User Reviews for Paxlovid oral

Prescribed for Covid. All symptoms quickly quickly disappeared, however, I had to discontinue use due to terrible aftertaste, nausea, backpain and diarrhea. Should have stuck with day and Nyquil.

I am 67 years old with strong history of asthma and allergies. I was vaccinated and boosted. I was still wearing a mask out in public. Started feeling like my sinuses, nasal passages and throat were raw and then started more severe sore throat. Headache, feeling cold and body aches followed. Took home test next morning followed by test at Immediate Care and both positive. Could not get Paxlovid till next day so then developed nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, severe migraine. Next day started Paxlovid in evening. Within 24 hours main symptom was terrible cough and intermittent headache. Finished last dose this morning. HORRIBLE taste which also makes me feel nauseated. Thankfully helped me get better but anxious for bad taste and nausea to subside. Read More Read Less

I’m severely immunocompromised, received Evusheld. But was getting very sick with Covid, could feel my body working too hard. The Paxlovid started to work within two doses. The metallic taste is nasty, diarrhea ok. No other obvious side effects. It’s worth it when your case isn’t mild and isn’t improving. I was outside their five day window (and should have lied); but knew it would help because my own immune system wasn’t able to suppress viral replication enough.

Was exposed to covid by my gf, she tested positive on 6/1 and I tested positive on 6/3. Did my best to isolate from her, too. This is both our first time getting covid. Her symptoms were bad - sore throat, high fever, diarrhea, headache, cough, congestion. We are both vaxed and boosted. My symptoms were mild - sore throat, low grade fever, headache. She started taking Paxlovid on day 2 and was much better after 2 doses. I started taking it on my day 2 and all symptoms are pretty much gone. We both have the bitter metallic taste and a bit of nausea but if this drug keeps our symptoms down the way it has, I would certainly take it again if I ever test positive again. Read More Read Less

This is my second time having covid. The delta in Oct of 2021 really took a toll. I ended up on oxygen for a couple of months and then had long haul symptoms and hadn't regained my smell/taste back yet. I recongnized the "covid" feeling right a way and tested positive. I got a prescription for Paxlovid on my 3rd day. I took my fist dose at night and within hours I started feeling the congestion begin to break up and my fever became low grade. Something to note about the horrible taste. I noticed that each time I would taste it I could take a drink of water and it would clear. We are on well water out here and it is high in alkalinity. I have been able to keep the taste at bay for the most part. So far so good. I would take it again if needed. Maybe try getting alkaline water and see if it helps eliminate the taste. Read More Read Less

I started on day 3 of symptoms; my symptoms were mild at first (tickle in throat with a dry cough on day 1, day 2 cough progressed to more of a chesty, productive cough, day 3 add some difficulty breathing, but I have asthma so it was nothing unusual, and a stuffy nose). Took my first dose at night on day 3, and woke up around 2 am noticing that while I could breathe clearly and generally felt better, I had a horrible taste in my mouth. Brushing my teeth didn’t help. Drinking water didn’t help. I ended up sucking on a cough drop and then finding a piece of gum. Gum has been the only real thing to keep the taste at bay. Other than that, I feel so much better (today is day 4 and at this point I have only had 3 doses of the meds). I’ll stick with it to keep from getting worse. Read More Read Less

I am experiencing the same awful taste in my mouth, like sucking on an aspirin all the time - never, ever goes away. HOWEVER, in my efforts to find something - anything - that would counteract that, I sliced up a cucumber which is very alkaline, and it has greatly reduced the taste in my mouth - I'm sure it won't last, but I highly recommend finding some alkaline foods and trying it for yourself.

71 year old male with controlled type 2 diabetes modern vaccinated and double boosted. Started Paxlovid on day two of symptoms. I do have the bitter mouth taste but don't consider it a big issue. The drug has reduced my symptoms and I still have two and half more days to go with drug treatment. I am glad this medicine was available. BTW I used the federal test to treat web site to identify where I could get a rapid test and a prescription on the day I tested positive from a home test. I also called Kaiser (my insurance) advice nurse who had me speak with a Kaiser doctor. I qualified for Paxlovid and received an email from Kaiser asking if I wanted Paxlovid which I said YES. I am still waiting for a call back to authorize Paxlovid through Kaiser. Paxlovid 5, Test to Treat Website 5, Kaiser a big fat ZERO. Read More Read Less

I’m immune compromised. Started taking Paxlovid on day 2 when I tested positive. While it greatly improved my awful symptoms, (congestion, fever, headache, earache, fatigue, body aches, SOB), it caused diarrhea and the awful taste in mouth. (Imagine a mouth full of pennies). Regardless, I’ll take the trade off. This is my 3rd round of COVID. The last one about killed me, so this has been a miracle. I will say, I finished it two days ago and my headache, pains and SOB has returned. Not sure if still COVID cycling or rebound. Have not retested. Read More Read Less

After struggling for a few days with so many symptoms I decided to take this RX just like everyone else bad nasty taste even hours after taking it, also first dose I got sick again with almost every symptom headache, fever, body aches and cough but after the second dose I started to feel better I’m not done yet so I was reading reviews I almost want to stop taking it behind the nasty taste but I will continue hoping it continues to work. Nasty taste over nasty symptoms ANYTIME!

