Paxlovid and Bad Taste: What Users Say (Page 5)

• Nae...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 30, 2022

For COVID-19 "I actually noticed a difference in my sinus congestion after the first dose. No side effects other than the nasty taste, which is what led me to reading the other reviews. Two doses in, and I am feeling 35% better already. Thankful this is available."

• Kev...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 26, 2022

For COVID-19 "Took the entire course of Paxlovid! I did rebound after 5 days negative, but the following days thereafter tested negative again and fully recovered! Put up with the taste if you can or any other side effects! It will enable you to resume your life as you once did! Hope and luck are all we have."

• Sar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 26, 2022

For COVID-19 "2 days since my COVID symptoms hit pretty hard. Literally 4 hours since my 1st dose, and I'm online researching the side effects! Terrible taste started literally 30 minutes after taking Paxlovid. 2 hours into it, and I'm suffering from some of the worst heartburn I've ever encountered in my life! Ironically, I'm feeling either better or the heartburn is distracting me from the headache and muscle pain ;-) Time will tell, but I won't be able to tolerate this heartburn for long!"

• Man...
• May 24, 2022

For COVID-19 "The taste that I got from taking Paxlovid went away quickly once the treatment was completed. Well worth it. Much better to know the odds were in my favor to stay out of the hospital. Oh, how I hope that many people get quick, effective treatment and don’t need hospitalization in the future."

• Get...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 29, 2022

For COVID-19 "I just started Paxlovid, and the taste is terrible, but I am so grateful for this drug. My husband is also on it and is not experiencing the taste change. We are both vaccinated and boosted and have been living very hermited lives and still got COVID. So thankful for this drug, which is improving symptoms so quickly."

• Ae4...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 25, 2022

For COVID-19 "56 yr old healthy female, fully vaccinated & boosted (last Jan 22’). Symptoms started Monday, tested positive Wednesday. Even though recovering well, doctor recommended starting Paxlovid. Took first dose Friday night (Day 4 of symptoms). Horrible night, no sleep, terrible taste, had me chewing gum all night long. After dosing, would wake up covered with sweat. I felt like I had taken a bunch of pseudoephedrine; skin hot and prickly. Woke up next morning with improved sinus congestion, but fatigued and not quite with it. My Covid symptoms on Day 4 were mild and improving. Only tried at the suggestion of doctor. Not sure if I will continue."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 20, 2022

For COVID-19 "The Paxlovid prescription is taken for 5 days. The terrible/awful taste lasts for 6 days. After that, the taste leaves you feeling lucky to be alive and able to taste normally again. I hope I never catch Covid again... but if I do, I will take Paxlovid again... maybe get rid of the taste with Buckley's?? LOL"

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 20, 2022

For COVID-19 "The Paxlovid prescription is taken for 5 days. The terrible/awful taste lasts for 6 days. After that, the taste leaves you feeling lucky to be alive and able to taste normally again. I hope I never catch Covid again... but if I do, I will take Paxlovid again... maybe get rid of the taste with Buckley's?? LOL"

• 67...
• May 26, 2022

For COVID-19 "May 20th. Started coughing, next day it was getting bad, had a fever, sore throat, and tested positive. My Dr. called in for Paxlovid, started taking it Saturday night. It’s Wednesday, and I’m much better, still have a mild cough. But 95% better after 3 days. Yes, there is a bitter taste, but not terrible, better than no taste or smell. My last booster was in Nov., so it’s been 6 months. I will get another when this is over. I believe this helped to shorten COVID."

• Ano...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 27, 2022

For COVID-19 "On 6/24/22, I was diagnosed with Covid after a horrible night of vomiting, intestinal disorder, bad headache, and burning sensation on the palms of my hands and fingers. I have been double vaxxed with two boosters. The last one was 5/2/22. My doctor prescribed Paxlovid immediately, and I began taking the medication the evening of 6/24. Within 5 hours, I could feel the medication working. It was a real game changer for me. I had a slight odd taste in my mouth from the meds, but it was not offensive. My weak point is my lungs, and I felt that I had some congestion in them, but the medication was fighting hard to slow it down and reverse it. It has been 48 hours since my first dose, and I feel that I am 90% back to normal. To me, this is phenomenal. My only side effects were the fleeting metallic taste in my mouth, and I had one bout of intestinal disorder, which I think was caused by eating spicy food. I am grateful for a drug that can fight the awful symptoms and medical fallout of Covid."

