COVID-19 treatment and prevention

Oral medications are pills you take at home.

• If you tested positive for COVID-19 at a HealthPartners or Park Nicollet location and you’re at higher risk for serious COVID-19, we’ll call you to discuss your treatment options.
• If you tested positive for COVID-19 outside of HealthPartners or Park Nicollet, your symptoms started less than five days ago, and you believe you’re at higher risk for serious COVID-19, call a clinic or schedule a video visit to discuss your treatment options.
  

If you’re not prescribed oral medication for COVID-19, don’t worry – it’s not appropriate for everyone who has COVID-19.

Remdesivir is an antiviral medication given intravenously. While we regularly provide remdesivir treatment for hospitalized COVID-19 patients, we’re not able to offer outpatient remdesivir treatment at this time.

• For babies under 4 months old: Call your child’s health care provider for care instructions.
• For all ages over 4 months old: Use acetaminophen to help relieve pain and reduce any fever. Follow age- and weight-appropriate dosing recommendations and the package instructions. Avoid stomach upset by taking with food or milk.
• For children over 1 year old: Honey can help soothe sore throats and coughs. (Honey is not safe for children under 1 year old.)
• For adults only: Over-the-counter throat lozenges or antiseptic sprays can help provide pain relief.

• For children under 4 years old: The FDA recommends no over-the-counter cough and cold medications for children 4 years of age or younger. Plenty of liquids and rest can help children feel better. Honey can help soothe sore throats and coughs. (Honey is not safe for children under 1 year old.)
• For adults only: Take a cough expectorant that contains guaifenesin (such as Mucinex^®) for three days. This will thin mucus in your chest to make it easier to cough up – it's important to allow your body to cough up mucus to get better.Avoid multi-symptom versions, which often have extra letters in their name (such as Mucinex DM^®).
• For adults only: A cough suppressant should only be used when you need a rest or break from your cough. Use an over-the-counter cough medication that contains dextromethorphan (such as Delsym^®) sparingly.

• For babies under 4 months old: A simple bulb syringe and saline nasal spray can be used to clear stuffy noses. Call your child’s doctor for other care instructions.
• For all ages over 4 months old: Use acetaminophen to help relieve pain and reduce any fever. Follow age- and weight-appropriate dosing recommendations and the package instructions. Avoid stomach upset by taking with food or milk.

If you need any help managing your symptoms – or they appear to be worsening – call your clinic or schedule a video visit. We’ll review your concerns and help create a custom treatment plan for you.

In an emergency, call 911 or go to your nearest hospital’s emergency room. If you can, wear a mask before emergency services arrive or you go to the emergency room.