Paxlovid and Upset Stomach: What Users Say

• Gra...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 4, 2022

For COVID-19 "My husband and I recently started having respiratory symptoms. Both of us tested positive for Covid. I asked our GP if I could have an RX for Paxlovid. He told me it was very difficult to lay one's hands on. Most of the local pharmacies did not have any in stock. I did my homework and called BEFORE my appointment. Luckily, one of our local Walmart pharmacies had it. Within around 35-40 minutes of taking my first dose, I could tell a slight difference and felt better. I have continued feeling better with every dose. The only side effects I've had are the terrible, bitter dysgeusia (taste disturbance) and mild upset stomach. I can deal with those things much better than not being able to catch my breath. I believe I would have been in much worse shape or possibly even hospital-bound had I not started Paxlovid. If your local pharmacy does not have it in stock, don't give up! Call around until you find one that has it. It's worth it!"

• Pea...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 12, 2022

For COVID-19 "I took Paxlovid for 3 days, and I suffered increasingly serious metallic taste and smell. After I stopped Paxlovid, the obnoxious smell and taste went away. The smell and taste kept me awake on the third night. I also had severe stomach cramps and intestinal problems (trouble making a bowel movement with severe pain). I had dry heaves and finally, spit up a sticky yellow substance. I also had internal bleeding, as noted by the tar-like stools. This cure was worse than the disease. I pray that my liver has not sustained long-term effects since I have acute non-alcoholic liver cirrhosis."

• ALB...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 14, 2022

For COVID-19 "This drug was amazing! I started taking it the day after I tested positive. I had a horrible sore throat, stuffy/runny nose, and major aches and pains - felt like deep in my bones. After the first dose, I began to feel slightly better. After the second dose, I knew I was feeling better. As others have mentioned, it does create an obnoxious metallic taste in your mouth, very similar to the taste prednisone gives you, maybe a little worse, but a small price to pay for feeling so much better. I have MS and take a drug that eliminates my B cells, so I was so happy to have this as an option. Four vaccinations did not prevent me from getting really sick from Covid. The packaging makes it easy to take the correct doses and wasn’t hard to open. I had a little bit of an upset stomach after the third dose. Started to take it with food and did much better. Highly recommend trying this if you have the option. Thank you, science, and scientists!"

• Ano...
• March 7, 2023

For COVID-19 "I started taking Paxlovid the 2nd day of COVID symptoms and noticed I felt better after 2 doses, however, the metallic taste was terrible even with mints and juice. On the second day of taking Paxlovid, things started going downhill. I had a constant stomach ache, nausea, headache, and body aches so bad I couldn’t sleep or eat. On day three, I was so miserable I couldn’t put another pill in my mouth, so I quit taking it due to the terrible side effects!"

• Jam...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 26, 2022

For COVID-19 "I am on day 3 taking Paxlovid after ER confirmed COVID with a PCR test-started med on day 1. I have a reduced dose due to 5'2"-118 lbs. I actually feel sicker for 2-6 hours after taking a dose-even in the middle of a meal. I have a horrible, disgusting, acidic metallic taste in my mouth and an upset tummy. It also causes a headache-nothing helps the side effect-I have lost 4 lbs. I am super healthy, take vitamins, and am active, so if I didn’t have a history of bronchitis and age 75, I would not take it!"

• Mon...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 11, 2023

For COVID-19 "I experienced a dry mouth with a strong sour taste that wouldn't go away. I got nauseated, and I felt like my stomach was burning. I almost vomited and had horrible nightmares. I stopped taking it after the first dose."

• 38 ...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 21, 2023

For COVID-19 "I was diagnosed with COVID on 3/13. I went in to see a doctor, and they gave me this medicine. First off, if your symptoms are not that bad, please do not take this medication. The only reason I took it was that this doctor told me I would start feeling better after 14 hours. That was so far from the truth. It made me ten times worse. From the metallic taste to the gagging, diarrhea, and upset stomach, this was the worst decision ever."

