Oral antiviral drug Paxlovid has become available for COVID patients 65 years old and above. A doctor said he had dysgeusia, or altercation of taste, as a side effect after taking the medication.
Many frontline medical personnel are coming down with COVID-19 as the domestic epidemic situation worsens. A well-known Kaohsiung doctor recently tested positive, and was given oral antiviral medication Paxlovid as he was over the age of 65. He has been using the medication for two days. He hasn't experienced diarrhea or vomiting, which are reported side effects, but he has developed a lasting bitter taste in his mouth. He says many patients have reported this side effect after using the medication. Luckily, they can use sweet food to counteract it.
COVID-19 Patient: “We call this non-specific, but half of the people who take this medication really do report that their mouths feel abnormal. My thought is that we still have to take it, because it can protect (against severe symptoms). After all, 19 out of every 100 people haven't even gotten one vaccine dose.”
Studies show that Paxlovid is most effective when taken for the full five-day course. The course must be finished even if symptoms are relieved. Reported side effects include changes to the sense of taste, diarrhea, and vomiting. Doctors say if the side effects are too intense and people feel unwell, they can inform their doctor and their doctor will make an assessment. No one should stop taking it of their own volition.
Tseng Che-huang, Dep. Superintendent, Gee-Tien Ear Nose & Throat Hospital: “There's a problem with Paxlovid, which is that because it is metabolized in the liver, it will affect many commonly taken medications such as anticoagulants that are metabolized in the liver and kidneys, which will in turn affect the drugs' blood concentration and cause other side effects and risks.”
Early treatment and usage of medication can reduce the risk of developing moderate and severe cases. However, the use of Paxlovid with other drugs may result in potentially significant drug interactions, so those with chronic diseases or long-term medication users should report their medical history and drug usage to their doctor to ensure that the antiviral is suitable for them.
疫情嚴峻讓第一線醫護也陸續確診，高雄一位知名醫師近日確診，因年齡超過65歲，符合抗病毒藥物使用條件，目前已服用Paxlovid兩天。服用後雖未出現常見的腹瀉、嘔吐副作用，但嘴巴常感到苦澀，醫師表示也有不少患者反應吃藥後，出現相同狀況，可靠甜食緩解。
確診醫師說：「這個我們叫非特異性，但是這個藥真的會，有一半的人會覺得嘴巴的感覺是怪怪的，但是我是覺得還是要吃，吃了我們就可以（防重症），因為我們還是有100個（中），有19個連1劑疫苗都沒有打。」
根據研究，Paxlovid要達到最大療效，需吃完5天份的藥物，即使症狀已緩解仍得吃完。而Paxlovid的副作用包括味覺改變，還有腹瀉或嘔吐等。醫師建議若副作用太劇烈、不舒服，可告知醫師，由醫師評估，不可擅自停藥。
吉田診所副院長曾哲凰指出：「Paxlovid有個問題就是說，因為它在肝裡代謝，它會影響很多在肝跟腎代謝的一些平常在吃的藥物，有如抗凝血劑，會影響我們其他吃的藥的血液濃度，造成這些藥在我們身體裡，造成更多其他的副作用跟危險。」
早期治療、用藥，雖可降低中重症可能性，但醫師也提醒，Paxlovid跟多種藥物會起交互作用，所以請醫師評估開立前，特別是有慢性病、正在長期用藥的人，最好詳細告知過去病史跟用藥狀況，以確保抗病毒藥物不會對身體造成其他危害。
