Prescription medication · Nucleotide Analog (Antiviral)
remdesivir
Also sold as Veklury. Remdesivir is used to treat COVID-19 in adults and children who weigh at least 3.
Data updated 2026-05-15
- 13,113
- FDA reportsModerately reported
- 2
- InteractionsFew interactions
- Rx
- Availability
What the data shows
remdesivir (Veklury) is a prescription Nucleotide Analog (Antiviral), reported less often than most tracked drugs (13,113 FDA reports), with 2 documented drug interactions.
Reporting volume reflects how widely a drug is used and studied, not how dangerous it is, a FAERS report documents a temporal association, never proof of cause.
remdesivir (Veklury) is a prescription Nucleotide Analog (Antiviral). Remdesivir is used to treat COVID-19 in adults and children who weigh at least 3.
Remdesivir (Veklury) is an antiviral medicine used to treat COVID-19. It helps stop the virus from multiplying in your body.
Verify with FDA → · CMS NADAC pricing →
What it does
Remdesivir is used to treat COVID-19 in adults and children who weigh at least 3.
Common side effects
Nausea, Increased ALT (a liver enzyme), Increased AST (a liver enzyme)
Key warnings
Remdesivir can cause serious side effects, including allergic reactions and liver problems.
The sections below are summarized in plain English from remdesivir's FDA-approved prescribing information. They describe what the official label says, and are not personal medical advice.
How It Works
Remdesivir is a type of medicine called a nucleotide analog RNA polymerase inhibitor. This means it blocks the virus from making copies of itself. By stopping the virus from multiplying, it can help you recover from COVID-19.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 13,113 FDA adverse event reports.
Most-reported reactions
Adverse reactions in FAERS for remdesivir, by number of reports
- Alanine Aminotransferase Increased
Alanine Aminotransferase Increased
933 reports
- Covid-19
Covid-19
896 reports
- Death
Death
751 reports
- Bradycardia
Bradycardia
651 reports
- Aspartate Aminotransferase Increased
Aspartate Aminotransferase Increased
627 reports
- Acute Kidney Injury
Acute Kidney Injury
622 reports
- Respiratory Failure
Respiratory Failure
526 reports
- Covid-19 Pneumonia
Covid-19 Pneumonia
480 reports
- Liver Function Test Increased
Liver Function Test Increased
420 reports
- Condition Aggravated
Condition Aggravated
378 reports
What this shows Bars show how often each reaction was reported, not how likely it is to happen, a report records a temporal association, never proof that the drug caused it.
Reports over time
Adverse-event reports filed for remdesivir each year to the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).
Year-to-year volume tracks usage, prescribing, and scrutiny, not a change in per-patient risk. Source: FDA FAERS.
Where remdesivir sits
remdesivir has more FDA adverse-event reports than 46% of the drugs FAERS tracks. A high position reflects how widely a drug is used and watched, not how dangerous it is.
Percentile across all drugs PlainMeds tracks by FAERS report volume. The dot is remdesivir; the line is the median (50th percentile).
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 13,113 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2018–2025.
Total Reports
13,113
Reports Mentioning Death
3,250
24.8% of reports — not proof of cause
Hospitalization Reports
4,426
Top Indication
Covid-19
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | ALANINE AMINOTRANSFERASE INCREASED | 933 |
| 3 | COVID-19 | 896 |
| 5 | DEATH | 751 |
| 6 | BRADYCARDIA | 651 |
| 7 | ASPARTATE AMINOTRANSFERASE INCREASED | 627 |
| 8 | ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY | 622 |
| 9 | RESPIRATORY FAILURE | 526 |
| 10 | COVID-19 PNEUMONIA | 480 |
| 11 | LIVER FUNCTION TEST INCREASED | 420 |
| 12 | CONDITION AGGRAVATED | 378 |
| 13 | DRUG INEFFECTIVE FOR UNAPPROVED INDICATION | 328 |
| 14 | PNEUMONIA | 325 |
| 15 | BLOOD CREATININE INCREASED | 320 |
| 16 | CARDIAC ARREST | 286 |
| 17 | RENAL IMPAIRMENT | 279 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
Remdesivir can cause serious side effects, including allergic reactions and liver problems. Allergic reactions can happen during or after the infusion. Tell your doctor right away if you have signs like low or high blood pressure, fast or slow heart rate, fever, trouble breathing, wheezing, swelling, rash, nausea, sweating, or shaking. Your doctor will do blood tests to check your liver before and during treatment. Tell your doctor if you have any signs of liver problems like yellowing of the skin or eyes.
