getting diagnosed for COVID

You can test for COVID at home or at a testing site. There are two main types of tests:

• Antigen tests. Results of this type of test are ready in 15–20 minutes. But they’re not always accurate, so you may get false-negative results, especially in the early stages of the illness.
• Molecular tests (nucleic acid, RNA, or PCR tests). These are more accurate than antigen tests, but it takes longer to get results (usually about 24 hours).

What to expect from your visit

If you’re at high risk of severe COVID, your doctor may prescribe medication.

• Antiviral medications such as molnupiravir (Lagevrio), ritonavir (Paxlovid), and remdesivir (which is given intravenously), reduce the risk of COVID progressing to severe disease. It may even reduce the length and severity of your symptoms. These are approved for people at increased risk of severe illness, like people with underlying health conditions. Antivirals need to be taken soon after symptoms start to be effective (within 5–7 days depending on the medication).
• Monoclonal antibody drugs are approved for treating COVID in people who are not hospitalized. These are casirivimab-imdevimab (Regen-Cov) and sotrovimab. They can help your immune system recognize and respond more effectively to the virus, making it harder for the virus to reproduce and damage the body.
• The steroid dexamethasone (Decadron) can also calm the immune system.

Prescription COVID medications

• Monoclonal antibodies: casirivimab-imdevimab (Regen-Cov) and sotrovimab
• Antiviral medications: remdesivir (Veklury), molnupiravir (Lagevrio), ritonavir (Paxlovid)
• Steroid: dexamethasone (Decadron)

Types of COVID providers

• A primary care provider can treat mild to moderate symptoms.
• If your symptoms are severe, you may need to be treated in a hospital, and you may be seen by emergency care physicians, pulmonologists, and infectious disease specialists.

How to treat COVID at home

Mild to moderate symptoms of COVID, which may include a sore throat, cough, and fever, can be treated at home with OTC medications. Natural remedies and other types of home care can also help relieve symptoms.

OTC COVID medications

• Acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil) can help with fever, chills, body aches, and sore throat.
• Decongestants like pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) and phenylephrine can help with a stuffy or runny nose.
• Cough suppressants like dextromethorphan (DayQuil Cough, Delsym 12-Hour Cough Relief) can help your cough—you should not give them to children under 4 years old
• Expectorants (Mucinex) thin and loosen mucus to help stop coughing.
• Nasal inhalers containing cromolyn sodium (Nasalcrom) can help with a runny nose and sneezing.

How to feel better with COVID?

• Drink a lot of fluids to stay hydrated.
• Get plenty of rest. You don’t have to stay in bed all day, but try to take it easy.
• Honey can help soothe a sore throat (should not be given to babies under 1 year old).
• To improve your breathing, rest on your stomach rather than on your back. If you have shortness of breath, breathing exercises like deep breathing may help.
• Take hot showers to loosen congestion and soothe a sore throat.
• If you’re at high risk of severe COVID, your doctor may recommend you monitor your oxygen levels with a pulse oximeter. This device, which is available at drugstores and online, clips onto your finger to monitor your oxygen level.

Wellness and prevention

• You need to self-isolate after you test positive for COVID to avoid spreading the virus. The CDC recommends isolating for 5 days after you test positive, followed by 5 days of wearing a mask when you are around others.
• Monitor your symptoms. If they get worse, call your doctor immediately.
• Wash your hands frequently for at least 20 seconds. If you’re not near a sink, use hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
• Avoid anything that can irritate the throat, such as dry air, smoking, and acidic and spicy foods.
• Try to keep away from other people in your household. Stay in one room and use a separate bathroom if you have one.
• Wear a mask if you need to be around people inside or outside.