Pregnancy and Paxlovid

Re: Pregnancy and Paxlovid

• 00kim00 member

  February 2023

  In general, it's much better to rely on scientific information based on studies with large populations rather than anecdotal stories from  whatever random stranger answers a post on the Internet. To that end, for all questions about drugs and other exposures, I love the Mother to Baby organization, which compiles all the known research and puts it into easy to understand fact sheets. Here's the one on Paxlovid: https://mothertobaby.org/fact-sheets/nirmatrelvir-ritonavir-paxlovid/
  
  You'll notice above I said "in general". If you read the linked fact sheet, you'll see there is very little research, so while nothing has shown harm, we haven't studied it enough to know for sure. When I had covid while pregnant, my doctors said I could get Paxlovid if I wanted, they don't necessarily recommend against it, but it is an unknown. I personally decided not to take it, but my symptoms were very mild and I was vaccinated and boosted. I do know that thousands of women have taken Paxlovid and many of those (maybe most, maybe all, we don't know) had perfectly healthy babies. Interestingly, about halfway through my pregnancy, I switched providers, and the new ones said when their patients get covid, they recommend monoclonal antibodies. They felt that had more evidence of safety. Now, this was October, so I don't know how effective it is against current strains or what the availability is in your area. But, if you haven't decided on Paxlovid yet, it might be an option to discuss with your providers.

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• tasha0117 Newbie

  February 2023

  Thank you so much for this information! I have an appt with my MD on Monday - going to speak with them about that.

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• Wishilivedinflorida member

  February 2023

  Just FYI that Paxlovid has a pretty narrow window for prescribing (I think within 5 days of symptom onset, regardless of when you got a positive) just in case you are running out of time. 

  
  

  Right now there are no effective monoclonal antibodies against the circulating strains. 😩
  
  When my husband got Covid a couple weeks ago I started prepping to decide what to do if I turned positive. My good friend is an infectious disease certified clinical pharmacist and said her available data favored taking it and she would have gone for it if in my shoes, even though I am vaccinated and boosted x2. Luckily I never got it, but given pregnant women are high risk, and Covid is associated with placental abnormalities/pre-e, I wanted anything and everything in my arsenal since I have a life threatening aspirin allergy. Just food for thought. 

  
  

  Good luck!

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