Did PAXLOVID also relieve your arthritis and autoimmune symptoms?

Posted by annewoodmayo @annewoodmayo, Jul 15, 2023

Hi, everyone

I have been diagnosed with autoimmune diseases.
The diagnoses have changed over time (lupus, not lupus, spondyloarthropathy, akylosing spondylitis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, Raynaud's, Sjorgren and maybe others that I have forgotten... sorry about the spelling).

When I took Paxlovid for Covid, many of my symptoms disappeared or were significantly reduced.

Has this happened to anyone else?

I'm thinking that perhaps my autoimmune disease is somehow based on a VIRUS, since paxlovid is an anti-viral and it was like a miracle cure for my symptoms.

I told my rheumatologist about it, but I couldn't get her to focus on the logical connection between the anti-viral (paxlovid) and the reduction in my symptoms. It was very frustrating. I actually cried in my car after the appointment.

I think this could be a game-changing piece of evidence in my medical treatment and diagnosis. And maybe for other autoimmune disease sufferers, too! But I don't know where to turn with this evidence.

What do you think I should do? What doctor should I go to?
My primary care doctor probably won't offer anything; he never intervenes in my rheumatological care.

Please let me know if you had the same experience: an anti-viral medication (paxlovid or another one) reduced your autoimmune/arthritis symptoms.

I searched around online, and it was hard to find and hard to understand information there. In the CDC's PubMed, I found one source that indicates the possibility that immune suppressing medications can reactivate the Epstein Barr virus in some patients. Epstein Barr causes fatigue, among other symptoms, but fatigue is one of my worst symptoms.

Thanks!

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Post-COVID Recovery & COVID-19 Support Group.

plong1956 | @plong1956 | Feb 5 6:55pm

In reply to @bettew "so does the metformin help?" + (show)

It has helped. I still have it but not as extreme. Unfortunately I have significant side effects so I may not be able to stay on it. Reduced to half a dose to see if I can tolerate it.

annewoodmayo | @annewoodmayo | Feb 6 8:39am

In reply to @plong1956 "It has helped. I still have it but not as extreme. Unfortunately I have significant side..." + (show)

Hope you do okay!

Just a thought---It's important to tell doctor all of your other meds-- side effects can result from medication interactions.

I found that coffee and carbonated drinks can cut the awful taste.

Good luck!

aus12 | @aus12 | Feb 7 1:57pm

I had Covid and was prescribed Paxlovid. I too had relief of my ltd scleroderma symptoms. All my joint pain was gone and had more energy then I have had in years. Unfortunately my pain eventually returned. I too wonder if this could be a game changer for pain and Fatigue with autoimmune disease. patients. Not sure myself where to share this information.

mikeosborne | @mikeosborne | Feb 8 1:41pm

I had covid in January 2022 and began having LC symptoms in March 2022: Stomach, Psoriasis, Tinnitus, Muscles, and most troublesome - tendons in shoulders and hips. Had covid again in Oct. 2023 and was given Paxlovid. Noticed by day 2-3 that not only was the current covid infection barely noticeable, but my long covid sypmtoms were rapidly easing. I managed to get another 5 day dose and strung it out to 10 days (taking 1 packet a day). By the end of the second dose (day 12 or so), I'd estimate my LC symptoms were 90-95% gone - was back to moving and exercising without worrying about injury. 3 months later I am back to full strength LC probs. Wish I could take Paxlovid daily.

markfmooe | @markfmooe | Feb 8 2:23pm

I just found this thread. I was diagnosed with Psoriatic Arthritis in 2023.(Still not sure it’s the correct diagnosis, but we’ll see.) Got Covid for the first time in January. And like other folks here, took Paxlovid and my symptoms disappeared! Also, like others here, my Rheumatologist had never heard of this.

bpahwa | @bpahwa | Feb 10 11:30am

YES!!! The same thing happened to me! I was in so much pain for almost 2 years after the COVID booster shot. I knew something was wrong after I took that booster. Kept getting random pains all over my body. Then last summer it became the worst where I could barely walk because my legs felt like someone had poured lead into them and would get so painful. Then I got diagnosed with COVID and was prescribed PAXLOVID. Just after 2 dozes I woke up one morning a new woman. All aches and pains gone! I had forgotten what it was like to be pain free. I wanted to run around and jump like a kid! I'm 67 years old....
I've been trying to get my doctors to give some sort of diagnosis as to what is going on. PAXLOVID was 6 months ago and the pains have returned - no diagnosis. I hired a personal trainer in the hope that more exercise and a diet would help with the stiffness and pain. But it's hard to workout when you are IN so much pain.
The doctors just keep running tests and all come ack negative. Which is a good thing but also frustrating.
I'm almost to the point where I want to go to a country where I can get a another series of PAXLOVID from the pharmacy without a prescription and just take it. I KNOW this is some sort of an infection...

jason310 | @jason310 | Feb 12 2:13pm

I have experienced a lot of joint pain and stiffness the last couple of months or so. Went to the doc thinking I just had an upper respiratory infection and ended being told I had Covid. He prescribed me Paxlovid. On the second day of the medication it dawned on me my knees and hips weren’t hurting at all, and my sinuses had all but cleared up. I was more impressed with my joints not hurting than anything. I still have 2 more days of treatment and curious to see how my joints feel after im done. Just turned 49 and have always been a fairly active person so my joints hurting like they have been lately had really got me down.

trevors | @trevors | Feb 13 9:26am

In reply to @bpahwa "YES!!! The same thing happened to me! I was in so much pain for almost 2..." + (show)

You don’t need to have Covid to get a prescription for Paxlovid. You do need a supportive doctor, but because it is fully FDA approved they can prescribe it “off label.”

gwtw121 | @gwtw121 | Feb 19 7:04am

In reply to @taragray "Yes I have an undiagnosed autoimmune illness with Fatigue and joint pain that started after I..." + (show)

I too, felt better than I have in years, for the week I took paxlovid and then 4 days longer. I am treated for an autoimmune disease and 3 years ago started chemo for colon+liver cancer.
Unfortunately, I’m feeling very fatigued now and have ongoing stomach gas issues. I was able to escape Covid until late Dec until Jan 21st. Wish I knew what to do!

dstthom | @dstthom | Feb 21 7:57am

I have had arthritis in my hands for the past probably 10 years.? My joints in my fingers haves nodes, swelling..The reason I am commenting this morning at work after all this time I’m looking/bending my fingers and thought it was weird how easy it was to bend my fingers like the swelling was completely gone! The nodes in my finger joints were significantly reduced too. I finished a 5 day regime of Paxlovid a little over a week ago and I searched the internet “does Paxlovid help arthritis” because I don’t take anything for my arthritis and the Paxlovid is the one variable change..There may not be a connection, but just thought it was extremely weird the reduction in swelling..never noticed before