Paxlovid for COVID-19 User Reviews (Page 2)

• Dei...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 2, 2022

"I was given Paxlovid as it was my 3rd time with COVID. I was badly ill all times before with double pneumonia. This medication was powerful. It felt like it stopped COVID from going further in my chest and lungs, and it did. I improved much quicker than before. It left a horrid taste in my mouth, all of the morning... it made me sick and also discomfort in bowel. But all tolerable considering what it did and how it stopped me from getting so very ill again."

• Ano...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 1, 2023

"I am triple boosted, and the latest bivalent shot was a month ago. Got COVID for the first time 3 days ago, and Dr. highly recommended Paxlovid due to risk factors. Let me tell you, these side effects are completely intolerable, in my opinion. I don’t know how anyone can take 5 days of this medication. The taste makes me gag constantly, and the burning diarrhea is so painful. I took 2 days of pills and cannot bear to take another dose. I can only eat bland foods due to the nausea and horrendous taste in my mouth. These side effects are not mild! Every time I read that, I am shocked. Who knows what toll it has already taken on my colon and liver? It’s an experimental drug, and they don’t know much about it yet. Absolutely horrible experience. Do not recommend."

• BK ...
• April 18, 2022

"I'm getting over Covid-19, and I really believe my experience was better than it would have been if not for Paxlovid. I have been taking this medicine for four days and saw improvement very quickly. I had a single episode of diarrhea after my first dose, and a nasty bitter taste has persisted in my mouth since I started this medicine (cough drops all day help with that). But the Covid symptoms I was experiencing were far worse. Even triple vaccinated, this disease is a horrible experience. Please get vaccinated and help slow this thing down, instead of draining valuable medical resources when you get sick. Thanks to vaccination and Paxlovid, I got through Covid without taking up a hospital bed. I'm feeling very grateful."

• JJL...
• June 11, 2022

"To start, I’m not vaccinated, and over the age of 65, and in excellent health. Paxlovid was prescribed due to my age. I experienced the bad taste as well but also experienced symptom reduction after the first dose. I made the mistake of taking the second dose right before sleeping. It ruined my night's sleep. Second day symptoms were gone, no sore throat, no congestion, no fever. That night, I took Paxlovid right after dinner and went for a walk. Later, I slept without issue. On day three, I took the drug after dinner and did not experience any bad taste until the morning. On day four, I feel excellent. This drug saved my vacation."

• ALB...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 14, 2022

"This drug was amazing! I started taking it the day after I tested positive. I had a horrible sore throat, stuffy/runny nose, and major aches and pains - felt like deep in my bones. After the first dose, I began to feel slightly better. After the second dose, I knew I was feeling better. As others have mentioned, it does create an obnoxious metallic taste in your mouth, very similar to the taste prednisone gives you, maybe a little worse, but a small price to pay for feeling so much better. I have MS and take a drug that eliminates my B cells, so I was so happy to have this as an option. Four vaccinations did not prevent me from getting really sick from Covid. The packaging makes it easy to take the correct doses and wasn’t hard to open. I had a little bit of an upset stomach after the third dose. Started to take it with food and did much better. Highly recommend trying this if you have the option. Thank you, science, and scientists!"

• lis...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 29, 2022

"Started this medication on Friday. Got diagnosed with Covid on Thursday. I don’t feel like it’s working, but maybe it is slowly. I’m immunocompromised and unvaccinated, so that could be why it’s taking me longer to get better. Yes, I have that HORRENDOUS taste in my mouth too. Gum and mints don’t help one bit for me. Only really SOUR gummies or candy seem to keep it away for a little while. Hopefully with more research, they’ll figure something out for that. That’s the only bad thing I’m experiencing with this medication."

• Rob...
• September 2, 2023

"Best drug I've ever taken. Loved the metallic taste because I knew it was working, and boy did it do a job on my Covid! In a day, I was 70% better in 24 hours and felt like my old self in 48 hours. Don't listen to the complaining people leaving reviews..."

• Rya...
• June 11, 2022

"Before going home with Paxlovid, grab some lemons. A LOT of lemons. Both the doctor and pharmacist warned me I might experience a “mild metallic aftertaste,” but that warning, in my opinion, was severely lacking. In my case, it’s like I’m chewing on a non-coated, horribly bitter, disgusting aspirin, antibiotic, or Sudafed pill 24/7. It never goes away and nothing you think might help does. Sipping on lemon water and actually eating lemons is the only thing that is strong enough to counteract the taste. Just for your information—even without the lemons I’d still take it. It’s disgusting, but Paxlovid works like a miracle. The muscle aches, headache, cough, and fatigue? All gone within 24 hours. Just make it easy on yourself and grab some lemons first. :-)"

• Dav...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 2, 2023

"70 years old male 6-1 158 pounds. I had COVID November 2020 with 28 days of persistent cough. I got all the vaccines available since then. I felt fatigued on Saturday. Cough and difficulty sleeping Sunday. Positive COVID test on Monday. Received Paxlovid Tuesday afternoon. A magic cure! My cough stopped, and I slept well through the night. No side effects that I noticed. 24 hours after my first Paxlovid dose, I enjoyed a good lunch and feel eager to clear brush and split firewood here in my temporary isolation. I did not read reviews before taking Paxlovid. Based on my own experience, I would guess that those who had problems are much more likely to complain than those who had happy results. Hopefully, I never get COVID again, but I would gladly take Paxlovid again if I need it."

