In studies I've seen, even people who didn't take Paxlovid have reported rebound. My doc said that, more than likely, people who experience it had a very high viral load and 5 days of medicine wasn't long enough to knock out the virus. The med doesn't cause rebound, per se, and the person would have been sick or positive that long anyway.

I have a lot of family members who have taken Paxlovid and they've had good experiences (minus the metal taste).

FWIW, the first time I got COVID in May 2021 I took Paxlovid and got a terrible rebound. It was worse than the initial infection. I don't know if it was the COVID or the Paxlovid but even after I was feeling better I had terrible stomach trouble and loss of appetite that took almost two months to resolve. I got COVID in May 2023 and it was a much milder infection, I did not take Paxlovid and was better within a week or two. I think it really is a gamble but given my experience with Paxlovid I will not take it again unless there is more evidence to show it prevents long covid or they fix this terrible rebound situation. I am 44 with two kids and live a very busy life. The whole experience in May 2021 really F'd up my entire summer. On the plus side I lost 10 pounds but that is the only positive. I probably had no business taking paxlovid in the first place. It doesn't sound like they have a whole lot of scientific proof that Paxlovid helps low risk people at all.

OP - I'm right there with you. I was dx'd this weekend and hesitant to take it. However, the NP made a pretty good argument for it and had taken it herself. The response to it was very impressive. I'm a little uneasy about rebound, but what I've seen is that the percentage of people who do get it is from 2-20%. Either way, that's still 80% minimum that don't. I am trying to think of it like Yelp reviews. You hear more from the people who aren't happy.

Anonymous wrote:Op here-thanks everyone.

I decided to take it. I felt improvement in my lungs within a day. That feels like a big deal because my lungs never fully recovered from the first time I had Covid. Other than fatigue and the metallic taste, I feel okay now.

Keeping my fingers crossed I won’t fall into the category of rebound folks and that I won’t fall back into my original long Covid symptoms.

Update? Are you glad you took it, OP?

Anonymous wrote:There's no evidence Paxlovid helps long Covid. Only evidence is that it helps reduce hospitalization in older individuals (I think over age 65.) I think it's massively oversold and many researchers are concerned it could lead to more resistant strains of Covid if so many people keep taking it.

Disagree. JAMA had a big study supporting the idea it helps

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcna119737

Op here-thanks everyone.

I decided to take it. I felt improvement in my lungs within a day. That feels like a big deal because my lungs never fully recovered from the first time I had Covid. Other than fatigue and the metallic taste, I feel okay now.

Keeping my fingers crossed I won’t fall into the category of rebound folks and that I won’t fall back into my original long Covid symptoms.

I'm taking it now.

I went from feeling like I was dying and unable to breathe to being tired yet able to walk around the house. Yeah, I have that bitter taste in my mouth but it's better than not being able to breathe.

I had COVID this time last year (for the first time). I was 26 weeks pregnant. My symptoms were absolutely horrible, but I was still hesitant to take Paxlovid, though I ultimately did. I just did what I thought was best for me and my baby (with guidance from my OB). Between being pregnant and having asthma, I really think I would have been hospitalized if it weren’t for the medication. Thankfully, I gave birth to my healthy baby girl in March.

The medicine was fine except for the awful mouth taste. Though, I’ve heard not everyone gets it? I think being pregnant made it even worse. I had “morning sickness” the entire pregnancy.

I would take it again if I had to.

Anonymous wrote:It takes your symptoms away very quickly. I expected the taste, and did not find it to be that bad.

I also got subtle diarrhea towards the end of my course, but that was mild.

It has to vary by person because it is a horrifically bad after taste for me. So gross and is lasting all day.

Anonymous wrote:It helped me and I’d take it again in a heartbeat.

Same.

It takes your symptoms away very quickly. I expected the taste, and did not find it to be that bad.

I also got subtle diarrhea towards the end of my course, but that was mild.

Why not? Rebound is just the COVID returning, usually more mildly.

You already have COVID, so there is nothing to lose.

I was going to post the same question at exactly the same time as OP. I got a prescription from my doctor at 11 am and now around 35 hours later am feeling so much better. The only drawback is I have the absolute worst taste in the back of my mouth. Like metallic.

There's no evidence Paxlovid helps long Covid. Only evidence is that it helps reduce hospitalization in older individuals (I think over age 65.) I think it's massively oversold and many researchers are concerned it could lead to more resistant strains of Covid if so many people keep taking it.

I would take it. I loved it. I tested negative after 48 hours and no rebound. Same with my husband.