1. < Post-COVID Recovery & COVID-19

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.

bettew | @bettew | Jan 28 7:38pm
In reply to @plong1956 "I have ulcerative colitis, which is an autoimmune disease. For the last several years I have..." + (show)
@plong1956

I have ulcerative colitis, which is an autoimmune disease. For the last several years I have also suffered from idiopathic neuropathy. While taking Paxlovid I had absolutely no pain. In addition I lost weight without a change in diet. I googled and found that Paxlovid can lower blood sugar. I made an appointment with my PC to discuss whether my neuropathy is related to blood sugar. He rather doubts it, but put me on metformin to see if it helps with my neuropathy. I plan to share this chain with my dr and contact Pfizer and report my experience. I’m glad I found this discussion because it confirms there is something in Paxlovid that can eliminate my pain.

Jump to this post

so does the metformin help?

REPLY
1 reply
bettew | @bettew | Jan 28 7:43pm
In reply to @jopp "It’s definitely the Paxlovid. I experienced the same thing. I have not been diagnosed with rheumatoid..." + (show)
@jopp

It’s definitely the Paxlovid. I experienced the same thing. I have not been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis but do have arthritis in my hands, shoulders, and some moderate to severe stenosis in my neck and back which has caused leg weakness and drop foot in both feet. I have trouble with stairs and balance. I’m 64 years old. Since starting on Paxlovid I feel like I turned back the clock 10 years. No joint pain and walking normally without issue. Haven’t tried because of having COVID but feel like I could even run. Very frustrating as this tells me my condition could be treated. What is causing this premature aging I have been going through for two years now? Why doesn’t my back hurt anymore? Is is an anti inflammatory property in the Paxlovid? Need to figure this out because beside the cough from COVID I feel great.

Jump to this post

and how are you feeling since?

REPLY
1 reply
jopp | @jopp | Jan 28 8:00pm
In reply to @bettew "and how are you feeling since?" + (show)
@bettew

and how are you feeling since?

Jump to this post

3 days after stopping Paxlovid back to normal leg weakness and pain in my shoulders and hips.

REPLY
thruthelookinglass69 | @thruthelookinglass69 | Jan 30 6:27am

I have had chronic pain 25 years; Multiple autoimmune conditions, Fibromyalgia, Arthritis, a lot of nerve and bone issues and Peripheral neuropathy.

I took a 5 day course of Paxlovid for Covid and now instead of feeling awful with Covid I am feeling deep relief from the constant pain. Even the pains that I have been told come from spinal nerve damage in lower back, shoulder and my carpel tunnel numbness have almost ceased!

Usually I can’t bend down to pick things up from ground without rising accumulative lower back pain. To my great surprise this has vanished and today I was able to lift and move a whole bunch of plant pots without any pain or consequences.
Such was my surprise that I came on line to look for this effect and found this thread! (The Paxlovid taste in my mouth is woeful though).

As some have already suggested, I will contact the Pfizer company who make Paxlovid with a comment on this surprise effect.

REPLY
lizao | @lizao | Jan 30 7:52am

I just finish 5 days of Paxlovid. The medication cleared my Covid very quickly. (Horrible metallic taste in mouth while taking). Now, my arthritis pain seems to have disappeared. I can use my right Thumb again to open jars. . My hips, knees, shoulders and neck have all stopped hurting. I am a week off of Paxlovid and have not been taking any anti-inflammatories. I feel much healthier. The inflammation all over my body increased when Covid first came out. I had my first bout of Covid in 2022.
The agility in my joints. It’s amazing right now.

REPLY
tom121 | @tom121 | Jan 30 8:02am

I had covid I'm December. Took paxlovid , all my joint problems disappeared for about 3 weeks

REPLY
mghijssels | @mghijssels | Jan 30 2:41pm

I have had systemic scleroderma for 10 years. I have already taken all the standard medications and experienced their effects, medrol, methotrexade, cellcept and rituximab (mabthera). My disease has been extremely active in my mouth, lips and tongue in recent months. I even got 2 new spots (telangies) on my lips. I couldn't eat or drink anything salty, sweet, fruity because of the small fissures in my mouth. It's very painfull. Recenty I also got Covid. Because I was still under the mabthera treatment, I had to take the antiviral drug Paxlovid. A few hours after taking my first dose of Paxlovid I felt a change in my mouth. After 5 days of Paxlovid my mouth was 80% healed. I couldn't believe there was a drug that could cure my illness so quickly. After a few days my oral problems returned, but is was less serious. Are there others, who are in approximately my situation, and also responded very positively to Paxlovid??? Just let know.

I am from Belgian.

REPLY
marythemind | @marythemind | Jan 30 2:46pm

The 2 times I had Covid and took Paxlovid, it gave me massive diarrhea! I do not plan to take it again! And, it did not help my arthritis and back pain!

REPLY
lucyvictoriasullivan80 | @lucyvictoriasullivan80 | Feb 1 4:50pm

Yes!! Amazing to find this thread.. I too have felt a great relief from autoimmune symptoms (muscle cramps) whilst taking paxlovid for Covid. I was diagnosed with Graves’ disease a few months ago, then had a life threatening reaction to Methimazole and ended up in the ICU with a zero white blood cell count. My thyroid was removed and I was put on generic levothyroxine. 2 weeks later I started waking in the night with excruciating spasms/ cramps in my biceps neck and glutes that last about 20mins each time and happen multiple times per day. These have continued night and day for months. Recent blood tests indicate lupus or RA? Nothing confirmed yet but the only respite has been during taking Paxlovid.. Very interested to see it’s happening for others too.

REPLY
jbljax | @jbljax | Feb 4 10:56pm

Just the opposite. After 3 doses of Paxlovid I developed unrelenting hives which I am still dealing with. My seronegative RA also flared.

REPLY
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.