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The Thai Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Abstract

Favipiravir is one of the antiviral agents for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This study described the adverse drug events (ADEs) and factors associated with aspartate transaminase (AST) or alanine transaminase (ALT) elevation in Thai COVID-19 patients who received favipiravir. A cross-sectional study was conducted at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thailand, among patients aged 18 years old or over with confirmed COVID-19, admitted between April and June 2021, and received favipiravir for COVID-19 treatment. Clinical pharmacists followed up ADEs after discharge from the hospital by phone. Seven hundred and fifteen COVID-19 patients were included in the study. Pharmacists could complete follow-ups on ADEs for 543 (75.9%) patients and 158 (29.1%) patients had ADEs. Constipation was the most common ADEs (30.38%). From multivariate analysis, taking psychiatric drug was associated with elevation of AST or ALT more than 3 times from baseline laboratory values (odds ratio = 13.866, P = 0.01). Three (0.4%) patients stopped favipiravir treatment because of drug-induced hepatitis. Eight of nine patients who used warfarin had international normalized ratio (INR) elevation. In conclusion, favipiravir is a safe drug. Closed laboratory monitoring might not be needed, except for liver function tests in patients who take psychiatric drugs and close INR monitoring in patients who receive warfarin coadministration.

DOI

10.56808/3027-7922.2831

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