I tested positive for COVID-19. What's next?
- Immediately contact your healthcare provider. He/she will assess whether you are at high risk for progressing to severe COVID-19 and/or hospitalization. You can also find more information here.
- If you are high-risk, you and your healthcare provider should discuss if an antibody treatment is an option for you. An antibody treatment may help limit the amount of virus in your body. This may help your symptoms improve sooner — and you may be less likely to need to go to the hospital.
- If together you decide this is the right treatment option, your healthcare provider should call the Lilly COVID Hotline at 1-855-545-5921 to find a nearby infusion center. There is also an infusion site locator at the bottom of this page.
- Your doctor will work with infusion site staff to prescribe treatment and set up your appointment.
- If you have additional questions, including what to expect at your appointment, visit the FAQ and Resources page. For additional questions, call the Lilly COVID Hotline at 1-855-545-5921.
How will I take this drug?
You only need to take the drug one time. It’s usually given at a hospital, clinic, or infusion center. The appointment will likely take around 2 hours, but may vary.
The treatment is an intravenous (IV) infusion, which means a nurse will insert a small needle into a vein in your arm. The drug will go directly into your blood for 16-60 minutes or longer. You will be monitored for at least 1 hour afterwards.
Does the infusion hurt?
With any infusion treatment, you may feel a pinch or sting when the needle first goes in, but the feeling often goes away after a few seconds. If you feel any pain during the infusion, tell the nurse right away.
After the infusion, some people may have pain, bleeding, bruising, soreness, or swelling in the place where the needle went in. In some cases, this may lead to more serious problems, like an infection.
If you’re not sure whether what you’re feeling after the infusion is normal, it’s always okay to call your doctor or the infusion center and check.
What are the side effects?
Side effects can range from mild to serious and may include:
- Fever, chills, or sweating
- Nausea (upset stomach)
- Headache, muscle aches, or chest discomfort or pain
- Wheezing or shortness of breath (trouble breathing)
- Dizziness, low or high blood pressure, or fast or slow heartbeat
- Itching, rash, hives, or swollen lips, face, or throat
- Feeling weak, confused, or tired
Tell your doctor or nurse right away if you have any side effects, or your symptoms get worse, during or after your infusion. Some of these side effects may be signs of a serious allergic reaction.
You may experience new or worsening symptoms after infusion, including fever, difficulty breathing, rapid or slow heart rate, tiredness, weakness or confusion. If these occur, contact your healthcare provider or seek immediate medical attention as some of these events have required hospitalization. It is unknown if these events are related to bamlanivimab infusion or are due to the progression of COVID-19.
Bamlanivimab could interfere with your body's own ability to fight off a future infection of COVID-19. Similarly, bamlanivimab may reduce your body’s immune response to a COVID-19 vaccine. Specific studies have not been conducted to address these possible risks. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have any questions.
These are not all the possible side effects of bamlanivimab. Not a lot of people have been given bamlanivimab. Serious and unexpected side effects may happen. Bamlanivimab is still being studied so it is possible that all of the risks are not known at this time.
How can I get ready for my appointment?
- What do I need to bring with me?
- When I arrive, should I call instead of coming into the waiting room?
- Will I need someone to give me a ride home after the infusion?
What is it like to get the infusion?
To help prevent the spread of COVID-19, the nurse and other clinic staff will wear masks, gloves, and face shields.
They may also limit the time they spend near you during the infusion — but they’re still there for you if you need them.
If you have any questions or concerns during the infusion process, don’t hesitate to ask the clinic staff. It’s their job to explain what’s happening and make sure you feel comfortable.
Starting the infusion
When you get to the hospital, clinic, or infusion center, a nurse will show you to a chair where you can sit comfortably during the infusion process. The nurse will clean your arm with a special liquid that kills germs. Then they’ll insert a small needle into a vein and start the flow of medicine.
During the infusion
Once the infusion has started, it takes about 16 to 60 minutes. From time to time, a nurse will come to check on you and measure your temperature, breathing, and heart rate.
When the infusion is over, you’ll need to stay for a couple of hours so the nurse can keep checking on you to make sure you’re feeling okay.
What happens after my appointment?
In the days and weeks after your infusion, your doctor or the clinic staff will keep checking with you to see how you feel and which COVID-19 symptoms you have.
They may also ask you to come in again to do another COVID-19 test or to take samples of blood from your arm.
Find an infusion site near you
States are partnering with the National Infusion Center Association (NICA) and the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) to make it easier to identify product and infusion locations by state.* Click below to find an infusion site near you. Please note that a site’s inclusion in this tool does not imply current availability of doses. For additional help finding an infusion center, please call the Lilly COVID Hotline at 1-855-545-5921.
Go (NICA)Go (HHS)
*IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Infusion sites displayed in this tool have been authorized to administer antibody treatments for COVID-positive patients under Emergency Use Authorization. These antibody therapies are restricted to certain high-risk patients and require a drug order (similar to a prescription) from a Health Care Provider (HCP) for eligible patients. HCPs must verify eligibility of their patients and verify the availability of doses at an authorized infusion site before they refer an eligible patient to schedule an appointment to receive treatment at an authorized infusion site.