• Mik...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 27, 2022

For COVID-19 "I wrote a brief review today after taking just the first dose. I've now taken the second dose, and this stuff is amazing. I tested positive twice (am & pm) about three days ago. Headache, sore throat, fever from 98.4 to 99.9, runny nose, sneezing, full body aches but more so in joints. Very fatigued. I have two major cancers, thus the immunocompromised condition. I cleared the use of this with my oncologist, then had my primary care MD write the Rx. Before I even took the second dose, headache & sore throat were gone, as were some of the aches. Still coughing & blowing my proboscis, but a great improvement in just this short time. I've had to supplement with 25 mg of diphenhydramine and 500 mg of acetaminophen every four hours. Along with my cancers, I have a list of other medical issues, so far no reactions to my meds for those. But I'm having minor side effects with constipation and diarrhea. The absolute worst thing is the aftertaste. Nothing takes it away, from licorice to chili."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 19, 2022

For COVID-19 "I started feeling better the next day. I got some of my energy back, but not completely enough to be myself. It was an improvement! Still nauseous and really can’t eat, oooh, and the nasty bitter taste in my mouth that won’t go away! I think that’s why I’m nauseous and can’t eat that awful taste in my mouth! Nothing takes it away! But grateful that the medication is there and does seem to work."

• Sve...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 14, 2022

For COVID-19 "I started Paxlovid on day 4. Before that, I had a severe sore throat like swallowing glass, constant fever from 100.7 to 102.6, and nasal congestion. I felt better the next morning after I took the first dose. After 24 hours, all symptoms disappeared except for the congestion. Side effects from Paxlovid were a bad taste (take Luden) that would last 6-7 hours for me, and I also was sweating a lot the first days after taking the pill. But it's better than swallowing glass. Highly recommend. Tip: ask for the lower dosage, it is still very effective. I was started on the high dosage."

• Anonymous
• September 4, 2022

For COVID-19 "Started to feel sick on Monday, throwing up, stomach pain. Just thought it was my acid reflux. Tuesday started with a cough, not feeling very good, tired. Wednesday I got worse. So on Thursday went to the clinic, was told it was positive for COVID. Because I am 57 years old, have lupus and Hashimoto’s and COPD, they put me on this medicine, Paxlovid. He did blood work to make sure my liver and kidneys were functioning OK. My husband went down to the pharmacist, picked it up. As soon as the blood work came back, they warned me about the taste in my mouth and the pains in my stomach. Took the meds Thursday night. Friday morning I felt so much better, continue taking them besides a horrible taste in your mouth. Friday night I woke up feeling worse, ate some bread, sat down for a while, went back to sleep, woke up Saturday morning feeling great. I’ve got 2 1/2 more days to continue this medicine. I’m just thankful I could be on it because the side effects outweigh what could’ve happened to me with COVID."

• Nev...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 21, 2022

For COVID-19 "After taking my first dose of 100 mg Paxlovid (3 large pills a dose) for COVID symptoms, I had an awful metallic or bitter taste in my mouth and an acid reflux sensation that lasted for hours-brushed teeth, used mouth rinse, ate mints, and nothing worked. Took the second dose and it started up again, made me nauseous from the taste and I threw up. Stopped taking it since I was on the bathroom floor feeling like a chemotherapy patient. I did lose most of my taste after the first dose, taste is slightly returning. Stomach has felt ill since the first dose. Maybe it got rid of my sneezing."

• SCK...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 2, 2022

For COVID-19 "I am double vaccinated and boosted. Contracted COVID from my son. Began to feel bad on Friday (severe headache, chills, body aches, minor cough). Home tested positive on Saturday. Had Paxlovid prescribed on Saturday and took the evening dose. Illness peaked on Saturday night (practically no sleep with terrible flu-like symptoms and terrible headache and cough). Sunday took morning Paxlovid dose. By Sunday evening, almost miraculous improvement. Nearly all symptoms gone (minor cough). Continue Paxlovid, great night's sleep Sunday night and woke up Monday with no symptoms. Bad taste in mouth is real. Have gum and mints available. Paxlovid a game changer!"