I took paxlovid immediately after testing positive. My husband chose not to. It did help initially to reduce my symptoms. However, 3 days after completing the 5 day dose, all my symptoms returned and I continue to test positive. My husband on the other hand,symptoms are gone and he tested negative. So I don’t think it’s worth taking the Paxlovid.

1st time having Covid-19, 2 Pfizer shots, no Booster. 104.1 fever, fatigue/weak, body aches, headache, sweats, chills, congestion-notified doctor after positive At Home test. Paxlovid started in the evening of day 2. The next morning my nasal passage was clear of congestion and body aches weren't as severe as the day before. The awful taste in my mouth woke me from my sleep. My head is feeling clearer and I am sitting up a little more. I am not looking forward to the day 3 diarrhea that others have reported. I'll continue to monitor my progress. This med worked when nothing else seemed to help my symptoms.Read More Read Less

Only took one dose and not planning on taking another. The bitter/metallic taste that others talked about was really really bad for me (probably partially because I’m autistic and struggle with sensory issues including taste) and I ended up throwing up for ten minutes straight, unable to stop, because of the taste. Been 7 hours since I took my first dose and my mouth is finally starting to not taste terrible (knock on wood). I figure vomiting excessively and getting dehydrated would hurt my odds at getting through Covid easier, so I’m not going to take any more doses. Parents, if your kid has autism and struggles with taste, I highly recommend looking at a different treatment here. Read More Read Less

Recently tested positive for Covid. I had a horrible sore throat, headache, fatigue and fever. My doctor prescribed paxlovid and I started taking it on the 3rd day of my symptoms. I started feeling better upon taking the first dose. I am on day 3 now and each day my symptoms have gotten better. I am thankful for this medication I had Covid before at the beginning of the pandemic in 2020 and it took me 6 months to recover. The only real downside to the medication is the metallic taste it leaves in your mouth. Read More Read Less

75 year old fit and active female. Vaccinated and boosted. Began Paxlovid 3 days after positive PCR Covid test. Yes the drug alters your taste to the point of nausea and food and especially coffee tastes terrible. Losing weight that I don't need to lose. My experience is that most of the Covid symptoms subsided quickly but the tiredness remains. I continue to home test positive after finishing the 5 days of pills. Very frustrating. Hopefully the Covid symptoms don't return. I will not take a second round of Paxlovid regardless of continuing to test positive for Covid. Read More Read Less

I’m 58, obese, high blood pressure. I came down with Covid symptoms on 5/27 in the evening. Tested negative the next day, tested positive on 5/29. My wife and I are traveling and visiting family, so I moved to a hotel room to isolate. It took me a full day and a half to navigate the local healthcare system and was finally prescribed on 5/30. Several of my meds conflict with Paxlovid so I waited 24 hours to start on 5/31. It was 4 days of frustration. My symptoms weren’t terrible and my pulse-ox never dipped below 93-95, so I was also on the fence about taking it. I have to fly home in 2 days, very worried about flying on this med. will update later. Read More Read Less

I had a late night trip to the ER with exacerbating asthma and day 3 of Covid symptoms. By my second day of paxlovid my symptoms improved and I had been bedridden with exhaustion, muscle aches, joint pain, fever/chills, sore throat and headache. I’m halfway thru my treatment and now only have mild fatigue and a slight headache. The taste isn’t great but I was so ill I didn’t care and any improvement was worth the few seconds of aftertaste. I’m so grateful for this medicine.

Was tested positive after being fully vaccinated and boosted. The doctor put me on this on day three. I couldn’t believe after two doses I actually was feeling it work. I thought for sure I was going to end up in the hospital! Of course like everyone else is saying the bitter horrible taste it leaves in your mouth is disgusting. Beats the alternative though! Very thankful for this medication. I wonder if anyone else is left with a very dry mouth?

I'm a 74 year old male in fairly good health 2 Moderna vaccines and double Boosted first time Covid positive. If I had this runny nose, coughing, sneezing, stuffiness feeling prior to Covid, I would have attributed it to a summer cold, which I had gotten in the past. So I took Paxlovid 24 hours after the onset of the symptoms and a positive test for Covid. A few observations, the taste that everyone is noticing is very Bitter, I notice the taste about 30 minutes after taking the medication, and I seem to produce a lot of saliva, I can mask the taste with a Lozengers, but the taste comes right back after you are done chewing, same with Coffee, or any flavoring agent. The best things is just, as they say Suck it up its only for 5 days. I'm in my 2nd day of Paxlovid and I do feel better, than yesterday, reduced coughing, reduced runny nose, etc. Read More Read Less

i started paxlovid after i got positive from day 1 i got metalic taste , in mouth every breath bitter tounge , every day in the morning i had my throat soar and suddenly coughing i see black cough in first 2 days after that every morning black and red cough now every movement i had started bleeding in cough and in mucus . Metallic taste is still there itchy throat i am negative now but started other issues