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URLhttps://www.verywellhealth.com/paxlovid-mouth-what-to-do-6361685
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Meta TitleDealing With the Dreaded Paxlovid Mouth
Meta DescriptionFind out how to handle "Paxlovid mouth," the metallic taste from the COVID drug, with effective tips that support your treatment plan.
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Key Takeaways “Paxlovid mouth” is the lingering bad taste that some people get while they are taking the antiviral drug Paxlovid for a COVID-19 infection. The taste may last for the duration of Paxlovid treatment—five days—and has been described as bitter or metallic. Drinking water and eating strong-flavored candies can help manage the bad taste from Paxlovid. That lingering metallic taste you're experiencing while on Paxlovid, known as Paxlovid mouth, is completely normal and generally resolves after treatment. Stay the course, as this side effect is a small trade-off for the drug's powerful protection against serious COVID-19 complications. Paxlovid-Related Taste Changes Shivanjali Shankaran, MD , assistant professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Rush Medical College, explained that the change or impairment in taste is known as dysgeusia . Shivanjali Shankaran, MD This bad metallic taste in the mouth from Paxlovid happens irrespective of what COVID may be doing. — Shivanjali Shankaran, MD Shankaran said that the dysgeusia caused by Paxlovid has nothing to do with the loss of the senses of taste and smell that was seen frequently with infection from the first COVID-19 variants that circulated in 2020 and 2021. “This bad metallic taste in the mouth from Paxlovid happens irrespective of what COVID may be doing,” said Shankaran. The Omicron variant of the virus and its subvariants, which have become the dominant variants, do not usually cause problems with taste. When it was still in clinical trials, Paxlovid did cause impaired or altered taste in some of the patients who took it. Now, the incidence of dysgeusia might be increasing because the drug is being used widely. “It may be that we’ll find out after we’ve been able to look back at all these cases that the rates are higher,” said Shankaran. What Makes Paxlovid Taste Bad? Paxlovid is a combination of two different antiviral medications: nirmatrelvir and ritonavir. Rather than being combined into one pill, the two drugs are packaged together as separate tablets that patients take at the same time twice a day for five days. Typically, each dose involves two 150 mg tablets of nirmatrelvir and one 100 mg tablet of ritonavir. So, which medication is the culprit? Shankaran said that the lingering bad taste might be caused by ritonavir, which is also used to treat HIV infections . People taking it for HIV often report experiencing dysgeusia while they’re being treated. Shankaran notes that other drugs can also cause a bad taste, such as the antibiotics metronidazole and clarithromycin. Chemotherapy drugs often cause a metallic taste in the mouth . Several factors could explain the bad taste from Paxlovid: Chemesthesis : This process involves another sensation being confused with taste. For instance, the hotness of jalapeño peppers is a physical pain on the tongue, not a taste. Salivary excretion : Both nirmatrelvir and ritonavir can enter your saliva, allowing you to taste them repeatedly. This might explain why the bad taste persists until the next dose. Bitter receptor activation : One study found that nirmatrelvir activates TAS2R1, one of the bitter taste receptors in the mouth. In addition to the bad taste, Paxlovid also has other side effects, including diarrhea, elevated blood pressure, and muscle aches. Home Remedies for Paxlovid Mouth For Sue DeBenedette of Tucson, Arizona, the bad taste from Paxlovid disappeared while eating or drinking, but returned once she stopped. Drinking a lot of water turned out to be a good thing for Sue, both in dealing with the taste of Paxlovid and rehydrating from diarrhea, which is both a COVID symptom and a side effect of the medication. Her partner Rob wasn’t so lucky. “Nothing made me feel better. Nothing,” he said. Shivanjali Shankaran, MD The bad taste is pretty bad, but the medications are definitely worth it. — Shivanjali Shankaran, MD Brushing your teeth or using mouthwash usually won't help with the dysgeusia. Instead, Shankaran suggests consuming foods or drinks that coat your mouth, such as chocolate milk, chocolate pudding, or peanut butter. Some people find relief by sucking on strongly flavored candies. Examples