Covid anti-virals….are they a mythical thing

[Swansandcustard]

I’m CV and yesterday tested strong positive for Covid. I registered the test, and later on someone called about the anti-virals. I wasn’t feeling horrendous yesterday and told the lady calling. She said they wouldn’t prescribe the meds as I felt ok, and to ring 111 or my gp if I felt worse and they’d get me sorted.

Today I feel awful, painful cough, raging temperature and shivers. 111 said ambulance or call GP. Called GP, he said primary care isn’t allowed to prescribe. They suggested going to A and E, which seems a terrible waste of resources (as did the ambulance). What should I do? I can’t believe they’ve made it so tricky to get hold of them. Rang my immunology helpline, it only operates 3 days a week 9-11am.

I’m assuming they’re so stretched, it’s a hope for the best until it isn’t. I’m shocked there’s so much bureaucracy built into something so basic! My gp has access to all my medical records, and I’m happy to do a test in front of him. Are they expensive? Fun side effects?

I had a sotrovimab antibody infusion in March. I was called two hours after doing the test and it was all arranged for the next day.

Have you a consultant’s secretary you could call?

They called quickly, but decided I didn’t need it!

Did they base that on your symptoms, medication or conditions?

They should continue to ring you every day to check how you are, they should have a left a contact phone number also. That's what happened to me. Luckily I was ok.

Best of luck getting it sorted and I hope you feel better soon.

I had infusion antivirals via 111 - they passed the details to my local urgent care who arranged it at the local hospital. They took details of symptoms and medications- mine meant I couldn't have tablets. I was called back the same day and an appt organised for the next. I had to register my positive covid test via the nhs app and that was it.

@PercyPhelps symptoms, she said as I didn’t feel too bad they wouldn’t prescribe and signposted me to 111/GP to access. 111 said the only was A and E, under my own steam or ambulance, or GP who said no can do. I’ve slept most of today, temp up and down and chest starting to get really congested. I have heart disease as well so not working from the best place!

I think I’m going to do another test and register it.

I had the Paxlovid tablets and my DH picked them up from the hospital pharmacy or they would have couriered them to me. The system was a bit slow and took 2-3 days to get them to me after registering a positive test in February.

My symptoms were mild.

No follow-up checks.

A friend of mine had anti vitals last week. She tested positive and the tablets came the next day. She has a lot of other health issues.

She felt much better within a day of starting to take them. But, as she said, she doesn't know how she would be without them. She could have started feeling better anyway.

If you give us an approximate area (county level) I can see if I can find someone to report the issue to for you (likely a PALS team).

That's assuming you have completed the steps outlined below:

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/covid-19/treatments-for-covid-19/

I had the antivirals via IV January 2021z
However I've currently got covid again and although they called me they've now changed the guidelines. So as it stands I don't get them this time unless things got much worse. Apparently their guidelines keep changing, the latest change only a month or two ago.

They are prescribing them. I tested positive yesterday evening and had my ring back this morning. A courier will drop them off tomorrow.
You say you weren’t feeling too bad when you tested. What made you do a test? Antivirals only work if they are prescribed at the start of the virus (under 5 days), so if you have had mild symptoms for days, they may think you are too far into the cycle to be of any help.
Hope you feel better soon and ring 111 or 999 if symptoms get a lot worse.

Give had two lots of them, both times I had a call after registering a positive test, last time in February. I’m pretty sure that the call was from the local hospital trust team. Worth calling the local hospital switchboard?

I started feeling unwell overnight Tuesday. I tested because DH has just got over something very Covid-like (was out of the country for most of it). Idiot refused to test, so when I started feeling ill I tested.

I did all the steps in the link, it must be around the new guidelines but certainly 111/GP are no help. Love how joined up it isn’t.

I’m in Northants.

@Swansandcustard in that case, I have no idea why they wouldn’t prescribe them, but I was told by the lady who assessed me that new criteria came in in April.
Here in Hampshire, only one hospital (Southampton) is dispensing the drug. They have to do it for the whole county - a huge area/population to cover!
I hope you feel better soon.