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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!
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Yes! It eliminated my arthritis in both my middle fingers. It's been a month and the pain, swelling and bent knuckle are gone!
In addition, I can now get my wedding rings on - but before the Paxlovid I had to stop wearing them altogether. I'm happy an quite curious!
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4 ReactionsI posted shortly after a course of Paxlovid relieved my pain from erosive arthritis. It has now been over 6 months and I am still almost pain free. It feels like a miracle cure. I shared this with my rheumatologist and she took me seriously and agrees it supports the idea that erosive arthritis is an autoimmune disorder.
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6 ReactionsIt helped my carpel tunnel go away!!
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5 ReactionsI had the same experience on paxlovid.
I didn't realize how bad and widespread my inflammation was until it went away on the med, on about day 3. I noticed it initially because I suddenly had no pain in my knees when getting up off a low seat, where normally it was very painful.
I was vaccinated three times, beginning in 2021, I think but am not 100% sure of that timing .
I had covid for the first time, twice in 2024. January and September. Took paxlovid both times. Same extreme relief from inflammation both times.
It lasted from about day 3 until a few days after the med.
I mentioned the effect it had to my primary doctor and my rheumatologist numerous times but they just blow it off. That is frustrating.
I'm writing here just to add to the list of people who have had this experience just in case it helps somehow.
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6 ReactionsThanks for taking the time to post your experience. As you noted, it may help to have your experience added to the list.
I'm still hoping that somebody out there will know what we can do with this information...Anyone?
Thank you to everyone who has posted.
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4 ReactionsI had the same experience. I have arthritis and I had recently had a meniscus root repair that continued to ache and be swollen. While taking the Paxlovid, it all went away. In the morning I hopped out of bed like I was 20 years younger.
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4 ReactionsYes! I got covid 19 for the 1st time 3 weeks ago. I was shocked when after taking paxlovid my rheumatoid arthritis stopped in its trax!!!!
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4 ReactionsPerhaps there is a link here between the antiviral plaxovid and arthritis symptoms I have had over 20 years. Mine is not a light case. Let's find out more. Possibly cure I hope in 2025! HAPPY NEW YEAR
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4 ReactionsYes! This happened to me in September 2024. I contracted covid, and took 5 days of paxlovid. I got a covid rebound and didn't fully recover from covid for a month but I didn't have any pain!
I typically have roving pain and the amount of pain free days are few but I had a month or more that was remarkably pain free. It was fabulous!
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6 ReactionsIncredible. I do hope we can get this message to the right researchers. Can anyone help? Plaxlovid connection to rheumatoid arthritis relief...
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