When you stopped the medication, did those senses return? I am kind of freaking out haha. I hadn't lost taste or smell until 5 hours after taking my first paxlovid dose! I know it's a side effect of the medication but I am still freaking out it will be permanent. Covid has given me horrible anxiety. Thank you!!

I got Covid again 5 months after the first time :( 5 months ago I took a 10 day course. Can I take another 10 day course for this infection?

I’m about 40 hours into symptoms and 24 from a faint positive. I have Paxlovid but I’m terrified of rebound. My case is currently moderate: aches and sore throat but some facial tingling. I got long covid from my first and only other infection.

Based on what I’ve read, starting it on days 2-5 may be more likely to keep me from rebound because my immune system is being forced to respond. Can anyone concur?

Finished taking paxlovid on Tuesday, September 15, and then rebounded a few days later with a much darker line on a covid test and completely different symptoms (runny nose, congestion). Wondering if anyone else has had this happen/what to expect with rebound?

I took my third dose of paxlovid last night and about 4 hours later when the dysgeusia and acid reflux were peaking, my lips started to feel numb and tingly. There wasn’t any swelling or any other symptoms, but it freaked me the fuck out. It lasted about 30 mins and I fell asleep. (I guess it could’ve been because my lips are slightly chapped, but that doesn’t feel plausible…) Does this come with the territory of dysgeusia or does it sound like a reaction I should take seriously?

I’m 27, over the 5 day window by 2 hours (just tested positive tonight after multiple negatives, very solid like in the first minute) and am not sure if I should take it.

My symptoms were pretty uncomfortable, sore throat, some chest heaviness, and light cough, mostly just felt like swallowing glass and one night of 101 fever. I feel like I’m on the mend and don’t want to take this and risk any complications or reduced ability to fight Covid moving forward.

I do have reactive airway disease but don’t use any inhalers. I have to make a decision and I’m debilitated by analysis. I’ve been sitting with these pills in front of me for 2 hours.

I’m on day 3 of taking paxlovid and thinking about having a couple of drinks (some seltzers and maybe a shot). However, I cannot seem to find more information regarding mixing the 2 together. Has anyone also drank while on this medication?

I felt better almost right away after starting Paxlovid (I ended it on 8/30). Then a few days later I started getting very mild stomach upset again. Then it progressed to more fatigue, etc. I finally tested myself today (not quite 3 weeks in) and it came out negative. I'm wondering what this could mean?

So Paxlovid worked really well for me, I knew something was off on Monday last week so I was doing everything I could to keep my immune system strong to fight it off and didn’t actually feel sick until Friday night. Tested positive and was able to get Paxlovid Saturday morning. By Sunday morning (third dose) most of my symptoms were gone. I had some pretty bad side effects though. Insomnia, nausea, metal mouth, migraines, and diarrhea so I spent most my time in bed until tuesday and lost a lot of weight due to loss of appetite. It was bad enough I skipped my last dose so I could get some actual sleep.

Today I felt pretty good until lunch time and then I started getting really bad back cramps and by the evening (right now) it’s evolved into really bad lower body cramps from my feet up to my lower back. Tried to go for a walk to see if I could get some blood flowing but still felt weak from Covid so I didn’t make it very far before I felt light headed. After laying down for a bit it seems to have just made the cramps worse.
I’ve been pretty good about electrolytes and hydration this whole week. Forced myself to eat small balanced meals too so I don’t think it’s nutrition either.

Still have a few days to see if I rebound but so far so I am happy with how well it worked and I’ll update this as things change for better or worse.

So I’m on day 2 of paxlovid and I feel like hell. Way worse than before even starting it. I wish I had never started it. First day I took morning dose and go the horrible metallic taste and stomach upset but seemed to feel better in the evening. I decided I didn’t want to deal with the side affects anymore and didn’t take the nightly dose. Slept great. Woke up and a few hours later started feeling like hell so started taking it again. Is it because I started it then stopped that I feel so bad now or is it just the Covid? The fact that I didn’t feel anywhere near this bad before taking it makes me think starting and stopping is the worst thing to do. I’m pretty sure I’ve had Covid for quite a few days before even starting it so probably should have just rested up. I’ve had Covid before and I just let it run its course and it wasn’t that bad.

I’m on either day 5 or 6 since getting Covid. I didn’t realize I had it until this morning. Thought it was a cold or odd viral infection. My Dr prescribed me Paxlovid and it worked for me the last time very well. The two times prior getting Covid I was sick for 6 weeks. I’m waiting to hear back if I can get Remdesivir, but have not heard anything yet.

Is there experience or evidence that day 5 or 6 will help with Paxlovid?

Right after getting a brain injury years ago, I couldn't watch TV or focus very well. I'm finding the same with Paxlovid- more so than before I took it (symptoms for almost 3 days prior). Did anyone else have this? Did it go away? The rest of me is feeling better except for the taste and stomach issues, so I'm hesitant to quit. I've only taken it for one day.

Just wanted to share that the price of Paxlovid dropped from $810 at CVS to $0 after filling out this form:

https://paxlovid.iassist.com/

The voucher/card then arrived by email and the pharmacist entered that info and the price dropped to 0! The pharmacist didn't even know about it.

This was with Medicare in Ohio. Hope this saves someone else a lot of money and suffering!

(Created a new post because this one from over a year ago was closed so I couldn't reply: https://www.reddit.com/r/paxlovid/comments/1mfv90p/paxcess_success/)

I’m in my late twenties and have long covid. They believe my long covid is related to a reactivation of EBV.

I was prescribed Paxlovid as an emergency should I contract Covid again. I have never taken it and was curious if anyone had long term taste alterations because of the drug, or if it dissipates after the course is finished.

