a few paxlovid questions…

[Bon1]

Hello everyone

I’m having an “odd” Covid experience! Tested my daughter on Saturday night because she was sneezing like a lunatic all day and blaming allergies (hayfever in October?)

Anyhow, she got a ghostly pale almost invisible line. So pale as to not be sure it wasn’t a rogue test. However it persisted and none of the rest of us had it…anyway by yesterday morning I too had the same ghostly shadow of a line! Nothing but a runny nose alongside.

The Covid doctors that called me after I called 111 feel that despite having a negative test today I should take paxlovid and I’m just waiting for the courier to drop it round now… but Last time I had Covid ( when I felt unbelievably awful and my test lit up like a Christmas tree) I was told I had to have the infusion of mono clinal antibodies.

I thought this was because I take prednisone but - is that not an issue any more??? Is there anyone out there who takes daily pred (i am on 6mg) and who has been given paxlovid?

Also should I delay my mtx until I’ve finished the course?

Oh and last bit not least…can I drink on it??

Thanks in advance

Bon

X

[Neonkittie17]

I am not sure tbh as the official green/Gov document and all other reputable medical articles I’ve seen said it’s if you are 10mgs or over daily re oral Pred. I also seem to recall if you’ve been on a lower dose for a long time (months/years) that that has a bearing too as Pred has been in your system long term.

You didn’t say which RA med(s) you take as some are much more immunosuppressive, and if you are on a combo RA therapy. Also other related health conditions are taken into account. Hope the anti-virals do the trick.

[Bon1 in reply to Neonkittie17]

thanks so much. It’s quite an odd situation given that I (very luckily) don’t feel too bad right now…

[Neonkittie17 in reply to Bon1]

I’m glad you feel alright.

[Genie11]

Hi, my partner tested positive for Covid with a faint line on sunday 9th Oct. By monday afternoon I was in hospital with Covid and spent one night in hospital. Can’t remember much about i but I didnt need oxygen by then so could go home. I had some infusions then paxlovid tablets to take at home for 5 days which really helped. I had to stop taking my blood pressure meds for those days. Don’t think alcohol was mentioned. We both tested fully positive on the thursday but tests were negative by the next sunday. Hope this helps. Take care

[Bon1 in reply to Genie11]

thank you. So glad you made a good recovery

[Fra22-57]

I was quite poorly and was refused the antivirals even thou I had letter confirmation to say Inwould be given them if got covid.I have been on 10mg prednisone for years plus other RA meds including a biologic.Seen as you are on methotrexate maybe that swings in your favour.hope you don’t get any worse .When you are ill you are advised to stop biologics to give your body better chance to fight infections as these drugs suppress immune system.Ibwould contact your RA doctor for his opinion thou

[Bon1 in reply to Fra22-57]

thank you - I will leave a message for the rheum nurses

[Runrig01]

I have attached the pathway used to determine which treatment you are offered. It depends mainly on other meds you take that may interact with the treatment.

As Neonkittie says the guidance re Prednisolone is for doses >10mg. Methotrexate is only considered when prescribed for interstitial lung disease, and not rheumatoid conditions now.

Very faint lines are still classed as a positive.

Hopefully this will answer your questions re treatment

england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/...

[Bon1]

thanks that’s really helpful

[Creakywrists]

I had Paxlovidand was advised to stop some of my medications due to interaction, as well as both my biologic and Methotrexate . If you can’t speak to a doctor it might be worth speaking to a pharmacist or you can check on line on for example :-bnf.nice.org.uk/interactions/.

(Paxlovid is 2 separate drugs so you’d need to check them individually)

[rmros]

Can't answer about pred but I recently had a course of Paxlovid and there was no instruction not to drink on it - it said eat and drink normally, but it does leave a foul taste in your mouth so you might not want to! The CMDU gave me the impression they would rather give me the tablets and would only bring me in for infusion if there were any drug interactions.

I think there's also a risk of elevated liver enzymes so you might want to avoid alcohol. I had a couple of glasses of wine while taking it - I'm just waiting for some blood test results so we'll see if it's done any harm.

Also, my first test on day one of symptoms had a very faint line too. So faint I didn't see it at all at first. But I was so sure it was Covid I did another one later that day and it was proper positive. So might be worth testing again if you want confirmation.

Hope you're all feeling well soon.

[Bon1 in reply to rmros]

thanks so much . What a palaver!

[dwsurquhart]

I don't think you will want to drink on paxlovid. When I had to take, I had a metallic tast in my mouth for the entire course. Was awful. Hope it works for you. After the 5 days of paxlovid I was testing negative.

[Jackie1947]

Def delay your Mtx . Feint line is taken as a positive.