Sotrovimab

[Jontie]

Like many others, I am pleased to have been offered the option of "new treatments for covid-19" in the event that I test positive. I agree with one respondent to another post on this subject who commented that it makes sense to consider the option before one tests positive, rather than having to make a potentially tricky decision "in the heat of the moment". In that vein I have been giving it some thought and would welcome the views of others.

The problem, as I see it, is that the efficacy of Sotrovimab (assuming that is the drug we would be offered?) depends on the speed with which one takes the medication after contracting the virus. Clearly, at that point one does not know if without the drug, the virus would have a mild or serious impact. One might think that, regardless of this unknown factor, it is worth taking the drug "just in case". However, I feel that as this is a new and relatively untested drug, the potential side effects should be taken into account. In the GSK factsheet on the drug these are listed as follows:

"What are the important possible side effects of sotrovimab?

Possible side effects of sotrovimab are:

• Allergic reactions. Allergic reactions can happen during and after infusion with sotrovimab. Tell your

healthcare provider right away if you get any of the following signs and symptoms of allergic

reactions: fever; difficulty breathing; low oxygen level in your blood; chills; tiredness; fast or slow heart

rate; chest discomfort or pain; weakness; confusion; nausea; headache; shortness of breath; low or

high blood pressure; wheezing; swelling of your lips, face, or throat; rash including hives; itching;

muscle aches; dizziness; feeling faint; and sweating.

The side effects of getting any medicine through a vein may include brief pain, bleeding, bruising of the

skin, soreness, swelling, and possible infection at the infusion site.

These are not all the possible side effects of sotrovimab. Not many people have been given sotrovimab.

Serious and unexpected side effects may happen. Sotrovimab is still being studied, so it is possible that

all of the risks are not known at this time.

It is possible that sotrovimab could interfere with your body’s own ability to fight off a future infection of

SARS-CoV-2. Similarly, sotrovimab may reduce your body’s immune response to a vaccine for SARS-

CoV-2. Specific studies have not been conducted to address these possible risks."

Some of this sounds less than ideal to me, and I think that if I were to pay for one of those antibody test kits, and I found that my antibody level was "good", would I want to risk the potential side effects of the drug when the likely effect of the virus was mild?

Am I missing something here? Maybe, because I've been on pred for several years, the liklihood is that the virus would have a serious effect on me. Presumably this is the logic behind the email.

I just feel that the broadbrushed approach that has been taken to sending out the email is not very nuanced.

Thoughts please.

[MrsNails]

That is why l suggested reading up on it in advance - at least we’re looking at it dispassionately - which we wouldn’t if we had Covid - and what if it is as mild as they say?…..

I think it’ll come down to a personal decision - l have the offer as does my eldest son - but will we even qualify when it comes down to it?

I’ve been too unwell this week to really think about it - l have the most awful cough & chest infection - but that is what kind of worries me more…….

I wonder if they’ll check if it’s Omicron or Delta? As that may influence someone’s decision too?

I shall think about it further…..

Best Wishes

MrsN

[Jontie in reply to MrsNails]

Thanks for your reply. I agree it would be helpful to know which version one has. Sorry to hear you are unwell and I wish you a speedy recovery.

[Nextoneplease in reply to Jontie]

The trouble is, by the time they’ve identified the variant, the window of opportunity for using protective meds may have expired 🤔 Maybe omicron will wipe out other variants…..

[Lonsdalelass in reply to MrsNails]

Hope you're soon feeling better Mrs N, so you can enjoy some of the Christmas festivities with the family and those lovely little grandchildren. God bless. And merry Christmas!

[Bennijax in reply to MrsNails]

I hope you get much better very soon, Mrs. Nails - I too am very sorry to hear you feel physically so unwell.

[123-go]

Hmm. Certainly gives food for thought. Thanks, Jontie (I think 🤔).

[Jontie]

By the way, this is the link to the fact sheet I quoted from:fda.gov/media/149533/download

[piglette]

This is an article in the Telegraph about it. UK secures 4.25m extra ‘wonder pills’ for vulnerabledigitaleditions.telegraph.c...

[Jontie in reply to piglette]

Thanks for that. No mention of Sotrovimab there. Maybe I got the wrong drug, if so, I apologise.

[piglette in reply to Jontie]

I think Sotrovimab is the GSK pill, while so far the government has purchased the MSD and the Pfizer ones. The government were criticised in buying too few pills but now the MHRA has OKed Sotrovimab they may be buying that too.

[CricketMonkey in reply to piglette]

The tablets are molnupiravir (brand name Lagevrio) - used for mild to moderate COVID-19 in the first 5 days after symptoms appear to prevent severe illness developing.

Sotrovimab (brand name Xevudy) is the infusion, and used for symptomatic acute infection.

(Information from the Patient Information Leaflet links in Mrs Nails’ post from a few days ago: healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

[Bennijax in reply to piglette]

I am becoming confused - no mention of Sotrovimab in this article?

so many different names of possible anti-virals - which ones are being kept for the vulnerable who have received the letters?

[piglette in reply to Bennijax]

The UK government have currently bought pills from Merck Sharp and Dohme (MSD) and also Pfizer. They have recently OKed the Glaxo Smith Kline (GSK) pill, so may be buying some of them as well.

[Jontie]

Just found my source: BBC News - Covid: Vulnerable NHS patients to be offered new drugbbc.co.uk/news/health-59721240

I guess a choice of drugs might be on offer.

[Bennijax in reply to Jontie]

It looks like we will need to create our own Go-to information document with the anti-viral names, its manufacturer, and the salient points we may need to know before making a decision to take or not to take.

[Floridafan in reply to Bennijax]

I agree, however, according to the email I received it states that “If the PCR test shows that you have got coronavirus, the NHS will contact you within 24 hours to arrange a telephone appointment with a health professional”. So hopefully you will be able to talk over any concerns which you may have with them. Ultimately it us down to us to make the decision, it is our bodies after all but at the moment I haven’t got a “Scooby” what I would decide to do if the situation arose. 🤔

[MrsNails in reply to Bennijax]

I have put links to the info in a Post & suggest we read & have a think about it - also have your list of Medications to hand & approx dates of your PMR/GCA

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

[Bennijax]

Thank you Jontie. I too have my doubts. I would prefer to better understand my immunity level before agreeing to take this.

For sotrovimab I just read through these quickly found:

nature.com/articles/d41586-...

recoverytrial.net/news/sotr...

thehill.com/changing-americ...

[agingfeminist in reply to Bennijax]

unfortunately you can't know much about your immunity if you are on pred. You might have antibodies following a vaccination BUT nobody knows what the ideal levels are AND an immune response to covid is more complicated. Taking an antiviral within a day or two of symptoms is really important

[Polymialgia]

I will jump at the chance to have or trial new treatment, I’m sure the doctors would not even consider giving these to the most vulnerable if they had any doubts about the efficacy of them, I think we can be in danger of overthinking things

[MrsNails in reply to Polymialgia]

I also think that our thoughts & rationale may well change if we are diagnosed with Covid…..

[Jane424]

Thank you for taking the trouble. The rapid tests don't work to tell you if you have protective antibodies. They just tell you whether you have covid now. I have been trying to find a test for my antibodies post vaccination and there isn't one.