• Jon...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 14, 2023

For COVID-19 "I have a very bad dose of COVID. When I started these, I had a terrible taste in my mouth, almost like the aftertaste of tonic water, getting worse with each dose. I'm 2 days in, and if anything, I feel worse taking them, with stomach aches and nausea. They are apparently really hard on the liver and kidneys, and seeing as they have no long-term data and are just for emergency use, I have decided not to be a guinea pig with my internal organs. I binned them."

• Sar...
• January 26, 2025

For COVID-19 "I so wanted for this med to be a positive experience. It wasn’t. My symptoms were like a bad cold with a horrible cough. As soon as I tested positive, I contacted my doctor asking for Paxlovid. I had a low fever. I lasted 3.5 days before my pharmacist told me to stop it. As an experimental treatment, they still don’t know the interactions with all drugs. No to cholesterol med, space out with blood thinner and possibly some BP pills. I had horrible stomach cramps, headache, constipation, vomiting on the third day of taking med. Basically, much worse than the Covid symptoms. Horrible taste that nothing helped. 18 hours after the last dose, I’m back to normal with mild fatigue. If it works for you, great. If it gives you worse symptoms, stop. My pharmacist reported to Pfizer."

• gie...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 6, 2022

For COVID-19 "I tried this because I have Sjögren's, which puts me at risk for severe COVID. I wish I could tolerate it. It gave me the worst sore throat ever, it looked like my throat was bleeding. In addition, I had projectile diarrhea, nausea, and stomach cramps. Diarrhea was so bad that I could not make it to the restroom before I filled my pants. I also got it on the bedsheets, apparently having diarrhea in my sleep. Now concerned about what I can take now?"

• Aft...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• June 13, 2022

For COVID-19 "Took Paxlovid on day 1 of symptoms and the first day testing positive for Covid. It knocked out the Covid quickly, and I was testing negative on day 3 of Paxlovid. After day 3 and 6 doses, I stopped taking Paxlovid because I couldn’t handle the side effects anymore. It is a very strong medication. Stomach ache, extreme horrible taste in mouth, acid reflux, diarrhea, and insomnia. Consulted with my doctor. Four days later, Paxlovid rebound, tested positive again and felt very sick. Consulted the doctor again, and she believed my rebound would have occurred regardless of stopping after 6 doses due to the number of rebounds from other patients. Meanwhile, I exposed my family before testing positive again. Now I’m on day 4 of rebound and feeling a little better. Paxlovid needs improvement, interacts with everything, has many side effects, and possible rebound causing a longer time frame for the illness. I would not take it again."

• Meh...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 20, 2024

For COVID-19 "Second time catching Covid (10/23) and (12/24), first time after a nursing home visit. The second time, I have no idea. Gave myself a at-home test for flu A, B, and Covid. Came back very definitive it was Covid, so I requested a telehealth visit, and the doctor prescribed the meds. Fever was gone by morning, sore throat gone, but that was lessening anyway, body aches pretty much gone, and some of the fatigue lessened, runny stuffy nose off the charts making sleeping difficult. Side effects are the bitter taste (cough drops, hard candies help a lot), this time there's some stomach upset and mild diarrhea, more like softening of stool to sludge, and sleep disturbance. My biggest worry would be kidneys and liver because of my age, but so far, so good. I'm over 70, overweight, prediabetic, with sleep apnea. I'm always going to want the antiviral. I've been putting off getting revaccinated, I think I won't do that anymore. The metallic/bitter taste goes away."

• Min...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 18, 2023

For COVID-19 "60 yr old female with type 2 diabetes and vaccinated 4x. A head cold turned worse the next day, and I tested positive for COVID. Within a couple of hours after contacting my doctor, I had a prescription of Paxlovid. My first dose was day one at night. I was coughing a lot, and I could hear my lungs wheezing as I exhaled. By the next morning, the coughing got better and the wheezing disappeared. I have a metallic taste in my mouth, but having a soothing non-menthol cough drop helps. I haven’t lost my sense of taste, and I feel a lot better than day one. I still have a headache, but it is not a severe one. Mild stomach upset, but my suggestion is to eat light foods and stay extra hydrated. Having no BP issues, I did notice my BP was up slightly. The fever is gone and just had a general feeling of being sick. Can’t wait to be off this stuff."

• Mar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 19, 2022

For COVID-19 "Paxlovid made me feel more ill! It did slow my cough, and I only took it for 1.5 days! Side effects were extreme acid reflux, not able to sleep, walking around in a fog, stomach ache, breaking out in some kind of bumps on my head and face, metallic taste, and dry mouth."

• Pax...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 24, 2025

For COVID-19 "Where to start…. Day 1 I took it as prescribed and had stomach cramps, bloatedness, and liquid coming out of my butt. However, the severe congestion and soreness in my eyes went down by 80%, and it made me feel a lot better. Day 2 I was woken up with a putrid taste in my mouth that was almost unbearable. As I rolled around in bed, the smell of old, rancid garlicky meat flooded my nose, and I couldn’t get it to escape. I thought it was something in my room but soon realized it was the meds. The taste and smell were unbearable, and on day 3 I’m dreading having to take the meds. The only thing that remotely helps is sipping a drink every 5 minutes, and even then, it is killing any motivation to eat. Overall, the medication is effective, but the taste and smell issues are so intolerable that I almost stopped taking it day 3 and was willing to take my chances. Hopefully they can figure out a way to get rid of those horrific side effects because it took everything in me to take my dose today."

• cyb...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 24, 2024

For COVID-19 "I thought we had sinus for 2 days, we tested negative for COVID. Day 3, we both tested positive and got the Paxlovid. My husband had all the boosters, but I did not, I was allergic to the Moderna shot. We are over 66 and have other high-risk conditions. We were scared. Our heads felt like they were going to explode, so much mucus we felt like we were drowning. Chest pressure, fatigue, blurred vision, sore throat, fever, cough... After 2 days of Paxlovid, 80% of the symptoms went away or became very mild. However, the pills do make your mouth very nasty, forget about tasting any food. I would get a stomach ache in the mornings from it, and we walked around like zombies, kind of out of it. But when you take into account we could be in ICU with a breathing tube down our throats, I guess this is way better. We still have 2 and a half more days to go. I am praying... COVID did not go into any kind of hibernation mode waiting for us to stop the pill, then attack again. Thank you, Paxlovid."

• kim...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 15, 2023

For COVID-19 "I am 60, and symptoms and tested positive on a Monday and steadily went downhill with increasing COVID symptoms: fever almost at 101, cough, sneezing, congestion, body aches, etc. Remdesivir was recommended by my doctor due to potential drug interactions and fewer side effects. You can stop reading here and seek Remdesivir if it’s available in your area, because I lasted 3 days on Paxlovid, and it started out nicely, vicious sore throat gone in hours, then COVID symptoms diminished over the next 24 hours despite no sleep, as Paxlovid stops COVID from replicating in 19-22 hours, per my MD. However, day 2 became very tough with nausea, bad stomach ache, loose stools, more insomnia, and everything only worsened on day three. Extreme abdominal cramps and pain with burning diarrhea made it almost impossible to continue. A day later, no COVID symptoms back yet, but stomach still upset with lower GI issues."

• Rec...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 10, 2023

For COVID-19 "I read these reviews, and since I have a sensitive stomach, decided 'with food' was my best option. Before the morning dosage, I ate cereal or toast. Before the evening dosage, an apple, banana, or a half-sandwich. After the evening dosage, I also chewed a couple of Tums as I normally have acid reflux with RX taken at bedtime. I also slept reclined to avoid reflux. I had ZERO stomach issues. My advice is to make common sense decisions based on your prior stomach tolerance. The metal mouth is wretched but manageable with Jolly Ranchers, hard candy, and frequent teeth-brushing. By day two, I felt good. I would take Paxlovid again as my COVID symptoms were miserable, and the side effects from Paxlovid are manageable."

