If you tested positive for covid but don't have any symptoms would you

[DURHAM D]

take Paxlovid?

[Earth-shine]

1. If it's a "home test" do the test again.

That's a good question about the Paxlovid.

[DURHAM D]

4. Two home tests indicated positive yesterday.

Made a trip to an emergency room yesterday and it indicated positive.
The doctor at the hospital called in a prescription to the pharmacy but was really ambivalent about taking the Paxlovid.


This is for my cousin not for me but I am trying to help her figure out what to do.

[LeftInTX]

15. Here is some info:

https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/13-things-to-know-paxlovid-covid-19

[LisaL]

22. My relative died from covid.

Her initial symptoms (for 3-4 days) were a cough. Not even a fever. It all went downhill from there.
Paxlovid wasn't widely available yet. As I recall it just got approved. My relative had several risks factors.

[DURHAM D]

34. So sorry. nt

[yardwork]

2. Contact your health care provider and ask.

I hope you'll be ok!

[DURHAM D]

7. Hi yardie.

The health care provider is not in this week.
See my note above.
Have a great New Year.

[yardwork]

20. If your cousin is over 50, I think it's recommended.

COVID symptoms can come on - and ramp up - quickly.

If the home test says positive, it's definitely positive.

CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/treatments-for-severe-illness.html

[lapfog_1]

26. plus it is effective only if started within 5 days if the initial infection

so decide quickly.

If it were me, I would do the Paxlovid. but then I am over 65

[Ms. Toad]

37. Gov. DeWine has a positive test on the instant version

And turned out to be negative. But it got him out of a visit with Trump

(But, as a general rule - you're correct. False positives are extremely, extremely rare. (Gov. DeWine is the only one I've heard of))

[yardwork]

44. Maybe Gov DeWine told a fib...

[Ms. Toad]

45. There was a lot of speculation about that at the time,

But it was joking speculation.

Here's the report, after his second (more sensitive) test was negative:

https://www.cleveland.com/open/2020/08/after-positive-coronavirus-test-ohio-gov-mike-dewine-says-hes-not-sure-how-he-got-it.html

[yardwork]

46. I do know a person who tested positive with a home test and negative with the PCR.

She's immunocompromised and on chemotherapy, so I thought that might have played a role, but who knows.

[Ms. Toad]

47. There was a variant where the PCR tests were missing positives for a period of time.

I may have had COVID during that time. (I was testing negative on home tests, though).

My daughter seemed to catch whatever she had from me. I tested negative repeatedly, including on the PCR tests. My daughter was sick about a week later with identical symptoms. She tested negative on home tests, but positive on the PCR test.

I later learned that the particular spike mutation many of the PCR tests were checking for had been mutated out on this variation of COVID. So it is possible I had COVID because I was tested before they discovered this and pulled the PCR tests from the shelves.

https://www.fiercebiotech.com/medtech/fda-warns-new-coronavirus-variant-could-trigger-false-negatives-among-gold-standard-tests (My tests was late December 2021; hers was right after this notice came out.)

So this person may have had a positive home test that was accurate and a PCR test in that small window of time that PCR tests were missing it.

[phylny]

3. I'd ask my doctor.

[PJMcK]

5. Ask my PCP (n/t)

[FBaggins]

6. I wouldn't, but that's a question for your doctor

I’m not at significant risk even if the virus progresses… so “no symptoms “ means no need to risk the possible side effects. But the drug is designed for mild cases in people who are at significant risk should it progress.

So again… ask your doctor if that’s you

[LeftInTX]

16. My son just took it. He isn't at risk anymore than the average person. Healthy 37 yo.

Last edited Tue Dec 26, 2023, 02:20 PM - Edit history (1)

However, I would not take it for a mild case, but that is just me.

I had Covid two years ago. My worst symptom was burning eyes. I thought I had allergies, but hubby's mom had it. So we all tested.

Common colds make me sicker, but that's just me.

[Mz Pip]

8. When I had Covid

I didn’t take Paxlovid. I had a really mild case and didn’t see the point.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

9. I did last year.

My fully vaxed buddy had just gotten over being sick for over a month. By the time he cried uncle and went to the doc it was too late to take paxlovid.

