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Paxlovid anti-viral medication

Spider56
  • 8 replies
  • 126 subscribers
  • 611 views

Hi, Does anyone have any experience of taking Paxlovid anti-viral medication to lessen the risk of hospitalisation through Covid? If so, how did they get on?

I tested positive for Covid on Sunday and have just had my medication collected from the local hospital pharmacy. My Covid symptoms are currently mild (heavy cold-like). Possible side-effects of the medication include diarrhoea and nausea/vomiting, but taking loperamide and domperidone to mitigate the side-effects are definite no no's. The Oximeter which was supposed to be posted out to me, to monitor my oxygen levels has not yet arrived. 

Is it wise to wait until the oximeter arrives before starting the medication, bearing in mind it is now day three of Covid and I have to start the Paxlovid within five days from Sunday last.

  • Hi, I can't totally comment on your situation, but as a person with long covid from march 20, having finished chemo in the Dec, I would grab any support. I wouldn't wish this on anyone. Having said that, most people are vaccinated now, so the chance of LC is said to be less. Perhaps run it past your oncologist and/or collecterol doctors. Take care!!

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    Helpline Number 0808 808 0000

  • in reply to court

    Hi, Thanks for the replies Gemmary and court. I bit the bullet and started the medication this morning. My oximeter was picked up from the hospital this afternoon. OX reading of 97% and so far no side effects to the medication, so all is good. Covid symptoms no worse than yesterday. I even went into the garden an hour ago to trim an Acer that has been growing somewhat asymmetrically!

  • in reply to Spider56

    Hi @spider56.
    Glad to hear you are on the paxlovid … if you are currently immuno compromised definitely worth it.  That said it sounds like you are coping with the CoVid symptoms well enough .
    Paxlovid can have some nasty interactions with certain medications compared to Lagevrio ( an alternative CoVid antiviral ). See attached. Drug list above. 
    Hope you feel better soon !! 
    parky. 

  • in reply to Parky2170

    Hi Parky2170, Thanks for the message and info! Thankfully I am not on any medication, currently, apart from the occasional  Loperamide to control my stoma output. I came off blood pressure medication (Lisinopril)during chemo and have not gone back on it. The triage doctor and the pharmacist went through my medical history over the phone before prescribing Paxlovid.

    The list of contraindicated medicines is quite frightening, even something like simvastatin is flagged as potentially dangerous.

    The current Covid symptoms are very manageable and hopefully with this anti-viral I'll be back to 'normal' soon and on track for my stoma reversal journey!! Sigmoidoscopy and CT scan permitting!!

  • Hi Spider56.

    How did you get on with Paxlovid?

  • in reply to CrumpetsOrToast

    Hi CrumpetsorToast

    Only just seen your post. I was fine on the Paxlovid. Covid symptoms went after five days and testing negative after seven. No aftereffects or long covid symptoms.

    Had my stoma reversal on 4 May 2023.

  • in reply to Spider56

    Thanks for coming back to me Spider56.

    Congratulations on reversal. I hope it all went well and your enjoying bagless life Revolving hearts

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