Alberta Health Services (AHS) has published recommendations for specific prescription medications and whether they are safe to continue for patients who test positive for COVID-19. The guidance document, Recommendations for primary care physicians and pharmacists on specific prescription medications for community patients with COVID-19, is available on the AHS website.
The guidance for physicians and pharmacists was developed by the leadership team of the Medicine Strategic Clinical Network in consultation with clinical content specialists. The guidance contains information based on current available evidence and will be updated as more information becomes available.
The AHS guidance document includes considerations for the following drugs:
- angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB),
- immunosuppressants,
- inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) or oral corticosteroids (OCS) for respiratory conditions, and
- nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
The recommendations in the AHS guidance document are meant to support decisions on a case-by-case basis and are not a universal endorsement of these agents.
