Health Conditions A-Z Infectious Diseases COVID-19 What Is 'Paxlovid Mouth'? By Korin Miller Korin Miller Korin Miller is a freelance writer specializing in general wellness, sexual health and relationships, shopping, and lifestyle trends, with work appearing in Women’s Health, Self, Prevention, Daily Beast, and more. health's editorial guidelines Updated on July 26, 2024 Medically reviewed by Kashif J. Piracha, MD Medically reviewed by Kashif J. Piracha, MD Kashif J. Piracha, MD, FACP, FASN, FNKF, is a practicing physician at Methodist Willowbrook Hospital. learn more Fact checked by Richard Scherr Fact checked by Richard Scherr Rich Scherr is an updates strategist and fact checker for Health.com. He is a seasoned journalist and editor with over two decades of experience, he has held several leadership roles at major publications. health's fact checking process Close Getty Images A bad taste in the mouth (dysgeusia), which many have called "Paxlovid mouth," isn't a common side effect of Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir and ritonavir). About 6% of participants in the Paxlovid clinical trial group developed an altered taste, compared to less than 1% of those in the placebo group. Paxlovid is a life-saving antiviral medication that treats COVID-19. This drug has been shown to cut the risk of hospitalization or death in high-risk people by nearly 90% if it's taken within the first few days of infection. Here's what to know about what Paxlovid mouth is, how it happens, and why it shouldn't deter you from the treatment if a healthcare provider recommends it. Do Vitamins Help Prevent and Treat COVID-19? What Is Paxlovid? Paxlovid is a combination of two drugs—nirmatrelvir and ritonavir—that are co-packaged to treat mild to moderate COVID. This medication is prescription-only. It's meant to be used as soon as possible after COVID diagnosis, or within five days of symptom onset. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Paxlovid for adults aged 18 and older who have tested positive for COVID and are at high risk for severe illness. Paxlovid is also authorized for emergency use in people aged 12 or older who weigh at least 88 pounds. What Is 'Paxlovid Mouth'? Paxlovid mouth is a side effect in which people experience a bad, bitter taste in their mouth after taking the COVID medicine. It's one of the most common side effects of Paxlovid. The bad taste that can accompany Paxlovid may be the result of several factors. One factor is that the medicine itself is made with a bitter ingredient, ritonavir, which already has a bitter taste. The lingering bad taste the drug can leave in the mouth may be because the drug is excreted in the salivary glands, Jamie Alan, PharmD, associate professor of pharmacology and toxicology at Michigan State University, told Health. This process happens with other medications, meaning it isn't unique to Paxlovid. Another theory: "Many times, it's just the medication in the system stimulating the taste buds," Omid Mehdizadeh, MD, an otolaryngologist and laryngologist at Providence Saint John's Health Center, told Health. Research has shown that nirmatrelvir activates a specific bitter taste receptor in the mouth. How Long It Lasts There's not much research available about how long Paxlovid mouth lasts. Paxlovid mouth doesn't appear to be a long-lasting symptom. It's likely the side effect will last until you stop taking Paxlovid. How To Get Rid of Paxlovid Mouth Official treatments for Paxlovid mouth have not been identified. Saltwater gargles or lozenges may help if you feel the need to try to mask the taste, said Dr. Mehdizadeh. You also may not experience Paxlovid mouth after you've finished taking it. Unless a healthcare provider says otherwise, you don't want to stop taking it. Other Side Effects Other side effects of Paxlovid, in addition to a bitter taste in the mouth, include: Abdominal pain Diarrhea Feeling ill in general Headaches Muscle aches Nausea or vomiting When To Contact a Healthcare Provider See a healthcare provider if you have side effects that worsen or don't go away. You'll need to seek immediate medical care for unusual problems or the following symptoms when taking Paxlovid: Appetite loss Dark-colored urine Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath Eyes or skin that turn yellow Lip, mouth, or tongue swelling Pale-colored stools Skin itchiness, rashes, and redness Tell a healthcare provider what medications you're taking if they recommend Paxlovid. Some medications interact with nirmatrelvir and ritonavir. Both can decrease how effective hormonal birth control works. How Long After COVID Can I Get a Booster? A Quick Review Paxlovid mouth, which falls under dysgeusia, is a bitter taste in the mouth that occurs when people take the COVID medication. There are no official Paxlovid mouth treatments. Gargling saltwater and using lozenges may be helpful for getting rid of the taste. There are other side effects of Paxlovid, including headaches, nausea, and abdominal pain. See a healthcare provider for signs of allergic reactions, changes in stool, or other unusual symptoms when taking Paxlovid. The information in this story is accurate as of publication. However, as the situation surrounding COVID continues to evolve, it's possible that some data have changed since publication. While Health is trying to keep our stories as up-to-date as possible, we also encourage readers to stay informed on news and recommendations for their own communities by using the CDC, WHO, and their local public health department as resources. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit 10 Sources Health.com uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Pfizer. Pfizer shares top-line results from phase 2/3 EPIC-PEP study of Paxlovid for post-exposure prophylactic use. Pfizer. Pfizer announces additional phase 2/3 study results confirming robust efficacy of novel COVID-19 oral antiviral treatment candidate in reducing risk of hospitalization or death. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Paxolovid (nirmatrelvir co-packaged with ritonavir). 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