• RR2...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 27, 2024

For COVID-19 "Just took 4th dose (will update later): After 2nd dose, experienced more gas, little cramps, stomach upset, 3 diarrhea times. Started Culturelle probiotic (one that helps with occasional diarrhea) at noon after the 2nd dose. Then took another probiotic at midnight. Been also eating BRAT diet (bananas, rice, applesauce, toast) and saltine crackers. I have also been sipping water because otherwise, it goes right through me. Despite the diarrhea stuff, I want to still take it. It is helping! Like others have said, for some, it is worth the diarrhea to not be coughing up a lung or having breathing problems. Will update on a different day. I started Paxlovid on the 3rd day of having COVID (first dose was an evening dose)."

• Atr...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 6, 2023

For COVID-19 "Ugh. So this is my second time having COVID, and I have long COVID symptoms from the first time. I also have asthma, and so my doctor prescribed Paxlovid. The good is my COVID lung and throat symptoms were gone within 24 hours, but the side effects are miserable. Nausea, headache, sweats, stomach ache, and a horrible taste in my mouth. And I’m on the renal dosing. I am happy I can breathe, but this medication is miserable."

• MJB...
• October 8, 2022

For COVID-19 "I am on day 3 of Paxlovid. I am on the fence, I considered stopping it, as it makes me feel badly, and the diarrhea and stomach upset are bad. As far as that terrible metallic taste, I have found that gargling with Listerine mouthwash really does a good job of getting rid of the metal taste temporarily. I wanted to share this simple solution. I like the blue cool mint flavor, it works well. I guess I will continue with the remaining days, however, it is not an easy drug to tolerate. But its potential for protection against serious issues must be considered top priority."

• Cos...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 28, 2022

For COVID-19 "My wife tested positive for COVID, and I felt like I had a bad cold 3 days later. I did the home test, and it was positive. My doctor ordered some Paxlovid for me, and I felt better the next day. Metallic taste was only mild. Still feeling better after 3 days on medication, but head and chest congestion remain mild. Sleeping well with no stomach upset or other side effects."

• Nat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 17, 2022

For COVID-19 "I contracted COVID on a cruise. I was tested on the 4th day after getting home, got Paxlovid on the 5th day. After 6 pills, I felt 90% better. I am on the 6th day now, coughing and nasal drip quit the next day. I have a metallic taste and dry mouth, so I suck on Licorice Ice Chips that come in a can like Altoids, it gets rid of the taste and upset stomach. I am 100% sold on the drug, thanks to Pfizer Pharm. Be aware of cruises, they are still infectious, even after all the testing they require."

• Sav...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 25, 2023

For COVID-19 "Had a positive test this week on Tuesday. Felt like I had been run over by a Mack truck. Everything hurt. Coughing and sneezing galore. Woke up on Wednesday with streaks of blood in the mucus I was coughing up. The clinic prescribed a normal dose of Paxlovid because I am high risk. Yes, this medicine leaves a foul taste in your mouth, but it is worth it. I am convinced I would have been hospitalized if I had not taken it. I started feeling better after two doses. Aside from the taste, I have a queasy stomach, loose bowels, hot flashes, insomnia, and fatigue as side effects. Hard to say if some of this could be from Covid or Paxlovid. Very grateful that this drug was available to my husband and me."

• Pla...
• July 22, 2022

For COVID-19 "The metallic taste in my mouth has been a challenge, along with some minor stomach issues, but the excessive sweating is by far the most difficult, uncomfortable side effect. Hopefully, it will stop as soon as the dosage has been completed."