include cinnamon candies like Hot Tamales, Red Hots, and Atomic Fireballs, or strong mints like Altoids. Online forums often recommend these for coping with Paxlovid mouth. Shankaran mentions that these candies can increase saliva production, which might help control the bad taste. "Something with a strong taste can help distract from the taste of the medication," she explained. Why You Should Keep Taking Paxlovid Despite the Taste Despite the bad taste, Sue said that she never considered stopping Paxlovid. According to Shankaran, few patients have stopped taking Paxlovid because of its taste—it’s the other side effects that have been more likely to make people discontinue the drug. Shankaran stressed that the benefits of Paxlovid make it well worth putting up with the taste for five days. The drug has been very effective at decreasing the severity of a COVID infection. “The bad taste is pretty bad, but the medications are definitely worth it because they have really good long-term effects,” said Shankaran. “They’ll prevent you from going to the hospital or getting a severe infection.” What This Means For You Paxlovid is widely used to reduce the risk of severe infection or hospitalization due to COVID-19 infection. However, some people are finding that it can leave a bad taste in their mouths while they’re on it. If you experience “Paxlovid mouth,” don’t stop taking the drug. Instead, try to suck on strong-tasting hard candies or have something to drink that can help you cope with the taste until you finish your prescribed course of treatment. The information in this article is current as of the date listed, which means newer information may be available when you read this. For the most recent updates on COVID-19, visit our coronavirus news page.
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[Medical Review Board](https://www.verywellhealth.com/meet-our-medical-expert-board-11762003) Verywell Health's content is for informational and educational purposes only. Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Ⓒ 2026 People Inc. — All rights reserved # Dealing With the Dreaded Paxlovid Mouth By [Valerie DeBenedette](https://www.verywellhealth.com/valerie-debenedette-5101332) Updated on March 23, 2026 Medically reviewed by [Kristie Reed, PharmD](https://www.verywellhealth.com/kristie-reed-5215493) ![Illustration of a green and white pill capsule on a person's tongue on a pale green background](https://www.verywellhealth.com/thmb/pOd9mdW6IWivblCNUoM1Vqk_DLs=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale\(\):max_bytes\(150000\):strip_icc\(\)/GettyImages-691037091-e826b153dca44abfb144fdad2f915dd7.jpeg) ![Illustration of a green and white pill capsule on a person's tongue on a pale green background](https://www.verywellhealth.com/thmb/pOd9mdW6IWivblCNUoM1Vqk_DLs=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale\(\):max_bytes\(150000\):strip_icc\(\)/GettyImages-691037091-e826b153dca44abfb144fdad2f915dd7.jpeg) Malte Mueller/Getty ### Key Takeaways - “Paxlovid mouth” is the lingering bad taste that some people get while they are taking the antiviral drug Paxlovid for a COVID-19 infection. - The taste may last for the duration of Paxlovid treatment—five days—and has been described as bitter or metallic. - Drinking water and eating strong-flavored candies can help manage the bad taste from Paxlovid. That lingering metallic taste you're experiencing while on Paxlovid, known as Paxlovid mouth, is completely normal and generally resolves after treatment. Stay the course, as this side effect is a small trade-off for the drug's powerful protection against serious COVID-19 complications. ## Paxlovid-Related Taste Changes [Shivanjali Shankaran, MD](https://doctors.rush.edu/details/17433), assistant professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Rush Medical College, explained that the change or impairment in taste is known as dysgeusia. ### Shivanjali Shankaran, MD This bad metallic taste in the mouth from Paxlovid happens irrespective of what COVID may be doing. — Shivanjali Shankaran, MD Shankaran said that the [dysgeusia](https://www.verywellhealth.com/dysgeusia-4764585) caused by Paxlovid has nothing to do with the loss of the senses of taste and smell that was seen frequently with infection from the first COVID-19 variants that circulated in 2020 and 2021. “This bad metallic taste in the mouth from Paxlovid happens irrespective of what COVID may be doing,” said Shankaran. The [Omicron variant](https://www.verywellhealth.com/covid-variants-timeline-6741198) of the virus and its subvariants, which have become the