Odisha Govt Issues SOP For Use Of Favipiravir Tablets For COVID-19 Patients; Details Here

Bhubaneswar: The state government has issued standard operating procedure (SOP) on consumption of tablet Favipiravir by the COVID-19 positive patients.

In an official order to all collectors and district magistrates, municipal commissioners and CDMOs, the Health and Family Welfare department said Favipiravir has to be administered to asymptomatic and mild COVID-19 positive patients in home isolation in consultation with trained doctors after assessing the condition of the patient with the latter’s written consent.

The department has issued SOP in this regard to the authorities mentioned above for its strict enforcement. The SOP will enable the COVID-19 patients to avail the benefits of antiviral therapy – Favipiravir – at their doorsteps.

Following is the SOP to be followed:

Part-I

• Rapid Response Team (RRT) will be specifically trained to assess the patient in
  home isolation whether s/he can be administered Favipiravir Tablet at home, in
  consultation with trained doctors.
• If patient is assessed to be suitable for administration of Favipiravir , the RRT team will explain the patient & his/her relatives about the use of Favipiravir Tablet , its side effects, precautions and actions to be taken by him/her or by his/her relatives after initiation of therapy.
• RRT team will collect the informed consent duly filled and will take steps for
  provision of 5 days course of Favipiravir Tablet.
• RRT will hand over the information sheet / advisory on Favipiravir Tablet use after explaining in detail when & how to use the drugs, how & whom to report the
  adverse reactions and progress of the disease condition while handing over the
  drug for use.
• The patient shall be counseled to report any adverse reaction occurring during
  therapy and also the course of disease during therapy.
• On the events of major adverse reactions or worsening of general condition RRT
  will coordinate the shifting of the patient to the appropriate Covid Care Facility.
  The patient shall be followed up regularly by physical observation, telephonic or
  online contacts. For online contacts dedicated telephone numbers must be
  created in each district.
  • To ensure early launching of the progrmme online training, sensitization of RRT teams, doctors on call and other stake holders is to be undertaken to make the program success.

Part-II

Advice to Patients
A. General
1. Please fill up the informed consent in prescribed proforma and handover
the same to the Rapid Response Team (RRT) / prescribing doctor/
dispensing chemist to enable you to get Favipiravir Tablet for your own use.
(It is mandatory to submit an informed consent from the patient or his/her relative that he/she is willing to take this drug. The prescribing doctor / dispensing chemist must obtain the informed consent in prescribed proforma before advising / dispensing
Favipiravir Tablet).
2. Take Favipiravir only as per the dose and duration suggested by your
doctor.
3. Do not self-medicate. The most common side effects of this medicine
include increased uric acid level in blood, diarrhea, decreased white blood
cell count (neutrophils), and increased liver enzymes. If any of these side
effects bother you, consult with your doctor.
4. To make sure it is safe for you, you should let your doctor know if you have
history of sensitivity to this drug, abnormalities in uric acid metabolism,
severe kidney or liver disease and gout before taking this medicine.
5. Favipiravir is not recommended for women who are pregnant, suspected to be pregnant or breastfeeding, as it can cause harmful effects to the developing baby.
6. Favipiravir tablet is not recommended for children.

B. HOW TO USE FAVIPIRAVIR TABLET
Take this medicine in the dose and duration only as advised.
1. Swallow it as a whole. Do not chew, crush or break it.

2. Favipiravir Tablet may be taken with or without food, but it is better to take it at a fixed time.

Dose
Day-I: 1800 mg twice daily
Day-2: 800 mg twice daily

Note: The tablets to be taken by mouth after food.

4. Persons above the age of 60 years always keep your doctor informed about
the side effects of the drug if you suspect any.

C. SIDE EFFECTS OF FAVIPIRAVIR TABLET YOU MAY EXPERIENCE
Common side effects of Favipiravir tablet.
– Increased uric acid level in blood
– Diarrhoea
– Decreased white blood cell count (neutrophils)
– Increased liver enzymes

Most side effects do not require any medical attention and disappear as
your body adjusts to the medicine. Consult your doctor if they persist or if
you’re worried about them.
• It is not known whether it is safe to consume alcohol with Favipiravir
Tablet, it is better to avoid.
• It is not known whether Favipiravir Tablet alters the ability to drive. Do not
drive if you experience any symptoms that affect your ability to
concentrate and react.

Part-Ill
Action & coordination at district level
• Each district will designate one Nodal Officer who will responsible for
coordination of drug supply , distribution & other logistics arrangements.
• The Collectors/Municipal Commissioners shall create contact systems
through SMS, whatsapp, email and/or telemedicine to facilitate linking of
RRT teams with trained MBBS/ specialist doctors, assessment of patients,
monitoring of all patients in home isolation using this drug, data collection
on course of the disease, adverse reactions and also for shifting of the
patients to hospitals if required.
• An officer of OSMCL may be declared as one point contact person for
uninterrupted supply chain management.