Veklury (remdesivir) is a brand-name drug that’s prescribed to treat some adults and children with COVID-19. Veklury is given as an intravenous (IV) infusion. The dosage can vary depending on how severe your condition is.
Veklury is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat COVID-19 in certain adults and children. Specifically, it is administered in people with COVID-19 who are:
- in the hospital
- not in the hospital but are at a high risk of severe COVID-19, resulting in hospitalization or death
Veklury belongs to a drug class called antivirals. Veklury is not available in a generic version.
Keep reading for specific information about the dosage of Veklury, including its strengths and how the medication is given. For a comprehensive look at Veklury, see this article.
Note: This article describes typical dosages for Veklury provided by the drug’s manufacturer. However, your doctor will prescribe the Veklury dosage that’s right for you.
The typically recommended dosages for Veklury are described below.
Veklury form
Veklury comes in two forms:
- a liquid solution in a single-dose vial that’s given as an intravenous (IV) infusion (given into a vein over a period of time)
- powder in a single-dose vial that is mixed with a liquid to form a solution for (IV) infusion
Veklury is always given by a healthcare professional.
Veklury strengths
Veklury comes in one strength expressed in milligrams (mg) per milliliters (mL): 100 mg/20 mL
Typical dosages
The following information describes dosages that are commonly used or recommended in adults. Your doctor will determine the best dosage to fit your needs.
Dosage for COVID-19
The recommended dose of Veklury for COVID-19 in adults is 200 mg on day 1, followed by a daily dose of 100 mg afterward. The length of treatment will vary between 3 to 10 days.
For hospitalized people:
- If you require the use of a ventilator or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) machine (an ECMO machine acts as your heart and lungs). The total length of treatment will be 10 days.
- If you don’t require a ventilator or ECMO machine, the total length of treatment will be 5 days. If your condition doesn’t improve after 5 days, your doctor may give you an additional 5 days of treatment (10 days in total).
For non-hospitalized people:
- If you are at high risk of developing severe COVID-19, the total length of treatment will be 3 days.
For more information about your specific dosage, talk with your doctor.
Children’s dosage
Veklury is approved to treat COVID-19 infection in children from birth to 18 years of age.
The dosage is based on the child’s body weight in kilograms (kg). One kg equals about 2.2 pounds (lb). The dosage per kg is measured in milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg) and is calculated by your child’s doctor.
The table below lists the typical dosing schedule for children taking Veklury.
| Age and weight | Loading dose | Maintenance dose |
|---|---|---|
| Less than 28 days old and at least 1.5 kg (3.3 lb) | 2.5 mg/kg on day 1 only | 1.25 mg/kg once daily from day 2 onward |
| At least 28 days old and 1.5 kg (3.3 lb) to less than 3 kg (6.6 lb) | 2.5 mg/kg on day 1 only | 1.25 mg/kg once daily from day 2 onward |
| At least 28 days old and 3 kg (6.6 lb) to less than 40 kg (88 lb) | 5 mg/kg on day 1 only | 2.5 mg/kg once daily from day 2 onward |
| Any age at least 40 kg (88 lb) or more | 200 mg on day 1 only | 100 mg from day 2 onward |
For hospitalized children:
- If your child requires the use of a ventilator or ECMO machine (an ECMO machine acts as your heart and lungs) the total length of treatment will be 10 days.
- If your child doesn’t require the use of a ventilator or ECMO machine, the total length of treatment will be 5 days. But if your child’s condition doesn’t improve after 5 days, your child’s doctor may give them an additional 5 days of treatment (10 days total).
For non-hospitalized children:
- If your child is not hospitalized but at high risk to develop severe COVID-19 the total length of treatment will be 3 days.
Talk with your child’s doctor if you have questions about their dosage.
Long-term treatment
Veklury is used short term for the treatment of COVID-19. The length of treatment will vary between 3 to 10 days.
Talk with your doctor if you have questions about how long you can expect to take Veklury.
The Veklury dosage your doctor prescribes will depend on several factors. These include:
- your age
- your body weight
- how your body responds to Veklury
- the severity of the condition you’re using Veklury to treat
Other medical conditions you have can also affect your Veklury dosage.
Your doctor will calculate and prepare your dose of Veklury to be administered.
Veklury comes as a liquid solution or a powder that is mixed to form a liquid solution. Your doctor or another healthcare professional will give you the (IV) infusion of Veklury. You’ll receive your infusion in a hospital or outpatient infusion center. The infusion typically takes between 30 minutes and 2 hours.
If you have questions about how Veklury is given, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
If you miss your appointment for a Veklury infusion, call your doctor’s office as soon as possible to reschedule. They’ll adjust your dosing schedule as needed.
If you need help remembering your appointments, try setting an alarm or downloading a reminder app on your phone.
Below are some frequently asked questions about Veklury.
How long does it take for Veklury to start working?
Veklury starts to work after your first dose. Because of how the drug works, you likely won’t feel the drug working in your body. But your doctor will monitor you during treatment to check whether the drug is working to treat your condition.
Talk with your doctor if you have questions about what to expect with Veklury treatment.
Can Veklury be used for the flu? If so, what’s the dosage?
No, Veklury is not used for the flu.
Because Veklury isn’t approved to treat the flu, the drug’s manufacturer doesn’t provide recommended dosages for this use.
However, there are four drugs that are approved to treat the flu. These include:
If you have questions about managing the flu, talk with your doctor. They can recommend treatment options that are right for you.
The dosages in this article are typical dosages provided by the drug’s manufacturer. If your doctor recommends Veklury for you, they will prescribe the dosage that’s right for you. If you have questions about the dosage of Veklury that’s best for you, talk with your doctor.
Besides learning about dosage, you may want other information about Veklury. These additional articles might be helpful:
- More about Veklury: For information about other aspects of Veklury, refer to this article.
- Side effects: To learn about the side effects of Veklury, see the Veklury prescribing information.
- Details about COVID-19: For details about COVID-19, see our COVID-19 hub.
Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.