A pharmacist said he’s heard both sides of the coin.

Thanks all.

I tested positive for Covid 6 days ago and did a deep dive on Covid and Paxlovid research this week. Found a study/article showing that the best time to take Paxlovid is days 3 through 5 of infection. Apparently taking it too early increased the risk of rebound in this study. Sharing in case it helps anyone!

Just took my first dose of Paxlovid this morning and about to take my second. Was feeling like I was off to a good start - barely noticed the metallic taste - but then just had some watery diarrhea out of nowhere. No stomach pain just diarrhea. Just read through other threads and ordered pedialyte, bananas, rice, toast, etc. Today is my 4th day having covid symptoms and first night not having a fever (knock on wood). Not sure if the Paxlovid is why the fever is gone or not. In any case I would really like to stick with it. Just scared cause I had a c diff infection (over a decade ago) and diarrhea from meds freaks me out even though I know it’s unlikely to cause that as it’s not an antibiotic. Also just started a probiotic to be safe! Anyways just curious when people’s diarrhea started and ended while on paxlovid? Mine started about 8 hours after the first dose. Hoping to be able to sleep through the night okay. I’ve been sleeping fine before starting Paxlovid.

I'm a 33 year old woman who just finished 5 days of Paxlovid this morning (Monday). I was sick with Covid for the past week. By yesterday (Sunday) afternoon, I was pretty much symptom free. Then, out of nowhere, I got hit with the most debilitating headache that lasted about 22 hours. It was as if someone literally hit me in the head. Nothing made it go away- not ibuprofen, ice, etc. It was across my entire forehead and felt like someone was squeezing my head.

Today, right as the headache started to finally go away, I got menstrual cramps that came on strong and within 30 minutes got my period (and sorry if this is TMI, but it was not bright red blood like a usual period). I am not supposed to get my period for about a week to a week and a half.

I can't find any literature online about Paxlovid affecting hormones or menstrual cycles. I know that stress from viruses and infections can alter menstrual cycles, but I've been incredibly sick before (worse than this was) and it didn't affect my cycle.

Have any other women gotten their period early after completing paxlovid or had what I can only guess was a premenstrual headache after taking Pax?

They say it only works within the first 5 days of getting Covid, is that because your own antibodies start to develop after the first 5 days and thus it’s pointless after the 5 day mark or because it literally stops working after the virus has firmly established itself within your body?

Like is the reason it hasn’t been found to work for Long Covid because you already have antibodies or because it stops working after the virus has been in your body for more than 5 days?

Quick story- took 4mg of Imodium while on pax. I’m 13 weeks pregnant and was prescribed the paxlovid to help prevent a severe infection. (Already had a 102 fever for 1.5 days when starting pax). I have 1 dose left in the morning. I’ve got the fire poops. And quickly read my safe med sheet from my OB since I can’t take pepto, I took Imodium. Called the on call OB team. He sounded half asleep- he just said to drink water and “you be ok” not super reassured lol. Let me know your experiences. I won’t be taking it again.

I've had Covid 3 times total, taken paxlovid for all 3 cases.

The first 2 times, the flavor was unbearable. The 3rd (current) is actually pretty mild.

The first time, I chewed cayenne pepper gum. Ineffective. The second round i found that Lifesavers Wintergreen mints worked a trick.

This third round, the flavor just tastes like i really need to brush my teeth and less like rotting garbage.

Anyone else have a similar experience? I sincerely hope that my third round experience becomes the worst case for everyone else.

I've only had Covid once, on a long trip to the UK 2 years ago (American but had lived there for a few years so some understanding of the health system and it's limitations). At home we take pretty stringent precautions as much as possible, but in my work travel situation i wasn't able to maintain the same level of risk avoidance, and i got nailed. I got symptoms and tested positive while by myself on Islay with no hope of accessing any care - there was barely a pharmacy counter in a convenience store. And the NHS isn't interested in providing Pax much anyway, they barely even will give vax boosters if you're under 70 now (though you can finally get them privately at least). So i had no chance to get Paxlovid, was super sick for a solid week and not great after that, tested positive for 13 days, some lingering symptoms 2 years later.

Next month i'm returning to the UK for another long work trip where again i won't be able to maintain my usual risk avoidance - having to stay with uncautious people, not always able to avoid unmasking indoors, etc. I just got a Novavax booster, but if i did get taken down again i'd really want to have access to Pax in hopes it would help fight it back if started soon after i tested positive. I hear so many positive stories about people who say it's helped a lot.

So i just asked my PCP for a prescription to take with me, so if i end up in a similar situation this time (on my own, far from access to care, who wouldn't be willing to prescribe anyway) i could be prepared with it. And here we come to my question.

She said no one in her clinic has prescribed it in a couple years now, and she thinks with the current strains of Covid there's no longer a need for it for most people, it's not that effective anyway, risks etc..... she was ultimately if somewhat reluctantly willing to give me the scrip after hearing about my last experience and the situation i'll be in (if positive for Covid i'd have to miss a lot of the work i'm going over for, and possibly a different work trip the next week if i got it late in the UK trip, as well as wasting a lot of fun travel time sick in bed, and of course the risks of worse long covid consequences later on.....).

But i wanted to check for other people's recent direct experiences before deciding to shell out a lot of $$$ for it. What she's saying really goes against what i hear from other covid caution-minded folks about their experiences.

Can anyone weigh in - have you been given this kind of medical advice and if you got covid and didn't take Pax, did it turn out to be accurate in your case? Other things you've experienced that you'd want to know if you were in my situation?

Thanks!

I think I feel worse now than I ever have before. The diarrhea and nausea is horrible. I wish someone had told me not to take it so this is me warning others.