RA, immunosuppression and Paxlovid

[Amnesiac3637]

Hallo all

Just wondering if anyone has been prescribed Paxlovid, the very new antiviral, if you are on immunosuppressants for your RA?

I am on Baricitinib and Prednisolone and have had Covid since Sunday when I tested positive. So far, luckily, have had mild symptoms like woolly head, a slightly runny nose and odd aches and pains in my back but due to being classed as Clinically Extremely Vulnerable due to the immunosuppressants, I’ve been given Paxlovid to take for a five day course to prevent the virus taking hold and making me really ill.

Any side effects that I really don't want (or want to know about…..) and did ithelp?

Thanks everybody.

[medway-lady]

I had the antibody infusion Xedvuy it worked really well. Hopefully so will your anti virals. x

[helixhelix]

The doctor who prescribed this did know you were on steroids?

Here’s the patient information leaflet

medicines.org.uk/emc/files/...

[Amnesiac3637 in reply to helixhelix]

Thanks for your reply. 😊 There seems to be a very thorough system of ensuring the drugs someone is on is not going to impact on the Paxlovid. Three separate doctors, who all phoned, went through the list of drugs I’m on and finally the pharmacist gave approval so I’m pretty sure that although Prednisolone is a caution on the list, it must mean the benefit outweighs the risk. One can only hope! Have taken second dose this morning…….

[helixhelix in reply to Amnesiac3637]

Glad they checked!

[CagneysMum]

Very interested in your post because I am in a similar position and awaiting my delivery of paxlovid. 👍

[Amnesiac3637 in reply to CagneysMum]

Will post at the end of the five day course which I started last night. Asked the pharmacist about side effects. She said mainly gastric ( usual probs with any new drug) but as it’s so new there could be more but I may not get any. Fingers crossed for that………Good luck with you, do post and let us all know how you get on. As they roll this out to more of us it’ll be good to know how it works and how effective it is.

[CagneysMum in reply to Amnesiac3637]

Just had mine delivered so have taken my first 3 tablets. My consultant is saying I should miss my next dose of methotrexate (due Monday) to give my body chance to recover. Were you given the same advice?

[Amnesiac3637 in reply to CagneysMum]

Am not on Methotrexate now. Couldn’t tolerate it at all so gave up trying about ten years ago. Have had every drug going over 32 years! Good luck with your course. I have taken my second three tablet dose this morning and have started to have a very metallic taste but if that’s all I can cope!

[Amnesiac3637 in reply to CagneysMum]

Hi CagneysMum. Said I’d post after my five days of Paxlovid. Tested negative this morning (Monday) six days after starting with a half dose last Wednesday night. Felt heaps better on Saturday and Sunday and now completely back to normal. No side effects from the drug apart from a metallic taste which I still have but it’s fading. So that all went very well and hopefully I never get another dose of covid but if I do I know that the antivirals work really well and fast. Hope your experience has been as good as mine and anyone reading this will know the system and the drugs really do work.

[CagneysMum in reply to Amnesiac3637]

Hi. I’ve still one last dose of paxlovid to go tonight but I tested negative this morning, and have been feeling so much better for the last couple of days. Like you I’m glad to know it’s worked well for me but the antiviral drugs also gave me a strange metallic taste in my mouth … completely ruined my glass of chilled sauvignon blanc last night 😆 They also gave me diarrhoea for a couple of days … no real problem though. 👍

[Runrig01]

Paxlovid has a very long lists of meds that interact with it, so many would be unsuitable for it. I’m on blood thinners and statins, both of which are contraindicated. Also immunosuppressants including prednisolone is listed, which I also take. I’ve been a nurse for 34yrs and this has got to be one of the largest lists of interactions I’ve seen. I’ll attach a link which lists the interactions and the effects of taking both together. It’s a shame as it reduces risk of serious illness or hospitalisation by 88%.

ema.europa.eu/en/documents/...

[Amnesiac3637 in reply to Runrig01]

Yes, me too. I am also a nurse, now retired, but have years of experience and you’re right it’s a huge list of no, not this one! The drug is also very new so I guess they’re still working their way through the list of what might kill if it doesn’t make you better. Can only hope those who invented it have done their homework and it gets rid of this vile virus!

[Neonkittie17 in reply to Runrig01]

Thank you. I’ve seen a Gov doc similar but it lists Rtx and Mtx, and Fentanyl (as says on your attachment) which are my main 3. So many routine widely taken meds it could interact with.

[Runrig01 in reply to Neonkittie17]

Yes I’m on MTX, rosuvastatin, clopidogrel, tramadol & buprenorphine all of which are contraindicated. Ironically my hubby works as a scientist for Pfizer, he’s pleased as he has to report anyone who informs him of the slightest side effect. So if I did have it I’d have to suffer in silence, so he wasn’t buried in paperwork 😂. I’m sad though as it is more effective with 88% chance of keeping you out of hospital compared to 30% for the molnupivir

[Neonkittie17 in reply to Runrig01]

Would you be able to have the infusion? ( Xuvedy?)

[Runrig01 in reply to Neonkittie17]

Yes I think I should be ok with that. It’s certainly better option than molnupivir. Just have to be fit enough to make your own way there 🤪🤞

[Neonkittie17 in reply to Runrig01]

Yes Maureen, that’s very true.