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.

Yes, Paxlovid has improved my autoimmune problems/ arthritis/ fibromyalgia. I had Covid in Jan. 2022 and after Paxlovid, I didn’t have anymore “flares” from my fibromyalgia. It was like it shocked my system into being normal. It was amazing. This week I was diagnosed with Covid again, started Paxlovid, and now I have no joint pain. There is absolutely something to this, it just needs to be studied. I wish we could reach the right people to study this. I would definitely be in a trial to help cure my autoimmune problems.

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@mwill98

Yes, Paxlovid has improved my autoimmune problems/ arthritis/ fibromyalgia. I had Covid in Jan. 2022 and after Paxlovid, I didn’t have anymore “flares” from my fibromyalgia. It was like it shocked my system into being normal. It was amazing. This week I was diagnosed with Covid again, started Paxlovid, and now I have no joint pain. There is absolutely something to this, it just needs to be studied. I wish we could reach the right people to study this. I would definitely be in a trial to help cure my autoimmune problems.

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Hi mwill98,
Thanks for contributing!
Some people here have emailed the Paxlovid manufacturer to inform them and request action.

We're trying to see if anyone's doctors have any ideas about it. Have you asked your doctors? Did they tell you anything?

Here's hoping we get information and relief!
Thanks, again. Keep us posted.

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@colleenyoung

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HI Colleen and everyone,

I saw the spams in my email notifications.
Big "Thank You" ! to everyone who reported them!

Anne

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@annewoodmayo

Hi mwill98,
Thanks for contributing!
Some people here have emailed the Paxlovid manufacturer to inform them and request action.

We're trying to see if anyone's doctors have any ideas about it. Have you asked your doctors? Did they tell you anything?

Here's hoping we get information and relief!
Thanks, again. Keep us posted.

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I will mention it to my primary and rheumatologist at my next appointment, and share any info I receive. Thank you for the replies.

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@mwill98

I will mention it to my primary and rheumatologist at my next appointment, and share any info I receive. Thank you for the replies.

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Hi mwill98,

I look forward to hearing what your doctors say.

So far, of the patients here who have reported back, no one has gotten any information from their doctors. The doctors appear to be stumped/ unaware/ uncertain. One said they would research it.

Thanks for contributing! And I hope you are feeling ok!

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I'm on Paxlovid right now and found this thread searching for information on why my Raynaud's (a symptom of my autoimmune condition) has completely disappeared. My pharmacist did tell me it might increase the effect of nifedipene which is a blood pressure med they give me to reduce the length of my episodes. I cut the dose in half to 30 mg. The thing is even at 90 mg (which I can't tolerate because it makes my bloof pressure too low). Nifedipene alone doesn't stop my Raynaud's. I still have many episodes of vasospasm and white fingers all day everyday. I've been purposely trying to trigger it and nothing in 3 days. My thinking is that whatever is in there that interacts with nifedipene actually createa a combo drug to help Raynaud's. I wish I had the money to start a biomed company. I'd make billions.

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Not sure I explained it well because of bad punctuation. But I've had no Raynaud's since taking paxlovid

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Has anyone taken Paxlovid longer than the five days?

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@jennyryansanchez

Not sure I explained it well because of bad punctuation. But I've had no Raynaud's since taking paxlovid

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HI jennyryansanchez,

Thanks for contributing!

Of the patients who have contributed here, many have different autoimmune diseases and take different medications, so I'm thinking that it must be some part of the Paxlovid alone that is making us feel better.

Many of us have emailed the paxlovid manufacturer (I'm tired now- I think it's Pfizer) to let them know and to ask for information. I think everyone has asked their doctor/s, but we got no information from their doctors.

By my count, you are the 15th person who 1) had a diagnosed, pre-existing autoimmune disease AND 2) took Paxlovid for Covid, and 3) the symptoms of the pre-existing disease went away, and 4) the symptoms came back after discontinuing / finishing the Paxlovid.

Please keep us posted about your circumstances and any information or leads you get.
Thanks!
anne

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