COVID, Paxlovid and other treatments for COVID

Are you not under doctor's care? If so and you are not comfortable with his/her answer; why not find a different doctor rather than relying on us here who do not know you and are not doctors to chime in? Good luck.

@dmbteach222, welcome. I have to agree with @bunzman. Discontinuing a medication is best done in consultation with the prescribing doctor. Members here are not qualified to suggest changes to medications. Furthermore, only your doctor knows your full medical history.

- 13 Things To Know About Paxlovid, the Latest COVID-19 Pill: https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/13-things-to-know-paxlovid-covid-19

Can you contact your doctor?

I went to the Mayo ER with a severely swollen throat and choking cough after a positive Covid home test, later verified with a PCR. I am double-vaxxed with one booster last September. They gave me Paxlovid due to my age (over 65) and history of asthma and I finished the entire course, but had no relief from my symptoms - symptoms progressed to worse coughing, bad headache, and lots of sinus (not nasal) and ear congestion. I have read that Paxlovid was tested on earlier versions of Covid, and am wondering if perhaps it is not so effective with the current Omicron variants.

I completed my Paxlovid course on 6/1 and now 6 days later I still have the sinus and ear congestion, headache, and lots of postnasal drip leading to coughing when I lay down, along with feeling lightheaded and dizzy when standing. I also have no appetite, and can only eat a few bites of food at a time before I feel a knot in my stomach that does not allow me to eat any more.

I feel like I have plateaued and am not recovering. I don't know what to do and do not want to go back to the ER, and currently do not have a primary doc.

Has any one else had a similar issue with Paxlovid? Others I know did well with it and have now recovered. Thank you for any suggestions to help with my symptoms and recovery.

Please go get your self a doctor. This does not seem to be something an OR is primarily tracking or treating. The question really isn't whether Paxlovid has helped others, but what you now need to do.

Get a primary doctor or start one via telehealth. Er bills are expensive and that’s not how you can get quality, consistent care at this point. Ask for additional bloodwork baseline and tests. I took paxlovid and even with rebound it helped me significantly. It did upset my stomach, and on week 6 post infection I’m still experiencing lingering symptoms. But symptoms are improving for me. No one gets back to 100% after Covid acute infection immediately. It takes time and you need to be patient. My primary said he’s now seeing more patients with lingering symptoms that take 3 months to 6 months to clear up. I also have lost weight and low appetite. I try to drink lots of water and ginger and chamomile teas. Peppermint teas have also helped me. I am also on a low histamine diet now which is helping my leg and arm pains.

I would continue to log your symptoms in journal to help track. Things you can do are keep mind relaxed with funny shows, sleep when tired, take temp/oxygen measures to make sure you are on top of symptoms, and get and share info with primary dr. Even if waitlist for new patients is long get to primary. It’s imperative for overall health regardless of Covid.

I wish you continued healing.

Exactly. Very succinct and well said.

Amen. I tested positive on 2/1/2022 and was given the Merck drug because Paxlovid was not available (short supply). This was good luck for me because I later saw the drug interaction list from Pfizer for Paxlovid, and I am on high dose of Lipitor (one of the drugs). In March I asked a Cardiologist and a Pharmacist about the drug interaction, and they admitted they did not know.
I now ask all my doctors if they are familiar with the issue.....because if I catch Covid again they need to make a judgement call!

Thank you for this reply and healing wishes - it seems I was being overly optimistic to think I would be over this in two weeks as if it was a common cold or the flu. It is actually good to hear that I am not the only one with lingering symptoms. I do have to say that some of it is starting to improve, but new symptoms seem to show up too. I don't like the idea of 3-6 months - but it helps me to have more realistic expectations. I have looked into some primary docs that were referred to me but none are currently taking new Medicare patients. I can continue to look but hate to just pick someone off the internet without knowing anything about them.
I too have been drinking teas and don't have much appetite, and keeping a log of symptoms
does sound like a good idea.
So thank you again for this response and for sharing your thoughts - I appreciate it.

Thank you for your reply - I have heard that recovery can take longer than 2 weeks, so am going to be more patient with my recovery. I wish I could find a doctor, but no good ones in my area are taking new Medicare patients right now - so if I need someone, I will need to find an urgent care. The Paxlovid did keep me out of the hospital, so I am grateful for that.

You can go to the Paxlovid website and learn which medications are contraindicated if you are taking Paxlovid. Next time I see my pharmacist I want to confirm with her the following: I am taking Atorvastatin. I understand I can’t take this and Paxlovid at the same time. For the time that I’m taking Paxlovid, do I just go off Atorvastatin for the same time period?

I don’t want to wait until I’m sick and ask these questions. I have learned which pharmacies in town have Paxlovid so I can go immediately and get it after it’s been prescribed for me.

I wish I could have Paxlovid on hand in case I test positive.