Nirmatrelvir / ritonavir and Diarrhea: What Users Say (Page 4)

• Sid...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 22, 2022

For COVID-19 "I’m a 62-year-old healthcare provider who has been exposed dozens and dozens of times since March 2020, and this is the first time I have had COVID. I got the Pfizer vax early but did not get the booster. No lectures, please! LOL. Had a fever of 101.7, productive cough, aches. Got the Rx a day later and started it due to my age, hypertension, and obesity risks. Developed a super bitter taste within an hour of the first dose. It persisted for 11 hours, then recurred with every dose. Developed a raging sore throat, dry mouth, and severe diarrhea. After the 4th dose (2nd day), I decided to stop. The side effects were just too much. I had stopped having a fever the day before, and my cough was less productive. I was also concerned about the number of rebound COVID cases I’d read about with the drug. Need to get back to the hospital and a vacation next week, so cannot risk rebound. Today, only a day after, the throat is 50% better, dry mouth is gone, bitterness is gone, diarrhea is still there."

• Jud...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 26, 2023

For COVID-19 "Got Covid on March 1. Started taking Paxlovid on March 2. The main problem was diarrhea and rectal bleeding, but the bleeding was not from hemorrhoids. After 5 doses, I stopped the Paxlovid because of the bleeding. A few days later, I had a Covid rebound and was stuck with a cough and congestion for a few more days. Paxlovid wasn’t a good experience for me."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 24, 2022

For COVID-19 "It is difficult to tell what is the Paxlovid and what is COVID. I have had a bad taste in the back of my mouth, similar to what you might experience after using a nasal spray. I had one episode of diarrhea but have otherwise tolerated it well."

• Pre...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 1, 2025

For COVID-19 "COVID symptoms quickly became dire, and I was close to death. I got Paxlovid on day 2.5, and after one dose, the feelings of death were gone. But other severe COVID symptoms remained, such as a horrible, painful throat, tremendous congestion and nose blowing, constant coughing, and weakness. I have strong Paxlovid side effects like nausea and bad diarrhea. But I know Paxlovid already saved my life with no emergency care. So I'll continue for 5 days."

• Cap...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 26, 2022

For COVID-19 "I have CML leukemia and have been taking Bosulif (bosutinib) for the past 10 months with excellent results. I have no other health conditions, allergies. 2x Moderna vax. Not boosted. 6/17/2022 Onset of mild cold-like symptoms: dry unproductive cough, nasal congestion. 6/18/2022 Symptoms worsen. Cough becomes productive with yellow-green mucus. Sore throat. Runny nose. 6/19 I self-test positive for Covid-19 and visit my PCP. I test positive for Covid-19. Rx for Paxlovid and I begin meds immediately. 6/20/2022 horrible metallic taste in my mouth. Liquid jetting diarrhea that burns. Loss of appetite. Lethargy. 6/21 Cold-like symptoms are subsiding. Cough is more productive though. Get it up, spit it out, don't swallow. Awful taste in mouth worsens. Diarrhea worsens. Loss of appetite persists. Lethargy worsens. 6/23 Finish 5 days of Rx. 6/26 Side effects continue. Flu symptoms gone. I wonder if I'd have been better NOT taking Paxlovid. Side effects horrible and persist."

• Cdt...
• July 1, 2022

For COVID-19 "I started Paxlovid the same day I tested positive for COVID. The metallic taste is awful. The first night had stomach cramps and trouble sleeping. Took it for five days, and three days later, I still have a metallic taste in my mouth, diarrhea, and acid reflux. The drug helped, but the side effects are not nice. Wondering how long it will take for the side effects to subside."

• Wor...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 1, 2022

For COVID-19 "I started on day 2 of my very symptomatic infection because I was worried with my history of upper respiratory issues. I immediately started feeling better, but on day 2 of Paxlovid, I started having intestinal distress (diarrhea), and then the third day it was even worse with vagal nerve responses with every bowel movement. No thanks. The taste in the mouth was weird. Kinda like an aftertaste of a grapefruit. I had to stop the dose because of the diarrhea."

• Gig...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 27, 2022

For COVID-19 "I started day one of symptoms. Only had fever, headache, and chills. Never lost taste or smell. Took all 5 days, taste was yucky, but so are worse symptoms. I dealt with it. One bout of loose stools, that's pretty much it. But done with Paxlovid, and started a dry irritating cough. 8 days later? Might be a side effect of the med. I don't know. Feeling better and grateful for Dr. help."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 23, 2022

For COVID-19 "Day 1 through 3. I had no side effects except for the metallic taste in my mouth. I took the 3rd to last dose and had diarrhea on the fourth day. I am finishing it since I just have 2 more doses, but on the upside. I had much more energy within 1 day of taking it, my fever was gone within 2 days of taking the medication. I will be glad to get my system back to normal tomorrow night."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 10, 2022

For COVID-19 "I just finished my last dose of Paxlovid. Yes, I had the awful metallic taste in my mouth and had one day of diarrhea. This is my second time to have COVID, I am fully vaccinated and boosted, but I have asthma. I would take Paxlovid again if necessary. I believe it kept the virus out of my lungs, and mainly I just feel congested in my head. This is a small price to pay to stay out of the hospital. I’m hoping the metallic taste is gone in a day or so, food is not very appealing right now."

• dee...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 10, 2025

For COVID-19 "It was great after I took 2 doses one day. My cough got better. The metallic taste is horrible, and the diarrhea has been hard to control. Overall, I will say it worked. Last time I had COVID, it was bad. This time, with some meds, it was manageable."

• Anonymous
• March 25, 2023

For COVID-19 "I was given Paxlovid on the third day of developing COVID symptoms. It is not a very pleasant experience. Terrible taste in my mouth, diarrhea, nausea, and an overall feeling of malaise. I am 66 years old and on treatment for breast cancer. I was tempted to stop taking it because of the horrible side effects but thought about my children and grandchildren, so I continued taking it. It has been 7 days since I completed taking Paxlovid. I hope I don't get rebound COVID. If I do get rebound COVID and I had to take it again, I would do it. My family is worth whatever discomfort it may cause."

• don...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 9, 2023

For COVID-19 "My symptoms started last Monday, and I tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday. I had a telehealth appointment with my primary doctor on Wednesday, and they prescribed Paxlovid. My husband's symptoms followed me by about two days, but he started Paxlovid one day after me. My fever, which at times rose to over 102 with Tylenol, cough, chills, and severe body aches vanished after the second dose of Paxlovid. I had a dramatic 'sweat out' while sleeping, and the same happened to my husband after the first dose. Although we had been vaccinated and boosted once, we haven't received a booster since then. I have asthma, and my husband is a smoker and over 60, but healthy despite that. Paxlovid has greatly helped with our COVID-19 symptoms and decreased our risk of hospitalization and long COVID. Unfortunately, our daughter suffers from long COVID, which has devastated her life at the age of 30. We have a couple of days left on the Paxlovid treatment, and the symptoms are still challenging. However, I keep reminding myself that it is worth it, and it truly is. I have experienced some diarrhea, which I realized is because it contains lactose, and I'm vegan."

• Lig...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 11, 2022

For COVID-19 "I took the full 5-day course of Paxlovid. I had the horrible metallic taste but was grateful to have an antiviral medication and not risk very bad symptoms of COVID. I am 67. Within 24 hours of the last dose, the metallic taste was gone. I felt a bit better each day. Diarrhea was also mentioned as a possible side effect. I only had one episode of diarrhea on the 5th day, and by then I was done with the medication."

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

For COVID-19 "A Wednesday I started sneezing and having fatigue, Thursday coughing and nausea and tested negative that night. Friday all of my symptoms were worse and in addition I started fainting, vomiting and developing fevers and at an urgent care I tested positive Friday. Made an appointment the next Monday with my doctor who had me start Paxlovid for my risk. In the first 30 minutes of the first dose I had a fuming taste in my mouth that was coming out of my throat consistently. The taste would fluctuate from bad to worse during the 5-day dosage. I had body aches and diarrhea the first 2 to 3 hours after each dose. I had a headache twice while taking it. All of my other initial Covid symptoms except nausea went away while I was on Paxlovid. I could not eat very well due to loss of taste while taking. Two days after completing the dosage I am slowly tasting again. I started mildly coughing and having congestion after completing. Just knowing the potential of hospitalization it was worth its symptoms to me."

• Dan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 26, 2022

For COVID-19 "I had no Covid symptoms on a Saturday night. Went out. Couldn’t sleep. Tossed and turned. Started to cough. Took some aspirin. No temp. Finally got up at 6:00 am. Still no temp. By 7:30 I was running 101, coughing and two rapid tests showed positive. I went to the ER because I also had bruised ribs and the coughing hurt. My doctor wanted them X-rayed. (6-7-8 broken badly). Started taking Paxlovid on Sunday. My temp climbed to high 102 on Monday. Very sore throat. Tons of phlegm. Started dropping Tuesday and by Wednesday my temp had broken completely. Still coughing which with broken ribs was excruciating. But by Wednesday night the coughing abated and I was able to sleep a little. Thursday was final / day 5. Felt so much better I wished I could go out. I had zero side effects. Soft stool on day 5. Took some Culturelle and that helped. This stuff is amazing."

• Cov...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 24, 2023

For COVID-19 "Worst experience ever. Diarrhea got worse and worse while on the treatment."

• Car...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 15, 2022

For COVID-19 "Made me so sick to my stomach. Extreme abdominal pain and explosive diarrhea 2-3 hours after each dose. Stopped after 2 doses."

• Dav...
• February 19, 2023

For COVID-19 "Did not have to go to the hospital. Did have a real bad taste in my mouth. Also had 3 days of diarrhea. Still better than dying of COVID."

• Cri...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 6, 2022

For COVID-19 "This helped me get better from COVID quickly. I experienced the bad taste in my mouth 90 minutes after the first dose. On day three, I did have some diarrhea, but I still think this pill is worth it."