• Bug...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 23, 2023

"I'm 57 yo, female, immunocompromised. Under a lot of stress. Got all the previous COVID vaccines except this last one. The past month, I let my guard down. Two days ago, I had severe aching joints, an occasional cough, and a fever of 101.5. Went to the ER and bam, tested positive for COVID. After reading the Paxlovid insert, I was scared out of my mind. I read as much as I could online and patient reviews. Can I live with a metallic taste if it meant decreasing symptoms? Yes!! I will take it. I stopped my other meds out of fear of drug interactions. The metallic taste woke me up, but a lozenge helped. No jaundice, no nausea/diarrhea, joint pains improved 90%! I took my second dose. Again, the only side effect is the not so lovely metallic taste. Gum helps during the day. I will finish the course, provided no systemic reactions. After 24 hours without a fever, it's time to clean!! Lysol & Wipe down everything: door knobs, remotes, cabinets, change toothbrush, wipe purse/wallet, inside car. Wear a mask, wash your hands, and do weekly wipe downs! Don't let COVID into your home!"

• Jo2...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 3, 2022

"I came down with COVID on February 26, 2022, felt so ill it was unreal. I was prescribed these by the hospital as I have MS. Within 1-2 days of taking these, I felt so much better. The biggest downside is definitely the revolting taste they leave in your mouth, it’s so bad it woke me up at night, foul."

• TC ...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 7, 2022

"So thankful my doc prescribed this for me. The potential of rebound scares me, and the bitter, grapefruity taste is gross, but the thought of COVID complications is far scarier for me. I started taking it on the first day of diagnosis, and my chest tightness went away soon after, and the other symptoms of COVID did as well. I’m not even a full three days from testing positive, and I am feeling mostly over it. I’m prone to bronchitis and pneumonia, and I believe this drug saved me from potentially life-threatening complications of COVID. So grateful!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 16, 2023

"Started Paxlovid the day I tested positive for COVID and finished the 5-day course today. My COVID symptoms were fairly mild at onset but wanted to reduce the chance of complications and of longer post-viral symptoms. My fever subsided within 2 days, congestion within 4 days, and I feel mostly back to normal, save a bit of headache and fatigue. Metallic taste is the most noticeable side effect, but it is already subsiding, and I did have some mild diarrhea. Just drink fluids and rest, and you'll be fine. I suspect the reason for a lot of negative reviews is that people mistake COVID symptoms for medication side effects, which is easy to do. Remember this isn't a total cure, and it's most effective when you take the full 5 days. And given the choice between the side effects and the risk of dying from COVID, I'll take the side effects of Paxlovid any day."

• Cjf...
• November 21, 2022

"I was prescribed Paxlovid after testing positive for COVID. I was having serious COVID symptoms and felt absolutely horrible. The Paxlovid was the worst experience of my life. The side effects were beyond horrible. I completed the whole 5-day course, but I will never, ever take this medication again."

• Pax...
• April 17, 2022

"I tested positive on Friday morning after getting suddenly ill Thursday night. I took my first dose of Paxlovid on Friday night, and by Saturday morning, I was already feeling a little better. Saturday was tough but not as bad as if I was taking Paxlovid on schedule. Today is Sunday, and I feel much better. Almost no stuffed nose, no sore throat. Chronic cough is mostly gone. I am recovering! I was vaccinated, but because of my age, weight, and history of asthma, I wanted to be cautious. It's my first time with COVID, and I am so grateful I was able to wait until there were vaccinations and preventatives in place before I got it. The taste issues are real, but for me, not so severe. I imagine that each person experiences this differently. For me, it is like the bad aftertaste when taking a really bad throat lozenge like zinc. But the side effect was worth it for me. Good luck, folks!!!"

• Fem...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 18, 2024

"Symptoms: Stuffy nose, frequent sneezing Saturday/Sunday. Monday felt like a lump was in my throat when I swallowed, which I knew meant sore throat was on the way. Had started coughing. That night, chills were so bad I put on flannel PJs with an extra blanket and turned off the A/C. Coughing, sneezing, achy, temperature 99.3, temperature 100.6, very sore throat, coughing a lot with phlegm. Felt like the flu. Wednesday, urgent care confirmed Covid positive. 1st dose of Paxlovid at 8 pm. Overnight, less sneezing & coughing, but did cough up blood-tinged phlegm. Thursday 8 am took the 2nd dose. It's 3 pm now and stuffy nose, sneezing/coughing, congestion in the chest are all nearly gone. Temperature is 98.8. I feel SO MUCH BETTER! The metal taste from the medication is a small price to pay for the outstanding results. I no longer feel like I may need to go to the ER because of blood-tinged phlegm. I don't feel congested. This is the second time I've used Paxlovid for Covid. The first time was 2 years ago with mild symptoms. This medication is a game-changer!"

