Paxlovid and Gastric Bypass

[MarisAthena 61]

I was wondering if anyone that had gastric bypass took Paxlovid for Covid. It is amazing that I could not find any information on this topic on this website or any others. Knowing the decreased medication absorption after gastric bypass, can anyone let me know:

1) Did you take Paxlovid for the 5 days prescribed? 2) Was the Paxlovid administered as whole pills or did you crush the pills? 3) Any side effects? 4) Any advice?

Thank you so much!

[toodlerue 452]

I tried to take it. I took it whole & it gave me a terrible, horrible taste in my mouth! I could only do it for 2 days. My man took it with no problems. I had another friend take it & she had the terrible, horrible taste too!

[catwoman7 11,220]

there may be no info on it because it could be that no one has researched it. However, I've never had an issue with prescriptions. I know we're not supposed to take extended release versions of pills, and I know some people have to switch or increase their dosage of some meds (e.g. antidepressants), but I've never run into any of this with any of the prescriptions I've had. I've just taken them using the general instructions.. Also, you're far enough out that you shouldn't have to crush pills. I haven't crushed pills in years - I've been able to take everything whole ever since about my third week post-op.

[ReadingMochaMom4 6]

I took it the 5 days and felt better the whole time I was on it.
I'm 3 years out on my surgery.

On the day after my surgery the nurses in the hospital had me taking giant horse pills.

Thank goodness my brother was there (who just had the surgery 3 months earlier) and gave major push back.

I hope your symptoms dissipate and you feel better soon.

[MarisAthena 61]

15 hours ago, toodlerue said:

I tried to take it. I took it whole & it gave me a terrible, horrible taste in my mouth! I could only do it for 2 days. My man took it with no problems. I had another friend take it & she had the terrible, horrible taste too!

Thank you so much for the information, I was wondering if your friend had gastric bypass as well. I do not think I would mind the taste, but since my surgery was 4 months ago I am more concerned about the absorption rate.

[MarisAthena 61]

9 hours ago, catwoman7 said:

there may be no info on it because it could be that no one has researched it. However, I've never had an issue with prescriptions. I know we're not supposed to take extended release versions of pills, and I know some people have to switch or increase their dosage of some meds (e.g. antidepressants), but I've never run into any of this with any of the prescriptions I've had. I've just taken them using the general instructions.. Also, you're far enough out that you shouldn't have to crush pills. I haven't crushed pills in years - I've been able to take everything whole ever since about my third week post-op.

Thank you for letting me know that I should not worry about crushing the pills, I truly appreciate it!

[MarisAthena 61]

7 hours ago, ReadingMochaMom4 said:

I took it the 5 days and felt better the whole time I was on it.
I'm 3 years out on my surgery.

On the day after my surgery the nurses in the hospital had me taking giant horse pills.

Thank goodness my brother was there (who just had the surgery 3 months earlier) and gave major push back.

I hope your symptoms dissipate and you feel better soon.

Thank you, it is good to know that you took it for 5 days, it gives me peace of mind to know that someone already did that and all was perfectly fine. Really awful experience with those nurses, we have to be our own advocates sometimes.

[jesscanntoo 4]

21 hours ago, MarisAthena said:

I was wondering if anyone that had gastric bypass took Paxlovid for Covid. It is amazing that I could not find any information on this topic on this website or any others. Knowing the decreased medication absorption after gastric bypass, can anyone let me know:

1) Did you take Paxlovid for the 5 days prescribed? 2) Was the Paxlovid administered as whole pills or did you crush the pills? 3) Any side effects? 4) Any advice?

Thank you so much!

I took it 3 weeks after my surgery as I came down with covid just a few weeks after my surgery. I took the pills as prescribed... so at their full size and at the normal dosage. It was fine. They also gave me tessalon pearls to help with the coughing as the coughing was really doing a number on my internal stitches.

[toodlerue 452]

1 hour ago, MarisAthena said:

Thank you so much for the information, I was wondering if your friend had gastric bypass as well. I do not think I would mind the taste, but since my surgery was 4 months ago I am more concerned about the absorption rate.

My friend has NOT had any weight loss surgery.

[MarisAthena 61]

On 10/22/2023 at 8:57 PM, jesscanntoo said:

I took it 3 weeks after my surgery as I came down with covid just a few weeks after my surgery. I took the pills as prescribed... so at their full size and at the normal dosage. It was fine. They also gave me tessalon pearls to help with the coughing as the coughing was really doing a number on my internal stitches.

Thank you so very much! I am truly grateful for this information, especially the Tessalon PERLE, I never heard of this medication, and I learned it from you. 😀

[jesscanntoo 4]

On 10/30/2023 at 8:29 PM, MarisAthena said:

Thank you so very much! I am truly grateful for this information, especially the Tessalon PERLE, I never heard of this medication, and I learned it from you. 😀

I apologize for just now responding to this. I just saw it, as I don't come on here as often as perhaps I ought to. I just don't have time, and more often than not, the threads don't seem to connect to my particular situation.

You are welcome. Hope you are feeling better! Yes, The Tessalon Perles were a lifesaver during both bouts of Covid I have had.

[LISS011 11]

I took Paxlovid two out of the 3 times I had covid. It helped tremendously, I took whole pills, no problem.