Paxlovid, a COVID-19 treatment, is highly effective in reducing hospitalization and mortality rates, but it can also cause various side effects, including gastrointestinal problems.
Common side effects include altered taste, nausea, diarrhea, and dizziness, and most resolve within a few days of taking the medication.
If you experience any side effects, it's important to contact the prescribing doctor or pharmacist, report it to the government, and share the information to ensure the safety of other patients.
Paxlovid is one of the most prescribed medications for COVID-19 as it reduces hospitalization and mortality rates due to COVID-19 by about 90%.
Physicians often prescribe Paxlovid to high-risk individuals aged 60 and above unless there are specific contraindications.
Paxlovid is a drug developed by Pfizer.
Paxlovid for COVID-19 Treatment
Paxlovid is a combination of nirmatrelvir and ritonavir.
Two 150mg nirmatrelvir tablets and one 100mg ritonavir tablet are taken togetherat once.
In other words, a total of three pills are taken at once, twice a day, for a total of 5 days.
It is recommended to continue taking the medication for the full 5 days, even if symptoms improve, to suppress virus replication and ensure complete recovery.
Paxlovid is a combination of two drugs.
Paxlovid, a COVID-19 treatment, inhibits the replication of the coronavirus by interfering with the protein synthesis necessary for viral replication.
This mechanism enables the treatment of COVID-19 infections.
Paxlovid has been reported to cause a variety of side effects, leading to numerous concerns among patients.
The most common side effect of Paxlovid is gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, reported in approximately 67% of users.
Specifically, out of a total of 54 adverse event reports, 36 were related to GI disorders.
Among the GI disorders, nausea and a bitter taste were the most frequently reported adverse events.
This is a type of dysgeusia (distortion of taste), where everything tastes bitter after taking Paxlovid, typically starting 3-4 hours after ingestion.
While the exact cause of this dysgeusia and nausea is not fully understood, it is commonly described as an unbearable bitter taste, similar to the bitter taste experienced during Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy.
Other common GI side effects include diarrhea, dizziness, gastroesophageal reflux, and indigestion.
Insomnia (a mental health issue), headache, and dry mouth (also related to GI symptoms) have also been reported.
What to Do if Side Effects Occur After Taking Paxlovid?
Taking Paxlovid, a COVID-19 treatment, can lead to various side effects, including taste disturbances. If you experience any side effects, please contact the prescribing hospital or the pharmacy where you obtained the medication.
Pharmacies and hospitals routinely collect and report these medication-related adverse events to the government. Therefore, for the benefit of others, it is advisable to be vigilant about any side effects and inform healthcare professionals about them.
Taste disturbances, diarrhea, and other gastrointestinal side effects, as well as muscle aches, headaches, and drowsiness, are relatively mild side effects after taking Paxlovid.
These symptoms usually resolve within a few days after taking the medication.