Antivirals o

[trace58]

Still not doing a lot , mainly outside as I have RA among other things on Methotrexate etc, but mainly because of husband is a Kidney transplant patient with Diabetes etc and his hospital checked the vaccines have not worked and still fighting for Evusheld ! Anyone with RA etc how did yiu go on with Covid and did you get antvirals and did they work ? as I may go and see daughter alone.

[Piwacket]

hi I inject methotrexate and adslimumab and I contacted Covid earlier this year

At the time I was also recovering from life saving stoma surgery.

I had the anti viral treatment and it worked amazingly for me - I recovered much faster than my husband who has no health conditions at all

[helenlw7]

I had Covid in April. I got an antiviral infusion because I’m on methotrexate and Baricitinib. I also have severe asthma and my breathing was badly affected, getting progressively worse after I tested positive. From having the infusion my breathing stabilised and on day 2 post infusion it started improving.

[Fra22-57]

i think it depends how bad covid effects are on you.I was shielding as I am immune suppressed.I inject with a biologic drug as one of my meds. I had all the paperwork sent me to get antiviral but when got a call back I was told because of less symptoms I then didn't qualify

[StormySeas]

I caught Covid a few months ago. I'm on RXT and MTX, and I received IV antivirals.

It wasn't great, and I would rather have not caught it, but the antivirals made an instant improvement and I recovered faster than my OH who didn't receive them.

As long as you wear an FFPT3 mask (or whatever the standard is 🤔) and wash you hands regularly I think you're doing all you can. FYI the hospital staff who administered the IV antiviral when I had Covid just wore standard issue mask and gloves. They said that over the past year since the Covid Anti-Viral Ward had opened, none of them had caught Covid from a patient, so the protocol clearly works.

[Hidden]

With the caveat that I’m not medically qualified. At present, if you’re taking any biologic, you will be eligible for antivirals as long as you’re unwell (so, have symptoms that are getting worse or not showing any signs of getting better) and can get the antivirals within 5 days of the first positive test. If you’re only taking conventional DMARDs like methotrexate, even if you’re taking more than one, you’re not automatically eligible, but could potentially be offered them on the basis of your health overall if you have other risk factors. Should you catch it, a call to 111 will trigger the assessment process for the CMDU to decide if you’re high risk and should have them.

I had covid for the first time at the start of September. I received antivirals on day 4 of symptoms, but continued to be actively unwell for a further two and a bit weeks. My understanding is that the antivirals don’t necessarily shorten the illness, but should prevent hospitalisation and death. They brought my sats back up to normal (had dropped to 93% by the time I had the infusion) and my heart rate down within a couple of days of having them, but I still felt properly rubbish with heavy cold and flu type symptoms for the remaining two weeks. It took about 6 weeks total for the remaining fatigue to go.

[aliplayspiano]

I had covid a few months ago. I’m on a biologic and also asthmatic. I caught it off my husband who caught it at a work conference! I had the anti viral tablets and I think they did help. I also have low neutrophils. I had had 4 vaccines at the time. I wasn’t as I’ll as my husband who didn’t qualify for the antivirals and had only had 3 jabs.

[Amnesiac3637]

Hi. I was on Baricitinib and prednisolone so significantly immunosuppressed at the time I contracted covid in February. I was ok but not particularly well with a scratchy throat, headache, pink eye and other odd symptoms but no fever. I phoned my GP on the same day of testing positive and she contacted the Covid delivery unit. I had antivirals delivered by taxi that same afternoon!! The NHS at its very best (and it helps having a fantastic GP and surgery) so I was lucky I didn’t have to wait any time at all. Within three days of taking the tablets I felt considerably better and my symptoms subsided completely within a week.

I felt pretty washed out though for some weeks after having the virus although I had no other symptoms. I didn’t stop taking Baricitinib at the time because I never thought about stopping it……..don’t know at all whether that had any effect on the progress of anything but at least I didn’t have a flare! I definitely recommend having the antivirals and there’s been a lot of posts about them in the recent past - mainly pro getting them as soon as possible if you’re eligible.

[Chockyuk]

Hi

I’ve had covid recently and apart from a slight tickle in my nose, I had no other symptoms.

I did get offered an antiviral infusion, but I declined as I didn’t feel ill and I continued to take my RA meds, I’m on Mthx and Sulphasalazine.

I have a friend who has Lupus, she’s had covid twice and the antivirals didn’t work for her at all, she was very poorly, but someone else I know with PMR said the antivirals worked well for her.

I also have another friend with RA and is on Mthx, she had covid, but like me was largely asymptomatic.

It seems there is no rhyme or reason to the way people feel with covid, most people I know who have had it, with no underlying conditions have been very poorly - also the antivirals work for some and don’t for others 🤷‍♀️

It must be a terrible worry for you with your husband, I can imagine why you are being careful.

Xx

[trace58 in reply to Chockyuk]

Thank you for your help yes it seems you just can't be sure so we will continue to be carefull