"Oral Nirmatrelvir–Ritonavir [ Paxlovid ] as Postexposure Prophylaxis for Covid-19" -- does not do much

[70s-80s-overlander]

"... In this placebo-controlled trial, postexposure prophylaxis with nirmatrelvir-ritonavir for 5 or 10 days did not significantly reduce the risk of symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection."

[That sort of has been the suspicion since the very beginning.]

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/390... --

New England Journal of Medicine. 2024 Jul 18;391(3):224-234 - July 17, 2024 [that is the most snooty medical journal in the US -- published by the Boston Brahmins & all that]

GoodRx in the US puts the price at $1,416 & higher for a course of treatment. "Free" ends on 12-31-24. In September 2022, both my wife & I got COVID-19; she took Paxlovid; I did not; I am severely immune deficient; we both fared the same. "Your mileage may differ." Each must make his or her own decision.

[Edalv]

As you said “Your mileage may differ”, I had covid for the first time since the pandemia started at the beginning of July and I felt very miserable, fever, body ache, congestion, could’t sleep well for 2 days. I called my doctor to get a paxlovid prescription, I noticed an improvement after just 3 dosages. After the fifth day I tested negative and felt a lot better. I don’t know how long it would have taken me to get over it without the paxlovid, but for me it made a tremendous difference. We are all different but if I had to do it again, I would… 🙏

[Phiphiminux in reply to Edalv]

Hi Edalv, were you vaccinated against Covid-19 ?

Phiphiminux

[Edalv in reply to Phiphiminux]

Yes, I had the first 2 shots in February of 2021 plus a buster in the fall of 2021, 2 in 2022 sprint and fall, and 1 in the fall of 2023. Six shots in total 5 Pfizer and 1 Moderna. I plan to get the new reformulated version of the vaccine in the fall. I am 72 and still in W&W. I was originally diagnosed in the fall of 2004, so I can’t complain too much… My main symptom is that I get tired easily… other than that I am in good shape.

[SofiaDeo]

I hope someone is following these same patients longer term, to see if there's a significant difference in "long Covid" cases. My personal concern is damage the virus can do overall, not just symptomatic versus asymptomatic infection.

Also, I wonder what percentage of these people are immune compromised. There may be a benefit for subsets of the population. I would still take Paxlovid if I had a known Covid infection.

[thebigdipper]

My story: I'm MRD neg since late 2016 after FCR. I've had Covid twice, taken Paxlovid, and my experience was the same both times.

My wife fell ill and tested positive 2-3 days before me. Once I fell ill, I had a very high temperature and very very high resting pulse rate. Scary stuff. Paxlovid brought my temperature and pulse down within 12 hours of starting treatment. All symptoms gone within 48 hours. I tested negative 2-3 days before my untreated wife.

I'm a fan.