Nirmatrelvir and ritonavir Brand names: Paxlovid; first approved as Paxlovid (Copackaged)

What is nirmatrelvir and ritonavir used for?

From the label: indications and usage

PAXLOVID is indicated for the treatment of mild-to-moderate coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in adults who are at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19, including hospitalization or death. PAXLOVID which includes nirmatrelvir, a severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) main protease (M pro: also referred to as 3CL pro or nsp5 protease) inhibitor, and ritonavir, an HIV-1 protease inhibitor and CYP3A inhibitor, is indicated for the treatment of mild-to-moderate coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in adults who are at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19, including hospitalization or death. […]

Conditions named in the indications of nirmatrelvir and ritonavir's FDA labels, with every medicine labeled for each:

• COVID-19

What does the patient leaflet for nirmatrelvir and ritonavir say first?

The FDA-approved Medication Guide or Patient Information that comes with the medicine, in its own words.

From the patient leaflet: What is the most important information I should know about PAXLOVID?

PAXLOVID can interact with other medicines causing severe or life-threatening side effects or death. It is important to know the medicines that should not be taken with PAXLOVID. Do not take PAXLOVID if: • you are taking any of the following medicines: o alfuzosin o amiodarone o apalutamide o carbamazepine o colchicine o dihydroergotamine o dronedarone o eletriptan o enzalutamide o eplerenone o ergotamine o finerenone o flecainide o flibanserin o ivabradine o lomitapide o lovastatin o lumacaftor/ivacaftor o lurasidone o methylergonovine o midazolam (oral) o naloxegol o phenobarbital o phenytoin o pimozide o primidone o propafenone o quinidine o ranolazine o rifampin o rifapentine o St. John’s Wort ( hypericum perforatum ) o sildenafil (Revatio ® ) for pulmonary arterial hypertension o silodosin o simvastatin o suzetrigine o tolvaptan o triazolam o ubrogepant o voclosporin These are not the only medicines that may cause serious or life-threatening side effects if taken with PAXLOVID. PAXLOVID may increase or decrease the levels of multiple other medicines. It is very important to tell your healthcare provider about all of the medicines you are taking because additional laboratory tests or changes in the dose of your other medicines may be necessary during treatment with PAXLOVID. Your healthcare provider may also tell you about specific symptoms to watch out for that may indicate that you need to stop or decrease the dose of some of your other medicines. • you are allergic to nirmatrelvir, ritonavir, or any of the ingredients in PAXLOVID. See the end of this leaflet for a complete list of ingredients in PAXLOVID. See “ What are the possible side effects of PAXLOVID? ” for signs and symptoms of allergic reactions.

From the patient leaflet: How should I store PAXLOVID?

Store PAXLOVID at room temperature between 68°F to 77°F (20°C to 25°C). Keep PAXLOVID and all medicines out of the reach of children.

Is there a generic for nirmatrelvir and ritonavir (Paxlovid)?

No generic nirmatrelvir and ritonavir is approved (Drugs@FDA, October 8, 2026).

The Orange Book lists 2 patents for Paxlovid tablets: the compound patent runs to August 5, 2041, and the last listed entry to October 31, 2041. A patent or exclusivity date is not the date a generic goes on sale: court cases and settlements move it either way.

What do pharmacies pay for nirmatrelvir and ritonavir (Paxlovid)?

In CMS's NADAC survey of October 7, 2026, pharmacies paid $49.24 per unit (Paxlovid 300-100 mg dose pack), up 3% from $47.84 on October 8, 2025. The chart's scale runs from the lowest to the highest price shown, not from zero. NADAC is what retail pharmacies paid their wholesalers, per unit, in CMS's monthly survey; what a patient pays depends on insurance and the pharmacy.

What does the nirmatrelvir and ritonavir label say about other medicines?

The nirmatrelvir and ritonavir label names 140 other medicines in its interaction, contraindication or warning sections. The sentences are the labels' own; a label lists what its studies and reports found, not every interaction.

Every other medicine the nirmatrelvir and ritonavir label names

Other labels that name nirmatrelvir and ritonavir

• Estradiol

Check nirmatrelvir and ritonavir against other medicines

What do FAERS reports show for nirmatrelvir and ritonavir?

The FDA Adverse Event Reporting System holds 53,820 reports that list nirmatrelvir and ritonavir among the medicines taken, through July 30, 2026, each a report of something that happened, not proof the medicine caused it; 557 are coded as a death and 3,145 as a hospital stay. Counts follow how widely a medicine is used and watched, and they are not a measure of how risky it is. Reports rose sharply in 2022 (27,027, against a median of 16 a year): FAERS counts follow reporting, which news, litigation and label changes can drive, not how often a reaction happens.

Reports received each year

• 0
• 0
• 2
• 3
• 24
• 16
• 27,027
• 14,418
• 9,041
• 2,608
• 681

• 2016
• 2017
• 2018
• 2019
• 2020
• 2021
• 2022
• 2023
• 2024
• 2025
• 2026

The most reported reactions

• Covid-19 (a use or a product term, not a reaction)22,815
• Disease Recurrence20,103
• Dysgeusia (named in the label)7,348
• Diarrhoea (named in the label)4,027
• Nausea (named in the label)2,636
• Headache (named in the label)2,178
• Cough2,048
• Fatigue2,014

Side effects: the label's list and every FAERS reaction

What next?

Nirmatrelvir and ritonavir side effects

the label's list beside FAERS reports

Check an interaction

what two or more labels say about each other