"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.