• Dan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 28, 2022

"I recently tested positive for COVID 1 day ago after not testing positive 2 days prior to that. The day I tested positive, my mother was able to pick up some Paxlovid for me. Although my symptoms weren't severe (I had a lot of trouble sleeping while having COVID), I decided to try it out anyway, and man, oh man, do I regret it. After taking the first set of pills around 1 PM, I felt zero change, but at around 6:30 PM, I got this taste in my mouth that I had never had before. It was as if I had just gotten done licking the Statue of Liberty from head to toe twice around. At the time, I didn't even think that it could be a side effect of Paxlovid because I had never experienced a side effect from taking medicine before. The following night, I took the second set of pills at 9 PM and went to sleep, only to be awakened from time to time due to a horrendous taste in my mouth, and I could only pray that it would be gone by the time I opened my eyes in the morning. Luckily, the awful taste was 80% gone."

• vp4...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 21, 2023

"Honestly do believe that this medication works amazing. Tested Oct 5, same day received Pax. Started that night, took the 5 days worth with no problem. Metallic taste and a bit of stomachache, but it's now Oct 20 and no rebound. I was better in 3 days of taking it. So, my point is, everyone will have a different experience, but be assured that it does wonders for COVID."

• Ano...
• March 7, 2023

"I started taking Paxlovid the 2nd day of COVID symptoms and noticed I felt better after 2 doses, however, the metallic taste was terrible even with mints and juice. On the second day of taking Paxlovid, things started going downhill. I had a constant stomach ache, nausea, headache, and body aches so bad I couldn’t sleep or eat. On day three, I was so miserable I couldn’t put another pill in my mouth, so I quit taking it due to the terrible side effects!"

• Adh...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 24, 2023

"Within the day of taking this, my extreme sore throat dissipated to a moderate level. By the third day, the sore throat was almost gone. Most of my symptoms were drastically reduced within the second day - and I was finally able to sleep through the night! I prefaced with an extreme sore throat because this felt worse than eating food after a tonsillectomy or having strep throat. The pain from COVID in the throat felt like hot sauce mixed with sandpaper on a wound 24/7. In addition, the mucus that kept me coughing and having gagging bouts with trouble breathing went away within the same day of taking this medicine. The negative - it causes a metallic taste in the mouth. For me, it is only noticeable a couple of hours after taking it, and I wouldn't even complain considering the side effects of COVID. Which, for me, was a slight fever, body ache, lethargy, extreme postnasal drip, extreme sore throat, insomnia, constipation, to name a few."

• Tom...
• April 16, 2022

"I felt tired and had a sore throat. Tested myself and was positive. I called my pharmacist (they can exceptionally give this prescription medicine in my part of the world, Quebec). Spent 15 minutes on the phone answering really easy questions, and the meds were delivered to my door an hour later. On my fourth day, I can say that I’m cured. Hard to believe but the absolute truth."

• Sun...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 3, 2023

"I was prescribed Paxlovid on the third day after testing positive for Covid for the third time in 2 years. It did not lessen my symptoms at all, and it still took 12 days to recover. Then I got “paxlovid rebound” and tested positive for the 4th time within about a week. It hit just as hard, if not harder, than my original Covid. Paxlovid did nothing for me and apparently caused a rebound. Would definitely not take it again, wish I’d done more research ahead of time."

• Tin...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 11, 2022

"I have taken this Paxlovid, and today would be day 4, and I now at this point cannot take this medication anymore. I have had severe heartburn since day 1 of this medication. I have woken up in the middle of the night with acid and choked on it, with a metallic taste, which is the worst taste anyone can ever experience. That taste from day one when that pill goes down your throat, you do everything you can to get rid of, and it’s there all day and night long. Nauseous from the meds, I don’t want to eat. On day 4, I woke up feeling better than I have in 8 days, and I took my pill at 11:30 a.m. and once I took that pill, not even within 30 mins, I felt so sick and had headaches and so on. I have both my vaccines and 1st booster, and I will never recommend this medication to anyone. This medication makes you worse than COVID does. Puts you down and out worse."

• Jam...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 26, 2022

"I am on day 3 taking Paxlovid after ER confirmed COVID with a PCR test-started med on day 1. I have a reduced dose due to 5'2"-118 lbs. I actually feel sicker for 2-6 hours after taking a dose-even in the middle of a meal. I have a horrible, disgusting, acidic metallic taste in my mouth and an upset tummy. It also causes a headache-nothing helps the side effect-I have lost 4 lbs. I am super healthy, take vitamins, and am active, so if I didn’t have a history of bronchitis and age 75, I would not take it!"

• ale...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 20, 2022

"I tested positive March 16, 2022, have a history of moderate asthma/reactive airway and pneumonia. First day testing positive, I felt like I was heading towards pneumonia again, so I had a prescription called in. I had to put a few meds on hold and have a CMP drawn before getting it, but it was worth it. I felt a difference starting after the first dose. Worst side effect is the metallic taste in my mouth that is bad enough to wake me up. It tastes like chewing on coins, and nothing seems to get rid of it. Meijer's is the only pharmacy that carries it in my area, but there was no cost."