Lou Portero

Urban Health Today

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, on Wednesday 6th of July, authorized state-licensed pharmacists to prescribe Paxlovid to eligible patients. This was done to expand the access to timely treatment for patients who need this medication.Prior to this time, only doctors, nurses, and physician assistants were allowed to prescribe Paxlovid. This restriction often forced patients to spend time looking for a prescriber, and sometimes during this scramble, patients exceed the five-day period studies have shown that Paxlovid will be effective.&nbsp;For months, the American Pharmacists Association has been lobbying for a change in Emergency Use Authorization (E.U.A.) for Paxlovid, stating that there are over 300,000 licensed pharmacists across the United States, which can help expand access to Paxlovid treatment.&nbsp;Finally, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration revised the Emergency Use Authorization (E.U.A.) for Paxlovid to allow pharmacists to prescribe these pills. According to Patrizia Cavazzoni, M.D., director for the F.D.A.&rsquo;s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, &ldquo;The F.D.A. recognizes the important role pharmacists have played and continue to play in combating this pandemic.&rdquo;&ldquo;Since Paxlovid must be taken within five days after symptoms begin, authorizing state-licensed pharmacists to prescribe Paxlovid could expand access to timely treatment for some patients who are eligible to receive this drug for the treatment of COVID-19,&rdquo;&nbsp; Patrizia said in a press statement.However, there were certain limitations to this prescription license to ensure appropriate patient assessment and prescribing of Paxlovid. State licensed pharmacists can only prescribe Paxlovid to patients with records of recent reports of laboratory blood work and a list of all the medications they are taking. This is done so pharmacists can review for potential liver and kidney problems and screen for drugs that might have a severe interaction with Paxlovid.According to the Agency, pharmacists should refer patients with insufficient information to assess liver and kidney function or potential drug interaction to other health care professionals authorized under state law to prescribe drugs for clinical evaluation.&nbsp;&nbsp;Source:<a href="https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/coronavirus-covid-19-update-fda-authorizes-pharmacists-prescribe-paxlovid-certain-limitations"> FDA</a>

Midlife Metabolic Syndrome Linked to Higher Risk of Young-Onset Dementia

Alzheimer's & Dementia

Urban Health Today Editors

Dr. Alessandra Maleddu on Understanding Desmoid Tumors

Cancer

Tamara Thomas

Dr. Gregg Sylvester Talks Flu Trends, Severe Flu Season Q&A

Vaccination

Latest News

Pharmacists OK’d by the FDA to Prescribe Pfizer’s COVID Pills

COVID

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, on Wednesday 6th of July, authorized state-licensed pharmacists to prescribe ...

About Us

Editorial Policy

Contributors & Partners

Contact Us

eNewsletters

Work With Us

Advertising

Career Center

GU Oncology Now

Blood Cancers Today

Cancer Nursing Today

DocWire News

MashupMD

Food Allergy Roundtable Discussions

Allergy

Blood Cancers

— Multiple Myeloma

Breast Cancer

Colorectal Cancer

Pancreatic Cancer

Prostate Cancer

Diabetes

Gastroenterology

Heart Failure

Heart Disease Prevention

Heart Health

— Alzheimer’s Disease

Neurology

Public Health

Autoimmune Disease

Infectious Diseases

Obesity

Pediatrics

Sickle Cell Disease

Digital Health

Dermatology

Pulmonology

Video Insights

Workforce News

More

Gynecologic Cancer

Heart Disease in Women

Menopause

Reproductive Health

Women’s Neurology

Well Woman Today

Roundtables

Podcasts

Conferences

Viewpoints

Subscribe