Taking Paxlovid Probably Won’t Protect You from Long COVID

Paxlovid may be a lifesaver for high-risk COVID patients, but it likely won't prevent long COVID symptoms from developing after infection. In a new study, researchers found that the antiviral medication was not effective in reducing the risk of many post-COVID conditions, including those affecting the heart, lungs, kidneys, nerves, stomach, gastrointestinal tract, muscles, and mental health.

The researchers evaluated more than 9,500 non-hospitalized COVID patients who were treated with Paxlovid and compared their post-infection outcomes to those of untreated control subjects. Paxlovid was only associated with a reduced risk of blood clots.

The authors conclude that these results suggest long COVID conditions may not be important factors to consider when making COVID-19 treatment decisions.