dominant variants, do not usually cause problems with taste. When it was still in clinical trials, Paxlovid did cause impaired or altered taste in some of the patients who took it. Now, the incidence of dysgeusia might be increasing because the drug is being used widely. “It may be that we’ll find out after we’ve been able to look back at all these cases that the rates are higher,” said Shankaran. ## What Makes Paxlovid Taste Bad? Paxlovid is a combination of two different antiviral medications: nirmatrelvir and ritonavir. Rather than being combined into one pill, the two drugs are packaged together as separate tablets that patients take at the same time twice a day for five days. Typically, each dose involves two 150 mg tablets of nirmatrelvir and one 100 mg tablet of ritonavir. So, which medication is the culprit? Shankaran said that the lingering bad taste might be caused by ritonavir, which is also used to [treat HIV infections](https://www.verywellhealth.com/hiv-aids-treatment-4014255). People taking it for HIV often report experiencing dysgeusia while they’re being treated. Shankaran notes that other drugs can also cause a bad taste, such as the antibiotics metronidazole and clarithromycin. Chemotherapy drugs often cause a [metallic taste in the mouth](https://www.verywellhealth.com/what-causes-a-metallic-taste-in-your-mouth-4140279). Several factors could explain the bad taste from Paxlovid: - **Chemesthesis**: This process involves another sensation being confused with taste. For instance, the hotness of jalapeño peppers is a physical pain on the tongue, not a taste. - **Salivary excretion**: Both nirmatrelvir and ritonavir can enter your saliva, allowing you to taste them repeatedly. This might explain why the bad taste persists until the next dose. - **Bitter receptor activation**: One study found that nirmatrelvir activates TAS2R1, one of the bitter taste receptors in the mouth. In addition to the bad taste, Paxlovid also has other side effects, including diarrhea, elevated blood pressure, and muscle aches. ## Home Remedies for Paxlovid Mouth For Sue DeBenedette of Tucson, Arizona, the bad taste from Paxlovid disappeared while eating or drinking, but returned once she stopped. Drinking a lot of water turned out to be a good thing for Sue, both in dealing with the taste of Paxlovid and rehydrating from diarrhea, which is both a COVID symptom and a side effect of the medication. Her partner Rob wasn’t so lucky. “Nothing made me feel better. Nothing,” he said. ### Shivanjali Shankaran, MD The bad taste is pretty bad, but the medications are definitely worth it. — Shivanjali Shankaran, MD Brushing your teeth or using mouthwash usually won't help with the dysgeusia. Instead, Shankaran suggests consuming foods or drinks that coat your mouth, such as chocolate milk, chocolate pudding, or peanut butter. Some people find relief by sucking on strongly flavored candies. Examples include cinnamon candies like Hot Tamales, Red Hots, and Atomic Fireballs, or strong mints like Altoids. Online forums often recommend these for coping with Paxlovid mouth. Shankaran mentions that these candies can increase saliva production, which might help control the bad taste. "Something with a strong taste can help distract from the taste of the medication," she explained. ## Why You Should Keep Taking Paxlovid Despite the Taste Despite the bad taste, Sue said that she never considered stopping Paxlovid. According to Shankaran, few patients have stopped taking Paxlovid because of its taste—it’s the other side effects that have been more likely to make people discontinue the drug. Shankaran stressed that the benefits of Paxlovid make it well worth putting up with the taste for five days. The drug has been very effective at decreasing the severity of a COVID infection. “The bad taste is pretty bad, but the medications are definitely worth it because they have really good long-term effects,” said Shankaran. “They’ll prevent you from going to the hospital or getting a severe infection.” ### What This Means For You Paxlovid is widely used to reduce the risk of severe infection or hospitalization due to COVID-19 infection. However, some people are finding that it can leave a bad taste in their mouths while they’re on it. If you experience “Paxlovid mouth,” don’t stop taking the drug. Instead, try to suck on strong-tasting hard candies or have something to drink that can help you cope with the taste until you finish your prescribed course of treatment. *The information in this article is current as of the date listed, which means newer information may be available when you read this. For the most recent updates on COVID-19, visit our coronavirus news page.