Side Effects From Paxlovid Are Now Emerging

Paxlovid is the latest COVID-19 pill developed by Pfizer, allowing patients to have specified treatment for COVID at home. However, one side effect of the medicine might be troublesome – it may leave an awful taste in your mouth.

“It was like the smell that hot garbage has, but in your mouth.” The search for remedies to Paxlovid mouth. https://t.co/gVVfR0hXvt

— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) August 16, 2022

Multiple reports have suggested that many people are troubled by “Paxlovid Mouth.” According to the Wall Street Journal, patients who went through this new side effect described it as “sun-baked trash-bag liquid, a mouthful of dirty pennies and rotten soymilk.” Even more worrisome is that the aftertaste is long-lasting, and cannot be removed easily. The taste will keep hovering in the patients’ mouths unless they choose to stop taking the drug. Nevertheless, discontinuing the medication may not be the first choice for patients, as doing so too soon might result in a rebound of the disease.

Patients troubled by “Paxlovid Mouth” took to Twitter to share their personal experiences. One user wrote, “It kept me awake the first night and all I tasted was bitterness and ash for 4 days straight.”

I feel so vindicated!! I had no idea others had that terrible taste like I did. It kept me awake the first night and all I tasted was bitterness and ash for 4 days straight.

Still worth it 100% though.
[free link]https://t.co/loEEZflp8r

— Andy Stevens 🇺🇸 (@mrandystevens) August 17, 2022

It absolutely does. I lost at least 5lbs during the week I was on Paxlovid due to having no appetite, mostly because of the horrendous taste in my mouth at all times. I resorted to having lemon drop candy next to me at all times. It didn’t fully get rid of it, but it helped. https://t.co/7Tqx0XAv91

— Laura Tull ♿ (@LauraTheUndying) August 17, 2022

Just finished my last dose of paxlovid. I will not miss you mouth taste of satans ashtray.

— Robert Makes Games (@RobertJSchuster) August 11, 2022

Pfizer has acknowledged the side effect which is formally called dysgeusia. According to the data they published, around 5.6% of patients will experience the “Paxlovid Mouth.” Different methods to deal with this new side effect were also shared on the internet through social media. Some suggested that a “big supply of very strongly flavored hard candy” would work. Others recommended some sweet flavored mouthwash that could do the trick.

Since paxlovid mouth is trending i thought i’d share the only thing that actually helped me with it. i tried tons of gums, mints, lozenges, but the only savior i had? these kiddy mouthwash flavors. completely lifesaving. i kept one by me the whole time i was on paxlovid. pic.twitter.com/77bhrPNbOT

— aspen. (@kickastreetlamp) August 17, 2022

Paxlovid tip: Hot Tamales (the cinnamon candy) get rid of that awful never ending terrible taste in your mouth the medicine gives you.

— Jenova VII (@jenovaswiitness) August 12, 2022

Scott Roberts, a Yale School of Medicine infectious disease specialist, also suggests people try sucking on things that bind to the mouth’s taste receptors, such as lozenges and mints. In Wall Street Journal‘s report, practices like drinking chocolate milk and eating peanut butter before taking the drug are also recommended.

Though the side effect of Paxlovid is troublesome, the medication significantly lowers the risk of hospitalization and mortality in people with Coronavirus by 89%. For their own health, patients should still keep using the drug unless vomiting or have an allergic reaction. Pfizer is now developing new drugs for people who struggle to swallow Paxlovid. More updates will follow with the advancement of the production of the new drugs.