Antivirals: Hi I had Covid in February and recovered... - NRAS

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Antivirals

Hightower62 profile image
15 Replies

Hi

I had Covid in February and recovered reasonably quickly with help from Paxlovid which I was able to access fairly easily.

I suspect the rules have changed so just wondering if anyone else has been recently able to access antivirals while just taking 20mg MTX like myself.

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Hightower62 profile image
Hightower62
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15 Replies
Runrig01 profile image
Runrig01

The eligibility was updated earlier this year. Methotrexate only qualifies for antivirals if it is taken for interstitial lung disease or asthma. You can find the info on this link under “immune mediated inflammatory disorders”.

nice.org.uk/guidance/ta878/...

Hightower62 profile image
Hightower62 in reply toRunrig01

Thank you 😊

ks1966 profile image
ks1966

Glad you feel better. Can you please share with us the process you went through in accessing the antivirals. Thank you

bpeal1 profile image
bpeal1 in reply toks1966

They keep changing the process. I’ve had covid 3 times (the last time was May) and taken antivirals each time as I am on Rituximab. Each time the process has been different. My advice would be if you test positive check you are eligible (see link above) and then call your GP asap or at the weekend call 111.

ks1966 profile image
ks1966 in reply tobpeal1

Thank you. I’m on Rituxmab too. Believe it or not I still wear a mask when I go out

bpeal1 profile image
bpeal1 in reply toks1966

Unfortunately I have two teenagers at home so it’s rather inevitable!

ks1966 profile image
ks1966 in reply tobpeal1

If you don’t mind me asking when was your last Rituxmab infusion?

bpeal1 profile image
bpeal1 in reply toks1966

My last two were 11th & 25th September, so I’m holding off getting my covid vaccine for now. My previous lot was 22nd February & 8th March so about 8 weeks before I tested positive.

GranAmie profile image
GranAmie in reply toks1966

I'm on RTX too and wear a mask if going into shop or group setting. Had my first experience of covid when I tested +ve 4th October [ 3 days after him]. When i rang GP surgery i was told no GP available to ring me so 'try again tomorrow' but they could offer me the flu vaccine, didn't know what anti-virals were. 111 didn't know either when I rang them!! Daughter persisted with surgery, got the same response but said 'not good enough' then ' do you want to take responsibility for her death risk' when offered call back from a nurse. Told them a GP had to refer me for urgent treatment. The next day a taxi was sent to take me to an isolation unit and home again after getting anti virals...it took 14 days to test -ve but am now on the mend, slowly slowly. Hospital wanted to know why he refused to isolate after 1.5 days, not 10 as recommended... I think i need anger management training .. Stay safe folks xx

ks1966 profile image
ks1966 in reply toGranAmie

If you don’t me asking when did you take your RTX infusion? It may effect the speed of recovery

GranAmie profile image
GranAmie in reply toks1966

Dec 22 and Jan 23. Also the consultant has agreed to postpone next infusions til May/June 2024 to avoid clashes with winter and spring boosters, provided I contact her if the pain becomes a major problem or domestic stresses increase. She says I'm a stoic.. last of a dying breed.

GranAmie profile image
GranAmie in reply toks1966

BTW I have never received any communications re anti-virals but that is a reflection of the state of play here in N. Ireland where I have lived since the mid 1960s after marriage to an Ulster man.

ks1966 profile image
ks1966 in reply toGranAmie

It’s ridiculous really. So many different antiviral eligibility criteria that seems to shift from one place to another

Hightower62 profile image
Hightower62 in reply toks1966

Earlier in the year it was very straightforward, I registered my positive LFT result on gov.uk and was contacted automatically by a doctor who asked about meds/symptoms etc and prescribed the antivirals.

Sadly, seven months on as Runrig01 said in her reply antivirals aren’t available for people on 20mg MTX like myself. It may be different for you depending on meds but the process will definitely be different.

It’s worth asking as I have found annoyingly that different health authorities, GP’s, Consultants are applying the rules differently as I recently found when trying to get the Shingrix vaccine and was knocked back by both my GP and Rheumatology.

Some people on this forum have advised that they were able to access the vaccine when on MTX only at 20mg like myself and in some cases less. Seems unfair as I will have to pay £440 to have it privately. I feel that there should be a more consistent interpretation of the rules but am not surprised as I have come up against this continually since the onset of Covid.

Good luck!

ks1966 profile image
ks1966 in reply toHightower62

Thank you for your reply. I’m on Rituxmab though and I think the criteria is quite different

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