* Read more: - [Health A-Z](https://www.verywellhealth.com/health-a-z-4014770) - [Infectious Diseases](https://www.verywellhealth.com/infectious-diseases-4014700) - [Coronavirus (COVID-19)](https://www.verywellhealth.com/coronavirus-covid-19-4799524) 7 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our [editorial process](https://www.verywellhealth.com/verywell-editorial-process-4777042) to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. 1. Caronia L, Xi R, Margolskee RF, Jiang P. [Paxlovid mouth likely is mediated by activation of the TAS2R1 bitter receptor by nirmatrelvir](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37806252/). *Biochem Biophys Res Commun*. 2023;682:138-140. doi:10.1016/j.bbrc.2023.10.001 2. von Bartheld CS, Wang L. [Prevalence of olfactory dysfunction with the omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2: a systematic review and meta-analysis](https://doi.org/10.3390%2Fcells12030430). *Cells*. 2023 Jan 28;12(3):430. doi: 10.3390/cells12030430 3. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. [Frequently asked questions on the emergency ese authorization for Paxlovid for treatment of COVID-19](https://www.fda.gov/media/155052/download). 4. Pfizer. [Fact sheet for healthcare providers: emergency use authorization for Paxlovid](https://www.fda.gov/media/155050/download). 5. McDonald EG, Lee TC. [Nirmatrelvir-ritonavir for COVID-19](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8900806/). *CMAJ*. 2022 Feb 14;194(6):E218. doi:10.1503/cmaj.220081. 6. Caronia L, Xi R, Margolskee RF, Jiang P. [Paxlovid mouth likely is mediated by activation of the TAS2R1 bitter receptor by nirmatrelvir](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbrc.2023.10.001). *Biochem Biophys Res Commun*. 2023 Nov 19;682:138-140. doi:10.1016/j.bbrc.2023.10.001. Epub 2023 Oct 2 7. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. [Paxlovid fact sheet for patients, parents, and caregivers](https://www.fda.gov/media/155051/download). ![Valerie DeBenedette]() ![Valerie DeBenedette](https://www.verywellhealth.com/thmb/1p1fBBRBumsOd-jnQtLuCOuodS4=/144x144/filters:no_upscale\(\):max_bytes\(150000\):strip_icc\(\)/Headshot-2f3911df24c943358b7e51966099784f.jpg) By [Valerie DeBenedette](https://www.verywellhealth.com/valerie-debenedette-5101332) DeBenedette is a North Carolina-based writer who has over 30 years' experience writing about health and medicine. [See Our Editorial Process](https://www.verywellhealth.com/verywell-editorial-process-4777042) [Meet Our Medical Expert Board](https://www.verywellhealth.com/meet-our-medical-expert-board-11762003) Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback\! What is your feedback? 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Readable Markdown
### Key Takeaways - “Paxlovid mouth” is the lingering bad taste that some people get while they are taking the antiviral drug Paxlovid for a COVID-19 infection. - The taste may last for the duration of Paxlovid treatment—five days—and has been described as bitter or metallic. - Drinking water and eating strong-flavored candies can help manage the bad taste from Paxlovid. That lingering metallic taste you're experiencing while on Paxlovid, known as Paxlovid mouth, is completely normal and generally resolves after treatment. Stay the course, as this side effect is a small trade-off for the drug's powerful protection against serious COVID-19 complications. ## Paxlovid-Related Taste Changes [Shivanjali Shankaran, MD](https://doctors.rush.edu/details/17433), assistant professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Rush Medical College, explained that the change or impairment in taste is known as dysgeusia. ### Shivanjali Shankaran, MD This bad metallic taste in the mouth from Paxlovid happens irrespective of what COVID may be doing. — Shivanjali Shankaran, MD Shankaran said that the [dysgeusia](https://www.verywellhealth.com/dysgeusia-4764585) caused by Paxlovid has nothing to do with the loss of the senses of taste and smell that was seen frequently with infection from the first COVID-19 variants that circulated in 2020 and 2021. “This bad metallic taste in the mouth from Paxlovid happens irrespective of what COVID may be doing,” said Shankaran. The [Omicron variant](https://www.verywellhealth.com/covid-variants-timeline-6741198) of the virus and its subvariants, which have become the dominant variants, do not usually cause problems with taste. When it was still in clinical trials, Paxlovid did cause impaired or altered taste