Evusheld to prevent or Paxlovid to reduce Covid symptoms?

[kp60]

I made the decision not to get boosted due to my autoimmune status and have the opportunity to get Evusheld. On investigation it appears that it provides a fairly strong defense against Covid for 6 months. Has anyone had experience with it?

I am down to 3 1/2 mg day and have a strong suspicion the Covid vaccine caused my PMR (No I"m not an anti-vaxer). I do not want to get Covid and am trying to understand if Evusheld would be a good defense, or if I should take my chances and rely on Paxlovid to reduce symptoms if I should get Covid.

Thank you!

[Gary1310]

I am convinced a senior dose flu vaccine is responsible for my PMR.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Gary1310]

But it will have been the last straw - on top of the rest of your life events.

[Seacat30]

Following with interest.

[piglette]

Evusheld has had good reports, but we are in the early stages of Covid and all the medications for it, we still do not really know the long term effects. I am quite pro Evusheld as I have shares in Astra Zeneca!!! Probably not a good reason.

[AyJayBass]

My first Covid vaccination (AZ) seems to have been the last straw that upset my immune system and triggered PMR in Jan 21. Since then I have had four more vaccinations (AZ, Pfizer & 2 Moderna) which have caused no ill effects at all other than a sore arm for a day or so. I don't think fear of a further trigger to PMR is a good reason not to have a Covid booster. The effects of Covid, should you get it, are well worth avoiding, even with the new antiviral treatments that are available. However, your body, your choice of course!

[kp60 in reply to AyJayBass]

Thank you for sharing your experience with the vaccines.

[DakotaMae]

I’m almost certain my PMR was brought on by the shingles vaccine, but I’ve had two full dose COVID shots, two boosters, and two EVUSHELD. The first covid vaccine put me in bed for 12 hrs but neither the EVUSHELD nor the remaining covid shots have had any ill effects. Here (in the U.S.), we’re told to continue receiving the covid vaccine along with the EVUSHELD. I’d also encourage you to get both.

[kp60 in reply to DakotaMae]

Thank you for sharing your experience. It sounds like you had no bad reaction from the Evursheld. That's good to hear.

[singingloud]

I just finished Paxlovid for my case of Covid yesterday. I think it helped but the issue is you can’t get it till you have a positive test which with this strain of Covid takes days in to show positive. I was symptomatic for four to five days before I could start it. I wondered if my symptoms would have been less if I had it earlier. I didn’t get my second booster because it was only good for six weeks but I think I’ve made it through Covid well. Not sure if that helps answer your question.

[Skier321]

I am on 8.5 mg of prednisone 2 weeks ago I got Covid and I have no idea how I got it. I mask all the time and k ow my circle of friends and family. In the last 6 months almost all my friends and family got it. In April I got my 4th shot. First day I felt really crappy, I had all the symptoms but no breathing issues, on the 4th day I started Paxlovid 24 hrs later I felt so much better. 48 hrs later most symptoms were gone by the end of the 5 day treatment I was fine. I did take 4 sick day rule and doubled my prednisone then went back down to pre Covid dose.

[Jane424]

I got PMR after a flu shot and with Moderna, I had a violent flare which lasted 4 months. So have had no more vaccines. Very interested in Evusheld. Good luck with your decision. Jane

[orangemax]

Hi, kp60,I was diagnosed with PMR in Sept 2021 and was totally convinced it came from the Covid vaccines. But recently, I met a lady who was diagnosed closed to the same time that I was, and she has not been vaccinated. So now what? Others suspect the Shingrix vaccines and also the Fluzone 65.

Today, I am on my third day of Paxlovid after testing positive for Covid. The symptoms are mild, and I'm feeling better each day. So far, no bad side effects.

Sorry I can't comment on the Evusheld.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to orangemax]

There is no single cause of PMR developing - over a lifetime the immune system is subjected to a lot of factors that affects its normal functioning: environmental, chemical, physical, illness, infection, stress of all sorts. And we all have genetic influences that make it more likely that the immune system may malfunction. Eventually one thing is the straw that breaks the camel's back and the immune system goes haywire, no longer able to recognise self and so it turns on the body tissues and attacks them. Which tissues and exactly how they are attacked makes the difference in the symptoms and the diagnosis with which you are labelled. Obviously something does it - but there are loads of options and it is impossible to identify a common factor - except mostly being older which means more lifetime exposure to things.

One person will swear it was the flu jab, another the shingles jab (less often the Shingrix one), another stress at work, a bereavement, surgery, the list is endless. Others had none of the vaccines you mentioned - I had never had any. Nor recent bereavement or surgery, Many others will say the same. PMR was first described in the late 1800s - long before modern drugs, most vaccines and manmade chemicals.

[orangemax in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you PMRpro, for these comments. I've never seen the onset of PMR addressed in this way before. I think it's only natural for a person newly diagnosed to ask the question, "Why?" And of course, "Why me?" No one has ever had an answer when I've asked. I find it amazing that it's been around as long as you say. So many of us exclaim they've never heard of it in their lives! I for one!!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to orangemax]

It was originally called "senile rheumatic gout" by the Scottish doctor who described it. All in men it must be added - very typical, NOT! It was first called PMR as a disease in its own right in 1966 in a case report from a New York hospital.

There are many threads on the forum started by patients who are screaming WHY? That summary appears in various lengths in all of them that I have seen. It really is a waste of energy trying to work out why or how - better used to deal with living with it!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to orangemax]

A lighthearted look at why you might be prone to PMR - healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

[orangemax in reply to DorsetLady]

Cute article. But according to my DNA report there is NO connection to the Vikings. Thanks DL Fun read!

[kp60]

Yes The genesis of PMR is truly a mystery and I am only trying to make an educated decision as to preventative Evursheld vs Paxlovid as I am truly terrified of a rebound of PMR and GCA especially not to mention having to increase and lengthen the devil drug. I get such good information from this forum. Thank you!