Live data from Hacker News

New pill helps Covid smell and taste loss fade quickly

nature.com

111–120 of 154 posts

Re: New pill helps Covid smell and taste loss fade quickly

#111

The pill is an antiviral called ensitrelvir. It sounds similar to Paxlovid. Both are protease inhibitors which slow/disrupt viral replication. It may help with other symptoms. In an earlier nature.com post.. "participants who took 125-milligram ensitrelvir pills recovered from five specific symptoms — stuffy or runny nose, sore throat, cough, feeling hot or feverish and low energy or tiredness — about 24 hours earlie…

I got covid back in May 21, lost sense of taste for around 6 months, than had horrible congestion and insomnia and fatigue since. The insomnia hasn't gone away yet. I got covid again a few weeks ago, and was given some antivirals (Molnupiravir), I recovered super quick on those, and for the days I was taking it I had the best sleep I've had in years. But after the course ended the insomnia returned.

Re: New pill helps Covid smell and taste loss fade quickly

#112

Girlfriend has lost her entire sense of smell after covid, I'm really hoping the future has an answer to that. It's taken the joy out of a lot of things she enjoys, especially cooking. She's seen a few ENT doctors and they all claim it's not coming back without any clear solutions.

Has she been doing essential oil training? As far as I know it's the only scientifically validated method and it did a lot for me (although at soon 2 years my taste/smell is not fully recovered). I know it worked as I only regained the smells from the oils initially. Flowery oils were specifically good, as they likely contain thousands of different compounds that you find in many other smells.

One usually recommend four oils (of high quality preferebly): one citrus, one mint/eucalyptus, one spicy (e.g. cinnamon) and one flowery (lavendel did wonders for me, then geranium) to start out with. Smell each oil for 20 seconds every morning and evening, while thinking of/imagening the thing you're smelling. Since it's a neurological issue, the last thing supposedly helps. It usually took me 2-3 weeks from starting training until noticing any (very minor) effect at all, and much longer to regain a lot of it.

Sorry if she's already tried, hopefully it's useful for others. It can take a long time for the training to work.

Re: New pill helps Covid smell and taste loss fade quickly

#114
post #105
post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Around 15 years ago I broke my nose which eventually led to a loss of taste and smell. Around 8 months ago I had surgery on the internal structures of my nose which in addition to allowing me to breath again, I can also taste and smell. The experience has been completely mind blowing. On the flip side I can no longer order the spiciest of spicy Thai and Indian food from my usual restaurants. The owners poke fun at me…

fascinating. the receptors for hot / chili are in your tongue and not in your nose. mind to elaborate how you can't eat chilly any longer?

In the name of science, go ahead and stuff some diced chilis in your nose and report back.

Re: New pill helps Covid smell and taste loss fade quickly

#115
post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I am reasonably certain I had covid in January 2020; felt like I had been hit by a truck, and recovery took weeks. As far as I know, I haven't had it since, but did get the vaccinations. Do you (does anyone here) know if there is a test to see if you did have it, or does the vaccine response swamp that signal?

Some blood antibody tests can distinguish between viral induced antibodies versus infection induced antibodies. However, antibodies decrease with time. (We have memory T-cells etc for long term immunity). Whilst I am not an expert, I would be very surprised if virtual induced antibodies were still detectable. What you describe: it is very possible you had COVID, but it is also very possible you had a bad flu. There a…

Do you have any more info on this? I have not heard of such a test.

Re: New pill helps Covid smell and taste loss fade quickly

#116
post #50

Have they studied if this helps with parosmia? Basically smelling unpleasant orders instead of normal smells once your smell returns. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parosmia

I’ve had this for the past 6 months. I’d honestly rather have entirely lost my sense of smell than to go through this.

Re: New pill helps Covid smell and taste loss fade quickly

#117
post #47
post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When I caught Covid I had very high fever and was in constant pain, but nothing was as bad as losing my taste. Can totally relate.

The saddest burrito in my life was when I had COVID. My doctor said I should take Zinc but that did not make it come back any faster.

I hate zinc! I wish God had never made this cursed element!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1iCZpFMYd0

Re: New pill helps Covid smell and taste loss fade quickly

#119
post #105
post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Around 15 years ago I broke my nose which eventually led to a loss of taste and smell. Around 8 months ago I had surgery on the internal structures of my nose which in addition to allowing me to breath again, I can also taste and smell. The experience has been completely mind blowing. On the flip side I can no longer order the spiciest of spicy Thai and Indian food from my usual restaurants. The owners poke fun at me…

fascinating. the receptors for hot / chili are in your tongue and not in your nose. mind to elaborate how you can't eat chilly any longer?

He probably doesn’t know how. But it’s an interesting point. I never thought about it before, but the event I went through had a similar link between taste and smell, and in hindsight I now don’t get why.

In college I made a bet with a friend that I could hold dominos wings hot sauce in my mouth for 10 minutes. At the time, the wings from dominos were actually very spicy. It was painfu, I spent about 30 minutes washing my mouth out after that. I lost my sense of taste AND smell for an entire year.

Why did I lose my sense of smell and not just my taste? Any docs here to explain?

Re: New pill helps Covid smell and taste loss fade quickly

#120
post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I am reasonably certain I had covid in January 2020; felt like I had been hit by a truck, and recovery took weeks. As far as I know, I haven't had it since, but did get the vaccinations. Do you (does anyone here) know if there is a test to see if you did have it, or does the vaccine response swamp that signal?

> I am reasonably certain I had covid in January 2020 Probably not, there were nasty flu strains circulating then that are much more likely an explanation. It had already spread somewhat, but not enough to be a likely cause until March even in the areas with early outbreaks like Italy and NYC etc. Exponential growth means that not long before everyone has it, the vast majority don’t have it.

[deleted]
Post reply on HN