Possible Side Effects

PAXLOVIDTM is used in adults to treat mild-to-moderate coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in patients who:

  • Have a positive result from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) viral test and
  • Have a high risk of getting severe COVID-19, including hospitalization or death.

PAXLOVID is NOT approved for any of the following:

  • To treat patients who are hospitalized due to severe or critical COVID-19.
  • To prevent COVID-19.
  • To be used for longer than 5 days in a row.
  • For use in children and adolescents less than 18 years of age.

Patients with kidney problems: Tell your healthcare professional before you take PAXLOVID if you have any kidney problems. You might need a lower dose of PAXLOVID. Your healthcare professional will prescribe a dose that is right for you.
Serious interactions with other medicines: Many medicines interact with PAXLOVID. Taking PAXLOVID with these medicines may cause serious or life-threatening side effects. Tell your healthcare professional about all the medicines you take before you start taking PAXLOVID.

What are the possible side effects from using
PAXLOVID?

These are not all the possible side effects you may have when taking PAXLOVID. If you experience any side effects not listed here, tell your healthcare professional.

Side effects may include:

  • altered sense of taste
  • diarrhea
  • muscle pain
  • vomiting
  • high blood pressure
  • headache
  • abdominal pain
  • nausea
  • general feeling of discomfort

Not many people have taken PAXLOVID. Serious and unexpected side effects may happen. PAXLOVID is still being studied, so it is possible that all the side effects are not known at this time.

If you have a troublesome symptom or side effect that is not listed here or becomes bad enough to interfere with your daily activities, tell your healthcare professional.

How do I report side effects with PAXLOVID?

You can report any suspected side effects associated with the use of health products to Health Canada by:

  • Visiting the Web page on Adverse Reaction Reporting (https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/medeffect-canada/adverse-reaction-reporting.html) for information on how to report online, by mail or by fax; or
  • Calling toll-free at 1-866-234-2345.

NOTE: Contact your health professional if you need information about how to manage your side effects. The Canada Vigilance Program does not provide medical advice.​​​​​​​

Related Pages

Frequently Asked QuestionsResources

Pfizer is committed to ensuring that people have accurate
information about the drug PAXLOVID, including how it is
accessed and administered.