molnupiravir
Brand names: Lagevrio
Lagevrio contains molnupiravir, an antiviral medicine. It is used to treat COVID-19 in adults.
What it does
Lagevrio treats mild-to-moderate COVID-19 in adults.
Common side effects
Diarrhea, Nausea, Dizziness
Key warnings
Lagevrio is only for adults with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 who are at high risk of severe illness and when other treatments aren't suitable.
How It Works
Lagevrio stops the COVID-19 virus from multiplying in your body. It does this by interfering with how the virus makes copies of itself. This helps your body fight off the infection.
How to Take It
Take four 200 mg capsules (800 mg total) every 12 hours for 5 days. You can take it with or without food. Start taking Lagevrio as soon as possible after you are diagnosed with COVID-19, and within 5 days of your symptoms starting. It is important to finish all 5 days of treatment.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Lagevrio may harm your unborn baby. If you are pregnant, talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking Lagevrio. There is a pregnancy registry to track outcomes in people who take Lagevrio while pregnant. You can find it at https://covid-pr.pregistry.com or call 1-800-616-3791.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose and it is within 10 hours of your regular time, take it as soon as you remember. If it is more than 10 hours, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time. Do not take two doses at once to make up for a missed dose.
Storage
Store Lagevrio capsules at room temperature, between 68° to 77°F (20° to 25°C).
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 3,594 FDA adverse event reports.
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 5,119 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2018–2025.
Total Reports
5,119
Death-Related Reports
472
Hospitalization Reports
933
Top Indication
Covid-19 Treatment
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | PRODUCT USE ISSUE | 709 |
| 2 | NO ADVERSE EVENT | 623 |
| 3 | COVID-19 | 476 |
| 4 | WRONG TECHNIQUE IN PRODUCT USAGE PROCESS | 390 |
| 5 | PRODUCT USE IN UNAPPROVED INDICATION | 308 |
| 6 | DIARRHOEA | 268 |
| 7 | PRODUCT USE COMPLAINT | 212 |
| 8 | RASH | 210 |
| 9 | ACCIDENTAL UNDERDOSE | 207 |
| 10 | NAUSEA | 191 |
| 11 | UNDERDOSE | 184 |
| 12 | DRUG INEFFECTIVE | 181 |
| 13 | ACCIDENTAL OVERDOSE | 152 |
| 14 | VOMITING | 144 |
| 15 | DIZZINESS | 138 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
Lagevrio is only for adults with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 who are at high risk of severe illness and when other treatments aren't suitable. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Lagevrio may harm your unborn baby. Females who can get pregnant should use birth control during treatment and for 4 days after the last dose. Males who can get someone pregnant should use birth control during treatment and for 3 months after the last dose.
Common Questions
What should I do if I experience an allergic reaction?
Can I take Lagevrio if I have kidney problems?
Can I take Lagevrio if I have liver problems?
Can older people take Lagevrio?
Are there any known drug interactions with Lagevrio?
Can children or teenagers take Lagevrio?
What if I can't swallow the capsules?
How long should I take Lagevrio?
What if I start feeling better before finishing the 5-day course?
Is Lagevrio a substitute for vaccination?
What are the common side effects of molnupiravir?
What drug class is molnupiravir?
Is molnupiravir safe during pregnancy?
Related Medications in Nucleoside Analog (Antiviral)
Other drugs grouped near molnupiravir — same-class peers and common alternatives.
acyclovir
Zovirax
Acyclovir is an antiviral medicine.
Compare with molnupiravir →
albendazole
Albenza
Albendazole is a medicine that fights parasites.
Compare with molnupiravir →
amphotericin B
Ambisome, Fungizone
Amphotericin B liposome is an antifungal medicine.
Compare with molnupiravir →
anidulafungin
Eraxis
Eraxis is an antifungal medicine.
Compare with molnupiravir →
atovaquone/proguanil
Malarone
Malarone is a drug used to prevent and treat malaria.
Compare with molnupiravir →
Medication Guides
Understanding Drug Interactions
How CYP450 enzymes, inhibitors, and inducers affect your medications
Generic vs Brand Name Drugs
FDA requirements, cost savings, and when the difference matters
Narrow Therapeutic Index Drugs
Why some drugs demand precise dosing and monitoring
Common Drug Interactions
Dangerous medication combinations and how to protect yourself
Related Health & Safety Data
🩺 Find a Doctor
Search prescribers for Nucleoside Analog (Antiviral)
🏨 Hospital Quality
CMS hospital ratings, safety scores & patient outcomes
💊 Supplement Data
NIH DSLD — check supplement ingredients & label claims
🍽️ Food Safety Alerts
FDA recalls, inspections & outbreak investigations
⚠️ Product Recalls
FDA, CPSC & NHTSA recall search
💉 Procedure Costs
Medicare procedure pricing for 9,297 procedures
Save on molnupiravir
Compare prices and find discounts at pharmacies near you. Free coupons can save up to 80% on prescriptions.
Disclosure: This link may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. See our terms.
What the FDA Data Shows for molnupiravir
The FDA label for molnupiravir (sold under brand names such as Lagevrio) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Nucleoside Analog (Antiviral) class. Lagevrio treats mild-to-moderate COVID-19 in adults. Official labeling lists 3 commonly reported side effects, including Diarrhea, Nausea, Dizziness.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 3,594 voluntary reports. Interaction data is drawn directly from FDA-approved prescribing information. Acquisition-cost data is surveyed weekly by CMS and updated as manufacturers report changes.
Report counts do not establish causation — a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history, and patent information further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice — always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.
Last updated: July 11, 2025
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book — approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed — NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) — post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm — standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files — federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database — current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages