Nirmatrelvir / ritonavir and Headaches: What Users Say (Page 2)

• gra...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 26, 2022

Nirmatrelvir / ritonavir for COVID-19 "I have had 3 doses of Paxlovid and no longer have body aches, fever, or headache. I still have lots of nasal and post-nasal drip, sore throat, and bad cough. I experienced the metallic taste yesterday and earlier today, but that has resolved at this time. I am now experiencing loose bowels, but no pain or discomfort related to that. I plan to finish the course unless my side effects become too severe. I am happy this treatment is available for folks at high risk for severe COVID symptoms and hospitalization, but I hope the drug manufacturers will come up with an effective version that does not have so many drug interactions and could be available to everyone who wants it, not just high-risk folks. This prescription was only available at the local hospital pharmacy and at Walgreens in my area, and I received it at no cost."

• Wor...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 16, 2024

Nirmatrelvir / ritonavir for COVID-19 "I am undergoing cancer treatment and am required to go to the ER if I get a fever. So when I woke at 3 am to the chills and fever, I hopped into the ER expecting a flu or maybe a UTI, only to find I had COVID. The doctor gave me the script for Paxlovid, but I was too ill to go on that day (Sunday) and just went back to bed. That day was awful - intense bone pain, eye pain, fever, chills, headache. 9/10 severity. Day 2 of COVID I got a friend to pick up my prescription and started it. I felt a little better after the first dose. By the next morning, I was 80% better. I hadn’t kept up my vaccination after the initial ones in 2020-2021, but my mom (who has been staying with me) had, and she was hit far less severely. My kids also didn’t have many symptoms. Only downside is the metallic taste, but that’s okay."

• Mis...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 3, 2022

Nirmatrelvir / ritonavir for COVID-19 "I had a strong headache, the lower back pain, then I got a fever. Went to a clinic, positive COVID test, prescribed Paxlovid. Took one dose and got severe diarrhea. I stopped the medication. Also, a strong metallic taste. My symptoms stopped within a day, and I felt great a day later. Maybe a smaller dose would have been better, I wish there was more information on dosing. I’ve never needed a full dose of any medications, even Tylenol or Aleve. My doctor joked that I am an alien."

• Ano...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 8, 2022

Nirmatrelvir / ritonavir for COVID-19 "Wow, I am so grateful for this medicine! I am prone to bronchitis, so the doctor recommended this. First time with COVID. My husband tested positive Tuesday AM, so I was anticipating it as well. Tested negative four times, and then tested positive this Thursday night (today is Saturday). I called the doctor Friday AM and was able to get it within a few hours. My symptoms began Wednesday, other than fatigue, which I felt Monday and Tuesday. Started with a dry cough, which became way more persistent on Thursday and Friday, body aches, headache, fatigue, and general malaise. By Friday, I had a fever as well. I took the first dose around 4 pm on Friday and then the second at midnight. I woke up Saturday AM feeling no body aches, no fever, no headache. Unbelievable. I am so thankful! I do have a bit of that bitter taste in the back of my mouth, but I am drinking lots of tea, ginger juice, and cough drops. Tolerable to not feel severe COVID symptoms. Highly recommend Paxlovid if you are COVID positive!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 9, 2022

Nirmatrelvir / ritonavir for COVID-19 "I had gotten COVID 2 years ago at the beginning, it about killed me. (4 visits to acute care facility) I was on 4 antibiotics back then, and it was hell, felt like a Mack truck hit me. Finally, the third week started getting better. Now, here 2 years later, fully vaccinated, got COVID again and severe sore throat, body aches, fever, chills, nausea, was prescribed Paxlovid. After day one, feel better and, of course, metallic taste is awful, better congestion already, and headaches aren’t so severe. Started day two meds and still metallic taste but feeling slightly better, praying this gets better each day. Try coffee to rid the taste and drink lots of water, don’t mix vitamins and cough medicines with this drug. Keep positive, praying no long-term effects!"

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

Nirmatrelvir / ritonavir 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."

• Anonymous
• December 27, 2022

Nirmatrelvir / ritonavir for COVID-19 "Diagnosed with COVID on 12/24/22. Started using Paxlovid. Today is Day #3 of the 5-day regimen, and I’m done. Worst nausea and stomach pain of my life, and severe headache. Good news is COVID respiratory symptoms are gone. Hopefully, I’ve taken enough of this powerful drug to end the COVID."

• Cha...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 21, 2022

Nirmatrelvir / ritonavir for COVID-19 "Halfway through day four (of a 5-day regimen), I feel so much better than I did when I started. There's no way to compare how I might have felt without it, but I credit the drug for helping a lot. I have side effects of mild diarrhea for two days, but quite manageable. Truly vile aftertaste the first two days, tainting/obscuring all other flavors, but that is almost entirely gone. Headache gone; cough subsiding. Put me in the pro-Pax column!"

• KLe...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 12, 2022

Nirmatrelvir / ritonavir for COVID-19 "First week high school started, my daughter felt a bad headache and sore throat, tested positive for COVID on 8/27. She had very mild symptoms and fully recovered on 9/1. Also on 9/1, my wife tested positive. I tested positive the next day on 9/2. Both my wife and I had mild symptoms of headache, cough, scratchy throat, and tiredness. Due to my weight and being over 50, I was qualified for Paxlovid. I started the first dose on 9/4 (2 days after testing positive). I still had mild symptoms when I started the medicine. After 48 hours, on the night of 9/6, most of my symptoms were gone and I felt almost back to normal. I continued to finish the Paxlovid. Tested negative on 9/10. My wife is healthy and didn't take Paxlovid. She also experienced mild symptoms, but 3 days after testing positive, she got bad nausea, dizziness, and vomited a few times. That made her really weak. She had to call her doctor and got a prescription for nausea and vomiting. She fully recovered and tested negative on 9/10."

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

Nirmatrelvir / ritonavir for COVID-19 "2 days since my COVID symptoms hit pretty hard. Literally 4 hours since my 1st dose, and I'm online researching the side effects! Terrible taste started literally 30 minutes after taking Paxlovid. 2 hours into it, and I'm suffering from some of the worst heartburn I've ever encountered in my life! Ironically, I'm feeling either better or the heartburn is distracting me from the headache and muscle pain ;-) Time will tell, but I won't be able to tolerate this heartburn for long!"

• gam...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 1, 2022

Nirmatrelvir / ritonavir for COVID-19 "Triple vaxed, avoided COVID until two days ago. I had a slight scratchy throat mid-day with nasal congestion late afternoon. I tried to get tested but failed… felt like allergies… overnight slight chill and next day was able to be tested midday and positive. So took Paxlovid first dose at noon, got progressively worse yesterday and by evening felt absolutely terrible, almost unable to get out of bed, headache, pain, etc., and prominent nasal discharge. This is a very significant illness and I would not have wanted to go through any more of it. The next morning and today I am literally 80 percent better. Some headache remains, nasal congestion lessened but present, weakness much improved, no chills. I forgot to mention I could not eat yesterday at all due to fatigue and absolutely no appetite. Today appetite is back. Of course, I have some of the metallic taste. The drug is amazing. Take it very early, get tested very early."

• Ano...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 27, 2022

Nirmatrelvir / ritonavir for COVID-19 "On 6/24/22, I was diagnosed with Covid after a horrible night of vomiting, intestinal disorder, bad headache, and burning sensation on the palms of my hands and fingers. I have been double vaxxed with two boosters. The last one was 5/2/22. My doctor prescribed Paxlovid immediately, and I began taking the medication the evening of 6/24. Within 5 hours, I could feel the medication working. It was a real game changer for me. I had a slight odd taste in my mouth from the meds, but it was not offensive. My weak point is my lungs, and I felt that I had some congestion in them, but the medication was fighting hard to slow it down and reverse it. It has been 48 hours since my first dose, and I feel that I am 90% back to normal. To me, this is phenomenal. My only side effects were the fleeting metallic taste in my mouth, and I had one bout of intestinal disorder, which I think was caused by eating spicy food. I am grateful for a drug that can fight the awful symptoms and medical fallout of Covid."

• Mik...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 27, 2022

Nirmatrelvir / ritonavir for COVID-19 "I wrote a brief review today after taking just the first dose. I've now taken the second dose, and this stuff is amazing. I tested positive twice (am & pm) about three days ago. Headache, sore throat, fever from 98.4 to 99.9, runny nose, sneezing, full body aches but more so in joints. Very fatigued. I have two major cancers, thus the immunocompromised condition. I cleared the use of this with my oncologist, then had my primary care MD write the Rx. Before I even took the second dose, headache & sore throat were gone, as were some of the aches. Still coughing & blowing my proboscis, but a great improvement in just this short time. I've had to supplement with 25 mg of diphenhydramine and 500 mg of acetaminophen every four hours. Along with my cancers, I have a list of other medical issues, so far no reactions to my meds for those. But I'm having minor side effects with constipation and diarrhea. The absolute worst thing is the aftertaste. Nothing takes it away, from licorice to chili."

• Jos...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 14, 2022

Nirmatrelvir / ritonavir for COVID-19 "High blood pressure, dizziness, headache (fleeting), gout in the big toe and have never had, plus diet is very low in purines. Severe shoulder pain, heart pounding, and unstable gait. Nausea, but no vomiting. Since this could all be coincidental, I don't know if Paxlovid had anything to do with these manifestations. I was encouraged to take it due to asthma. I react very differently to most drugs and do not take any, even though I am almost 79. It seemed to clear mucus from lungs, even though I wasn't aware it was there. Asthma mucus is different because I know it is there. Thanks to very clean living (no drugs), I haven't had an attack for 9 years."

• Gra...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 9, 2022

Nirmatrelvir / ritonavir for COVID-19 "Unvaccinated 60-year-old female, 4'11", 100 lbs. Wednesday night: scratchy throat. Thought allergies. Thursday morning: scratchy throat, feeling malaise. By 11 am, horrible headache. Took COVID test: positive. Headache lasted 4 hours. Called doctor, got prescribed Paxlovid, started taking at 8 pm. Friday and Saturday: mild headache present all day. Body aches, fatigue, nasal drainage. Expectorant for mucus cough. Horrible metallic taste in mouth. Cough drops help. Take Pepcid before eating and take Paxlovid with food, had cottage cheese or yogurt to coat afterwards. Overall, 3 bad days and then progressively improved. Testing positive still 9 days later. Some fatigue, some mucus cough, but feeling 90%. Husband: vaccinated. Thursday (same day as me), not feeling well. Saturday tested positive. Severe sore throat, headache, body aches, congestion. Started antibiotics. Rx lidocaine for throat, expectorant. Feeling horrible and got worse. Day 8: throat better, slight headache, fatigue, and says still feels crappy."

• Gra...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 9, 2022

Nirmatrelvir / ritonavir for COVID-19 "Unvaccinated 60-year-old female, 4'11", 100 lbs. Wednesday night: scratchy throat. Thought allergies. Thursday morning: scratchy throat, feeling malaise. By 11 am, horrible headache. Took COVID test: positive. Headache lasted 4 hours. Called doctor, got prescribed Paxlovid, started taking at 8 pm. Friday and Saturday: mild headache present all day. Body aches, fatigue, nasal drainage. Expectorant for mucus cough. Horrible metallic taste in mouth. Cough drops help. Take Pepcid before eating and take Paxlovid with food, had cottage cheese or yogurt to coat afterwards. Overall, 3 bad days and then progressively improved. Testing positive still 9 days later. Some fatigue, some mucus cough, but feeling 90%. Husband: vaccinated. Thursday (same day as me), not feeling well. Saturday tested positive. Severe sore throat, headache, body aches, congestion. Started antibiotics. Rx lidocaine for throat, expectorant. Feeling horrible and got worse. Day 8: throat better, slight headache, fatigue, and says still feels crappy."

• Soc...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 29, 2023

Nirmatrelvir / ritonavir for COVID-19 "I tested positive for COVID on Monday. My husband tested positive on Sunday. We are both in our middle 60s. We both have underlying conditions, so we decided not to take the chance with COVID. We picked up the medication Monday afternoon and began taking it Monday evening. We both took the first set of 3 pills. They are in a blister pack with 2 pink pills and 1 white. We ate supper and took all 3 pills. About an hour later, you begin to have this burning sensation in the back of your throat. You also begin to taste something like a cross between grapefruit and a metal can in your throat. It is not pleasant at all. We did both begin to feel better after the first dose. We had chills, fever, headache, stuffy nose, generalized malaise, and just feeling unwell. We took the medication for 3 days, but the GI issues began to get very difficult. So we both stopped taking them after 3 days. I did have a rebound case, and it was within the 5 days, so I began taking them again after 1 day off."

• Chu...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 13, 2022

For COVID-19 "I’m an overweight 60 yr old male with GERD, BPH, arteriosclerosis, and PCL-Non Hodgkin lymphoma. (Have a 35%+ chance of hospitalization with Covid). On Day 0 of Covid: I felt the onset of being unwell within 6 hours with a headache, chest congestion, cough, and tested at home positive. Day 1 of Covid: Intense chest congestion, fever, body ache, chills, hard to breathe. Day 2 of Covid: Began Paxlovid, and within 6 hours my breathing was back to normal with the tightness in my chest gone. Within 12 hours my sore throat and fever were gone. Confirmed + PCR. Day 3 of Covid: I felt normal but a little tired. Day 4: I felt normal with just a slight dry mouth. Still tested positive for Covid. Just starting day 5 and feel pretty good. I’ve had no side effects and no bad taste, but I am on pantoprazole for GERD, so that may be why I’m not experiencing any reflux or bad taste. So far, this has been a very good experience. But I am very concerned about the long-term potential side effects of an EUA drug."

• Ant...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 12, 2022

Nirmatrelvir / ritonavir for COVID-19 "Started Paxlovid day 3 of the Omicron variant. I had “severe” headache, fever, chills, congestion, cough, SOB, general malaise. After day 2 of treatment, I was significantly better. I went from feeling so bad from the severe headache to feeling so much better. Yes, a very strong sour metallic aftertaste 24/7 until treatment was completed. Gladly, I can tolerate that in exchange for Covid relief symptoms. I would definitely recommend it. I am high risk, cardiac, asthma, etc. Better to have a bad aftertaste than to be sick enough for hospitalization or death."

• Hel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 20, 2022

Nirmatrelvir / ritonavir for COVID-19 "I’m a 43-year-old Asian healthy female. I attained Paxlovid after my husband had Covid two days before me, but he decided not to take it after concerns for his blood pressure. I was on day 5 of symptoms of lethargy, poor appetite, body aches, fever, chills, headache, and loss of smell and taste when I started it. The metallic taste was the worst the first two days, especially at night. It didn’t subside until I stopped taking the medicine. I was able to test negative two days after completing two days of pills. There was a minor boost in energy, and my sense of smell and taste returned halfway by the completion of the medication. It wasn’t pleasant, but I don’t think that I could have felt better and tested negative sooner."

• All...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 25, 2022

Nirmatrelvir / ritonavir for COVID-19 "Well, day 2 and I feel better. Taking two 150 mg and one 100 mg tablets. Gives me a bad taste in my mouth. Like metallic taste. Energy level is up. But don’t feel like running just yet. Had a bit of a watery movement this morning. No pain in my gut. Headache is gone, that is good. Still have a tightness in my chest but gets better when I cough something up."

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

Nirmatrelvir / ritonavir 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."

• Omi...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 21, 2022

Nirmatrelvir / ritonavir for COVID-19 "Not sure it’s working. Monday very minor scratchy throat, that evening chills and fever from 100 to 103.5 during the night, terrible headache, pain in ear, pain in back of head, felt like a bad case of the flu. Tuesday I tested positive, my doc called and suggested Tylenol and Advil alternative every 4 hours, Mucinex, saline in nose, lots of fluid, and prescribed Paxlovid. I’m 58, in great health. She said I had Omicron and a worse case compared to others. I was apprehensive to take the meds, that evening around 9 o’clock I was almost symptom-free. Next day, Wednesday afternoon, started with a runny nose and feeling like I had a head cold, so I took the prescription that evening. I woke up with a vicious sore throat and horrible taste in my mouth. Mint gum helps a lot! I called my doctor, she strongly urged me to continue taking the meds because my symptoms could become worse and the sore throat could’ve been a result of me not taking Paxlovid more timely."

• Jam...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 28, 2023

Nirmatrelvir / ritonavir for COVID-19 "Doctor recommended taking due to my age, even though symptoms were minor. Took one dose and discontinued. Headache, bad taste, and generally feeling worse. Recovered just fine without it."

• DCR...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 16, 2023

Nirmatrelvir / ritonavir for COVID-19 "I took Paxlovid for 2 days, and it made me feel worse. It gave me heartburn, stomach aches, achiness all over my body, headaches, and a very bad taste in my mouth."