After sharing my positive experience with using Covid-19 medication to treat ME/CFS in multiple Facebook groups, I have been receiving many questions about it. That’s why I’ve written this blog post to summarize my personal experiences. Please note: this is my personal experience! No promises of healing, no medical advice, just how I have experienced taking Paxlovid and its ongoing effects after eight months.
ME/CFS – My Story in Brief
Unfortunately, I can’t pinpoint exactly when I got ME/CFS. You can find a more detailed description of my journey to diagnosis in this blog post! In short: the suspicion arose in April 2022, and I received the diagnosis in September 2022. I have made improvements in my health by adjusting my pace, taking supplements, improving my sleep habits, and implementing other measures. However, a minor infection in January 2023 caused a setback.
And Then: Corona
In February 2023, both my son and husband were diagnosed with Covid. They got sick one day apart, and my hubby’s condition worsened, leading to lung failure. Another day later and my test came back positive. The ICU doctor of my hubby recommended that I be prescribed Paxlovid as well. This is because of my pre-existing conditions, particularly asthma, and because I still need to take care of our child. So, I called the emergency medical service (we have such a wonderful thing here in Germany!) since it was already after 5 pm. They recognized my difficult situation and the impossibility of driving to the emergency clinic for 30 minutes. Instead, they sent a doctor to our house, who arrived at 8 pm and immediately prescribed Paxlovid. The next day, I was fortunate to get the last pack at our local pharmacy.
I was naturally very worried because I feared that Covid would finally bring me down with ME/CFS. And how would I then take care of my child and myself? Since we both have celiac disease, we couldn’t just order pizza or something similar. However, the concern turned out to be unfounded.
Taking Paxlovid
So, I took the first dose of Paxlovid and resigned myself to my fate. My son and I snuggled up on the couch, expecting to feel really miserable. Only, that didn’t happen to me! On the contrary! Suddenly, I started cleaning the kitchen! And walking up and down the stairs in the house – faster than I had in the last 12 months. I began cleaning and decluttering the kitchen cabinets. My son looked at me with surprise when I started moving around more. Unfortunately, he wasn’t feeling well because of Covid.
What is Paxlovid Anyway?
I started researching because my behavior seemed really strange to me. Paxlovid is an antiviral medication used to treat COVID-19. It was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in December 2021 and is the first antiviral drug approved for treating COVID-19. Paxlovid is a combination of the active ingredients Nirmatrelvir and Ritonavir.
Nirmatrelvir is a protease inhibitor, meaning it inhibits the virus’s replication in infected cells. Ritonavir is a medication that helps boost the concentration of Nirmatrelvir in the blood. This increases the effectiveness of Paxlovid.
Why Can Paxlovid Help with ME/CFS?
ME/CFS is a chronic condition often triggered by a viral infection. I’ve had this condition since 2010 or possibly earlier, in a mild form, and it has worsened to Bell 40 since March/April 2022 due to two infections.
In layman’s terms, Paxlovid kills as many viruses as possible in the body. And apparently, it hit the virus responsible for ME/CFS in my case.
Does Paxlovid Always Help with ME/CFS?
In various groups, I read that some ME/CFS patients had ME/CFS permanently and sustainably disappear after taking Paxlovid. Others reported significant improvements, sometimes lasting only a week, and for some, there has been no worsening since then. Others, however, noticed no improvement in ME/CFS. It seems like so different approaches for ME/CFS. What works for one person may not work for another.
How Am I Doing? As of November 2023
My health improved for a long time, despite the constant stress our family has been under since Covid. My hubby was in hospital and rehab for several months, which naturally burdened me mentally and physically.
Since he’s been back home, I’ve been gradually and subtly feeling worse again. That’s why I’ve started using nicotine patches, which Dr. Leitzke is currently testing online with the ME/CFS community. Here is his basic video, and a blog post from me will follow!
https://youtu.be/8xTnLNhHkhM?si=LgtXZqefAxndaGmA
What Does This Mean for You?
Honestly, I can’t tell you. If you have ME/CFS and get infected with Covid-19, try to get Paxlovid. Because maybe you’re lucky, and it helps against ME/CFS as well. I’m afraid there’s currently no other way to get Paxlovid, but you should discuss this with your doctor.
Here’s the study that is currently ongoing; I haven’t found results yet. If I come across more, I’ll update the post!