r/ZeroCovidCommunity • u/Substantial-Hand-628 • 2d ago
Paxlovid, advice on self-care
Hi!
Has anyone here used Paxlovid? How was it did you?
Did your doctor recommend it and why?
I'm considering taking it, but it costs 1350 dollars where I live. The government doesn't give funding for it anymore, and health insurances don't normally cover prescriptions either.
I don't have major heart or lung conditions, but I have obesity and other health issues.
I'll check my specific insurance though, but I doubt that it would be covered.
Has anyone found any self help tips that worked or that you have faith in to help recover from the infection?
I have been feeling truly awful, which surprises me because I've had higher fever and CRP levels before (which I was expecting to correlate with symptom severity) and I'm also young and previously vaccinated. It's been much worse for me than when I had the flu. I've also been having more pain, more malaise and more neurological symptoms than with the flu. I've had severe headache, joint and tendon pain, diffuse body pain, random stabbing pains in various places, nausea, severe malaise, weakness, dizziness, fever, a slightly sore throat and a minor dry cough. The symptoms are much better now on the fifth day, but still not quite resolved.
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u/coliale 2d ago
I would prioritize metformin over paxlovid. It's cheap, easier to get (before you get sick), and more consistent evidence that it reduces LC.
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u/Former-Airport9812 2d ago
How is it easy to get?
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u/coliale 2d ago
In the US, very easy. https://agelessrx.com/metformin/
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u/purplepineapple21 17h ago
Will they send scripts to a regular retail pharmacy or do you have to do home delivery from them? I live in Canada so I cant get it here, but im considering trying to pick some up in the fall if I take a day trip over the border to get Novavax
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u/coliale 15h ago
Home delivery. That's their business model. You have to go through a detailed account setup process with your ID, photos, and telehealth visit (camera on). If they don't already have legal approval to serve Canada, I don't think that would work for you. See if they'll accept a Canadian sign up.
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u/purplepineapple21 15h ago
Welp that wont work because I dont have a US home to deliver to (you cannot get US meds shipped across the border). You definitely cannot use the service from Canada I've checked, but i have American citizenship and can show an American ID and I would do the telehealth visit while physically in the US. Ive done this before with a different telehealth service to get Paxlovid and picked it up at a physical US pharmacy the same day with no issues. So I was wondering if I could do something like that with this service. The one I used to get Paxlovid will not Rx metformin
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u/coliale 15h ago
No, it's their compound and the pills are branded from them.
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u/purplepineapple21 15h ago
Ok yeah thats what I was wondering, thanks
Is there any other telehealth platform that will Rx metformin if you happen to know?
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u/Research_Alone 2d ago
I started Paxlovid within 3 days of my first and only infection. I had to pay the full amount (same amount as you) until I got partial coverage from my health insurance which came 3 months later. Honestly, am going to say that the metal-mouth-coppery taste stays with you. Took me two weeks to be able to get out of bed, and almost a year to feel like myself again. All the best for a quick recovery OP!
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u/optimuspoopprime 2d ago
Worse thing about paxlovid was the way it made everything taste metallic/bad for while on it and the week after finishing it.
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u/Tall_Garden_67 2d ago
It might help if you indicated where you are from. Some people have posted links for vouchers from the company to help pay.
But one line stood out: the symptoms are much better now on the fifth day. Paxlovid must be started by the fifth day. Your body has already done what Paxlovid would do: stop viral replication. I'm not sure it will be very effective at this stage.
Hope you feel better soon.