Connect
Did PAXLOVID also relieve your arthritis and autoimmune symptoms?
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!
Like
Helpful
HugInterested in more discussions like this? Go to the Post-COVID Recovery & COVID-19 Support Group.
Connect
@bobhaspmryear2
They did 15 day Paxlovid Trials with good results.
I took 15 days of Paxlovid and all my symptoms were relieved for 6 wks-almost 2 months.
I definitely think in people who have had reactivations of past viral infections as a result of contracting COVID, antiviral therapy will help. Don't know if it's going to be Paxlovid, though.
Monoclonal antibodies to treat underlying virus reactivations and possibly autoimmune diseases are in the works.
They are now being used successfully in veterinary medicine for osteoarthritis in cats and dogs!
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionI too felt better in regard to my arthritis by taking Plaxlovid when I had Covid. It was refreshing and I too believe they need to look at vitals in regard to arthritis.
MH
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 Reaction@mphaddican
meant virals!!
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionMy symptoms returned after completing the Covid medication for 5 days!
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsI’m reading this and my heart is pounding…my lower back pain started and stayed after my first (and only 🤞🏻) COVID infection in late 2022. (Despite vaccination, I got Flu A one month to the day after my Covid infection. I was a teacher at the time. So my body took a major hit in just one month’s time.)
I am about to be scheduled for an MRI of my lower back after switching rheumatologists. The first one diagnosed me with psoriatic arthritis and put me on methotrexate first, then SKYRIZI. I had side effects with both, and breakthrough pain on SKYRIZI.
My new rheumatologist isn’t so sure about the PsA diagnosis, so she is checking for ankylosing spondylitis.
My first rheumatologist scoffed when I asked if this back pain might be related to my Covid infection, as that’s when it started.
I never took Paxlovid. At the time I had Covid, Paxlovid was brand new, and there were breakthrough infections. My doc felt it best to “tough it out” get those antibodies, a decision I don’t regret, to be honest.
If the MRI doesn’t show AS, I honestly don’t know what we will do. My CRP and ESR are normal. ANA by HEp-2 at 1:160, which from my sleuthing, is considered mild inflammation.
Add to this a diagnosis of osteoporosis. It’s a lot, to be sure, but I am going to ask my new rheumatologist if any correlation between my ANA titer and past Covid infection exists. I have nothing to lose.
To note, my back pain isn’t awful; I can function just fine, walk 2 miles a day, do all household chores, etc without so much as a Tylenol.
Thank you for this thread. Wishing everyone well in the new year.
I feel like I’m reading my own experience! I recently saw a rheumatologist at Mayo Jax and asked if he had heard of anyone else that had reduced joint pain while on Paxlovid. He said he’s only heard of symptoms getting worse. I too am positive for EBR. Nobody seems to have any explanation. So upsetting.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 Reaction@nkoliveira68 Sadly, with autoimmune conditions, it can take a long time to really figure out what the actual issue is, especially if your inflammatory markers are as vague as mine are. I so, so wish rheumatologists in this country would incorporate a mental health aspect of care into their treatment plans. I’m not sure they fully realize how emotionally devastating and difficult it is to go even just one year not knowing, on medications that have a deleterious effect and how they affect our daily lives.
If they did so, I believe patients wouldn’t seek second or third opinions, which can further delay diagnosis and treatment.
Mayo Clinic, do you offer a mental health aspect of care? If not, you could lead the field in so doing.
There are really promising treatments already on the market for Long Covid symptoms that have had surprising results. I would think taking Paxlovid well after an infection might do more harm than good, but I just don’t know.
I’ll say this: there HAS to be a way to deliver biologics and not suppress the immune system so much.
I just hope there is ongoing research into inflammatory conditions where one day, there will be an actual cure.
Wishing you well ~ 🌼
@nkoliveira68
Just coincidentally while taking Placloid during my Covid attack my arthritic pains went away. Upon completion of Plaxlood about 3 days later. Arthritic pains went away returned. Just an observation.
M