So as soon as we tested positive we called our doctor for Paxlovid.

If you wait for symptoms it’s probably too late. The drugs stop the replication. I don’t believe the drugs kill the virus.

The only symptoms we had was a metallic taste for a couple hours after each dose.

[NutmegYankee]

10. I didn't. I tested positive Saturday, after becoming sick Friday.

I did have symptoms, but they were cold/flu with a low grade fever. The fever broke after 2 days and the cold symptoms are now subsiding, though I still get the faintest line on a test, so I'm not totally clear yet.

[Solomon]

11. If it was a real.positive, I would.

I recently contracted covid on Thanksgiving. Due to several vaccinations the symptoms were relatively mild. A slight headache and a fuzzy head for a day. I felt like the paxlovid kept it down and knocked it out quick. However, about 10 days after testing negative, it was back again. Doctor doesn't know whether it was rebound or another infection. The second time the symptoms were even milder but I took the paxlovid again anyway and by the fourth day I was testing negative again. Since the doctor has to prescribe the paxlovid I would listen to my doctor. Both times I didn't have to ask her for paxlovid. She immediately prescribed it.

[Ms. Toad]

38. I had rebound (as near as we can tell)

I didn't test positive again - BUT - I've spent the last week dealing with really crappy symptoms. Apparently the rebound can be symptoms, positive tests, or both.

Usually Paxlovid isn't prescribed for a rebound infection.

[ForgedCrank]

12. If it

were me, I wouldn't take anything if I didn't need it.
I'm a proponent of letting my body do that sort of work naturally when appropriate. If I weren't sick from it, I wouldn't see the need.
I would still isolate myself to keep from spreading it though.
Anyway, that's just my personal approach.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

13. If I had *any* of the main risk factors -- over 50, HBP/heart issues, obesity, immunocompromised in some way -- I would.

[LeftInTX]

17. Good advice.

Although I am over 50 and didn't take it.
I had a very mild case.

[OnDoutside]

14. I think we have to remember that longevity has never

been higher thanks to medical science. A good guide for me is to rely on qualified medical advice.

[NoRethugFriends]

19. Take the damn Paxlovid. No reson not to.

[Ms. Toad]

39. There are reasons not to.

Some of the risks associated with Paxlovid are not insignificant. There are numerous drug interactions - so if you forget drugs (or don't tell your doctor about OTC medications - because if they are OTC they must be harmless, right?) you can have potentially fatal interactions. Paxlovid can also increase blood pressure.

I have intermittent high blood pressure when I take ibuprofen. I've had to take ibuprofen recently because of vaccine-induced headaches. Because I'm part of a research study for long COVID I know that even the few doses of ibuprofen I took for the headaches bumped my blood pressure up. I haven't taken any since the recent study visit. What I don't know is whehter it has dropped back to normal since then.

So - Paxlovid is not an innocuous medication About half of the people I've spoken with could not be prescribed Paxlovid because of risky side effects or potentially lethal side effects.

[LisaL]

21. Do you have risk factors?

If you have risk factors it might be a good idea.

[Emile]

23. Take another COVID test.

[DURHAM D]

25. 3 tests. All positive. nt

[Ms. Toad]

40. That's nothing . . .

I've been through at least 20 tests recently. 5 (3 different manufacturers) to confirm I really did have COVID.

[Darwins_Retriever]

24. Paxlovid is awesome

Took it and it knocked COVID out. My wife ended up taking it and she had a hard time during the medication phase.

[femmedem]

27. Sometimes people don't get really sick until after the Paxlovid window has closed.

I would talk to your health provider, and if you are going to take it, take it today.

With your symptoms having started on Friday, it won't do you any good if you delay.

[Raftergirl]

28. Yes, because if you get very sick it might be too late for Plaxovid. Advice is to take as soon as one is positive.

A lot of doctors are clueless about Plaxlovid and don’t recommend because of rebound - which you can get regardless if you take plaxlovid or not - or tell you to wait and see by which time it may be too late for it to help. I don’t understand how so many physicians are so uniformed.