• Bee...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 30, 2022

For COVID-19 "I got Paxlovid for my COVID, and it worked great. Weird taste in my mouth from the pills. Had major diarrhea one day. I tested negative after finishing the prescription and felt great for about four days. Then I got the rebound effect and got the cold back and tested positive again. Luckily, I only had the cold symptoms and no other symptoms. It lasted about three days, and I tested negative on the fourth day. Not sure if I will take this again because of the rebound."

• thi...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 8, 2023

For COVID-19 "If you truly have horrible COVID symptoms like congestion, headache, sore throat, and fatigue, this will help. I was sick for over a month and then got rebound COVID. After one dose, my sinus pain was gone, still had congestion but no pain. The bad taste is nothing compared to horrible sinus pain, and taking it for five days after being sick for over a month was nothing. Plus, I slept better with this than I ever have! It worked for me, I highly recommend it."

• Sid...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 22, 2022

For COVID-19 "I’m a 62-year-old healthcare provider who has been exposed dozens and dozens of times since March 2020, and this is the first time I have had COVID. I got the Pfizer vax early but did not get the booster. No lectures, please! LOL. Had a fever of 101.7, productive cough, aches. Got the Rx a day later and started it due to my age, hypertension, and obesity risks. Developed a super bitter taste within an hour of the first dose. It persisted for 11 hours, then recurred with every dose. Developed a raging sore throat, dry mouth, and severe diarrhea. After the 4th dose (2nd day), I decided to stop. The side effects were just too much. I had stopped having a fever the day before, and my cough was less productive. I was also concerned about the number of rebound COVID cases I’d read about with the drug. Need to get back to the hospital and a vacation next week, so cannot risk rebound. Today, only a day after, the throat is 50% better, dry mouth is gone, bitterness is gone, diarrhea is still there."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 24, 2022

For COVID-19 "It is difficult to tell what is the Paxlovid and what is COVID. I have had a bad taste in the back of my mouth, similar to what you might experience after using a nasal spray. I had one episode of diarrhea but have otherwise tolerated it well."

• Syb...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 24, 2023

For COVID-19 "I am a 64-year-old woman with generally good health, and I was prescribed Paxlovid along with an antibiotic on my second day of having COVID. Along with everyone else, I also experienced the horrible bitter taste that stays with you all day and a bit of a stomach ache shortly after taking it. I did follow the course of the treatment and definitely saw symptoms getting better every day, but… I would expect for that to have happened anyway. I don’t know because I’ve never had COVID before how much this really helped, but I did not have any severe side effects from it. It is supposed to also help keep you from getting it again, so we will see how that goes."

• the...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 13, 2022

For COVID-19 "Completed 5-day treatment with Paxlovid. Actually, no problems except the bitter taste that I get only in the morning when I awaken. Taste only lasts less than 5 minutes after getting out of bed. I really feel Paxlovid helped."

• Eff...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 23, 2022

For COVID-19 "After being miserable the first 4 days of having Covid, I took my first dose of Paxlovid a couple of days ago. I woke up the next morning feeling so much better! It was amazing! However, the only downside is the horrible taste the meds leave in your mouth. With every exhale, I can almost feel it like a gas coming up into my mouth. It tastes like stomach bile and nothing I eat will get rid of it! I don’t think I can complete the last 2 days! It’s definitely effective at wiping out Covid symptoms, but oh my goodness, the taste!"

• Kar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 28, 2022

For COVID-19 "I am on day 3 of Paxlovid, and while I feel it is helping, it seems short-lived. I take the morning dose, and in an hour or so, I feel better, but it only lasts about 5-6 hours before the majority of COVID symptoms return. I take the next dose and repeat the cycle. Hopefully, it all just helps pass quickly. I do get a bad taste in my mouth, but it's tolerable to feel better. Plus, it's helping me get my fluids in because I keep drinking to lessen the taste in my mouth."

• Ano...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 17, 2022

For COVID-19 "I'm on my second day with this medication. The side effect I'm having is that it leaves a HORRIBLE taste in your mouth that is almost unbearable, and it lasts for hours!! I've tried everything to alleviate the taste, including peppermint oil, peanut butter, sore throat spray, and nothing helps. Not sure yet if it's helping because I'm just on my second day. Don't know if I can continue taking it."