Known Drug Interactions
7 DRUG INTERACTIONS 7.1 Effects of Other Drugs on VEKLURY Due to potential antagonism based on data from cell culture experiments, concomitant use of VEKLURY with chloroquine phosphate or hydroxychloroquine sulfate is not recommended [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3) and Microbiology (12.4) ].
Mechanism: Hydroxychloroquine can interfere with how remdesivir works against the virus. This means the antiviral treatment might not be able to fight the infection effectively.
7 DRUG INTERACTIONS 7.1 Effects of Other Drugs on VEKLURY Due to potential antagonism based on data from cell culture experiments, concomitant use of VEKLURY with chloroquine phosphate or hydroxychloroquine sulfate is not recommended [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3) and Microbiology (12.4) ].
Mechanism: Chloroquine can block the antiviral effects of remdesivir, making it less powerful at treating the virus. This interaction was discovered in laboratory tests.
This is a plain-language summary of FDA-label interaction records and does not provide individual medication-combination directions.
Common Questions
What should I tell my doctor before taking remdesivir?
Can remdesivir be given at home?
How long will I need to take remdesivir?
What if I feel sick after getting remdesivir?
Can remdesivir interact with other medicines?
Will remdesivir cure my COVID-19?
What tests will I need before starting remdesivir?
Can I breastfeed while taking remdesivir?
What if I have kidney problems?
What does 'hypersensitivity' mean?
What are the common side effects of remdesivir?
Does remdesivir interact with other medications?
What drug class is remdesivir?
What pregnancy or breastfeeding source fields are listed for remdesivir?
Related Medications in Nucleotide Analog (Antiviral)
Other drugs grouped near remdesivir - same-class peers and common alternatives.
acyclovir
Zovirax
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albendazole
Albenza
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amphotericin B
Ambisome, Fungizone
Amphotericin B liposome is an antifungal medicine.
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anidulafungin
Eraxis
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atovaquone/proguanil
Malarone
Malarone is a drug used to prevent and treat malaria.
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Compare beyond drug class
Nationwide peers by FAERS volume & death-report share
Two PlainMeds-derived comparison paths for remdesivir: nearest FDA FAERS report volume and nearest death-report share among drugs with at least 1,000 logged reports, excluding same-class neighbors listed above. Counts reflect reporting volume, not proven individual harm.
Similar FAERS report volume
Nearest drugs by total FAERS reports. This record: 13,113.
Similar death-report share
Nearest drugs by FAERS death-report share. This record: 24.78%.
- desoximetasone Δ 0.18 pts · 18,159 reports · Topical Corticosteroid 24.97%death share
- codeine Δ 0.19 pts · 3,245 reports · Opioid Analgesic 24.59%death share
- aliskiren Δ 0.25 pts · 2,229 reports · Direct Renin Inhibitor 25.03%death share
- rivastigmine Δ 0.49 pts · 17,976 reports · Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitor 25.28%death share
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
FDA bioequivalence and label-record context for narrow therapeutic index medicines
Common Drug Interactions
Dangerous medication combinations and how to protect yourself
Save on remdesivir
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What the FDA Data Shows for remdesivir
The FDA label for remdesivir (sold under brand names such as Veklury) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Nucleotide Analog (Antiviral) class. Remdesivir is used to treat COVID-19 in adults and children who weigh at least 3. Official labeling lists 3 commonly reported side effects, including Nausea, Increased ALT (a liver enzyme), Increased AST (a liver enzyme).
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 13,113 voluntary reports. The database also lists 2 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated moderate severity. 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 are separate source-record fields. This page is a public FDA/CMS registry and does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions.
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. This registry does not provide medication decisions.
Last updated: October 13, 2025
PlainMeds is rendered directly from FDA openFDA/FAERS extracts, DailyMed labels, and CMS drug-pricing files, no number is typed in by an editor. FAERS counts, recalls, shortages, and price figures on this page are queried live from those federal extracts. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-05-15. Primary sources: openFDA / FAERS, DailyMed and CMS Part B ASP.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Data currency: FDA FAERS adverse-event reports through 2025, CMS NADAC acquisition-cost pricing effective December 2024, compiled from the source snapshot dated . See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a data issue.
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