[onecaliberal]

29. Yes. It protects against long COVID.

[Sympthsical]

30. Advice from PharmD

(Partner's a PharmD, I'm in nursing school)

This advice is for internet entertainment purposes, not to be taken as medical guidance, etc. etc.

Paxlovid should only be sought in asymptomatic cases if there are increased risk factors such as a heart condition, diabetes, cancer, immunodeficiency, etc.

However, a health provider should be consulted if possible, especially if there are issues surrounding kidney function. Paxlovid comes in a strong/weak dose. If kidney function is a concern, the physician will go for the weak dose in prophylactic cases.

In theory. Entertainingly.

[DURHAM D]

31. She is 80 yrs old and

takes statins and meds for high blood pressure. She was told to suspend taking statins for 10 days.

She has talked to one doctor and a pharmacist. It is still confusing.

[Sympthsical]

32. Age is one of the risk factors to be included

Older, blood pressure issues, etc.

If they're telling her to suspend taking statins, that means they just assume she's going to take the paxlovid. Paxlovid interferes with the liver's metabolism of statins, which cause them to hang around in her blood longer and increase the risks of certain side effects.

So something to keep an eye out for is any unusual muscle pain or urine discoloration. But it sounds like the advice you've received is for her to take it. Which is about right for the age/conditions you've described.

Telling her to stop the statins sounds like a go ahead to me.

[Ms. Toad]

41. I'd check with the doctors who assigned the meds.

Paxlovid can elevate blood pressure so that risk should be evaluated - and the doctor who prescribed the statins should weigh in on whether it is safe to stop them for 10 days.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

33. My doctors have told me to start Paxlovid if I test positive

I have several risk factors including COPD

[sinkingfeeling]

35. I did about 18 months ago. Doctor thought my age and other conditions warranted it.

[Ms. Toad]

36. No, absent extenuating circumstances.

I tested positive for COVID from 8 PM on December 11 through 1 PM on December 13. (ETA: I'm 67)

My singing voice felt "off" on Sunday (December 10). On December 11 I had a runny nose and (by 9 PM) a fever.

I would not have taken paxlovid, except that I had just finished the second weekend of three weekend run of performing Scrooge, the Musical. I was hoping to salvage the final weekend of performances by taking Paxlovid. (The theater rule requires a negative test; the CDC quarantine is 5 days from 1st symptoms - the odd voice on Sunday)

It (or the 7 vaccinations, most recently 3 weeks earlier) converted my positive test to negative - and eliminated all symptoms - by 41 hours after my first positive test. (I tested repeatedly, confirming both the positive tests - and the subsequent negative ones). By 1 PM on December 13 all symptoms had vanished and I was again testing negative. I felt absolutely fine through the weekend performances - no symptoms, negative tests every day. I masked whenever I wasn't on stage (and have continued to mask).

On Tuesday the 19th (a week after starting Paxlovid) I started to have respiratory symptoms. Massive sore throat for a couple of days, a fever for a half-dozen hours, and significant congestion. It is finally starting to dissipate today - a week later. As near as I can tell, this is Paxlovid rebound. It is possible it is a different respiratory condition - but the entire week has felt like the back half of an illness, rather than one starting at the beginning.

While it was very nice to be able to avoid disrupting Scrooge (I had 4 roles which they would have had to have someone take over at the last minute, or write out of the musical) this last week has been miserable (far more miserable than the initial symptoms from COVID).

Paxlovid also has not insignificant side effects and drug interactions. I currently have high blood pressure because I've needed to take ibuprofen because of vaccine-induced headaches - and one of the things Paxlovid can do is increase blood pressure. Keeping an eye on it. I'm also one of the "lucky" ~ 6% for whom Paxlovid tastes like 5 solid days of sucking on dirty sweat socks.

So absent extenuating circumstances (like the ones present this time) I probably won't take it again if I am asymptomatic (or minimally symptomatic).

[struggle4progress]

43. My health care folk had me take an anti-viral when I was positive but asymptomatic

Which anti-viral is appropriate may depend upon etc etc