in some of the patients who took it. Now, the incidence of dysgeusia might be increasing because the drug is being used widely. “It may be that we’ll find out after we’ve been able to look back at all these cases that the rates are higher,” said Shankaran. ## What Makes Paxlovid Taste Bad? Paxlovid is a combination of two different antiviral medications: nirmatrelvir and ritonavir. Rather than being combined into one pill, the two drugs are packaged together as separate tablets that patients take at the same time twice a day for five days. Typically, each dose involves two 150 mg tablets of nirmatrelvir and one 100 mg tablet of ritonavir. So, which medication is the culprit? Shankaran said that the lingering bad taste might be caused by ritonavir, which is also used to [treat HIV infections](https://www.verywellhealth.com/hiv-aids-treatment-4014255). People taking it for HIV often report experiencing dysgeusia while they’re being treated. Shankaran notes that other drugs can also cause a bad taste, such as the antibiotics metronidazole and clarithromycin. Chemotherapy drugs often cause a [metallic taste in the mouth](https://www.verywellhealth.com/what-causes-a-metallic-taste-in-your-mouth-4140279). Several factors could explain the bad taste from Paxlovid: - **Chemesthesis**: This process involves another sensation being confused with taste. For instance, the hotness of jalapeño peppers is a physical pain on the tongue, not a taste. - **Salivary excretion**: Both nirmatrelvir and ritonavir can enter your saliva, allowing you to taste them repeatedly. This might explain why the bad taste persists until the next dose. - **Bitter receptor activation**: One study found that nirmatrelvir activates TAS2R1, one of the bitter taste receptors in the mouth. In addition to the bad taste, Paxlovid also has other side effects, including diarrhea, elevated blood pressure, and muscle aches. ## Home Remedies for Paxlovid Mouth For Sue DeBenedette of Tucson, Arizona, the bad taste from Paxlovid disappeared while eating or drinking, but returned once she stopped. Drinking a lot of water turned out to be a good thing for Sue, both in dealing with the taste of Paxlovid and rehydrating from diarrhea, which is both a COVID symptom and a side effect of the medication. Her partner Rob wasn’t so lucky. “Nothing made me feel better. Nothing,” he said. ### Shivanjali Shankaran, MD The bad taste is pretty bad, but the medications are definitely worth it. — Shivanjali Shankaran, MD Brushing your teeth or using mouthwash usually won't help with the dysgeusia. Instead, Shankaran suggests consuming foods or drinks that coat your mouth, such as chocolate milk, chocolate pudding, or peanut butter. Some people find relief by sucking on strongly flavored candies. Examples include cinnamon candies like Hot Tamales, Red Hots, and Atomic Fireballs, or strong mints like Altoids. Online forums often recommend these for coping with Paxlovid mouth. Shankaran mentions that these candies can increase saliva production, which might help control the bad taste. "Something with a strong taste can help distract from the taste of the medication," she explained. ## Why You Should Keep Taking Paxlovid Despite the Taste Despite the bad taste, Sue said that she never considered stopping Paxlovid. According to Shankaran, few patients have stopped taking Paxlovid because of its taste—it’s the other side effects that have been more likely to make people discontinue the drug. Shankaran stressed that the benefits of Paxlovid make it well worth putting up with the taste for five days. The drug has been very effective at decreasing the severity of a COVID infection. “The bad taste is pretty bad, but the medications are definitely worth it because they have really good long-term effects,” said Shankaran. “They’ll prevent you from going to the hospital or getting a severe infection.” ### What This Means For You Paxlovid is widely used to reduce the risk of severe infection or hospitalization due to COVID-19 infection. However, some people are finding that it can leave a bad taste in their mouths while they’re on it. If you experience “Paxlovid mouth,” don’t stop taking the drug. Instead, try to suck on strong-tasting hard candies or have something to drink that can help you cope with the taste until you finish your prescribed course of treatment. *The information in this article is current as of the date listed, which means newer information may be available when you read this. For the most recent updates on COVID-19, visit our coronavirus news page.*
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