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It would be somewhat ironic if antivaxxers latch onto this drug, because it actually has a possibility of turning out to have bad side effects that will only sh

It would be somewhat ironic if antivaxxers latch onto this drug, because it actually has a possibility of turning out to have bad side effects that will only show up much later (increased rates of cancer), which is a major reason that is given for people not wanting to get vaccinated. Edit: Actually I was confusing this with molnupiravir; this drug is presumably perfectly safe.

School-Cotton 5y ago
Why is the probability of late-appearing side effects higher for this than for the vaccine?
- sudosysgen 5y ago
  Because of its mechanism of action, which is to induce massive and deadly mutation and reproductive issues on the virus. Normally this should not have an effect on our bodies, but it's not impossible that it does lead to higher cancer rates.
  - datameta 5y ago
    > but it's not impossible that it does lead to higher cancer rates. That is almost a non-statement that could be seemingly applied to anything with some pharmacological effect. I think you and I and every other layman are talking out of their ass when we make some kind of determination as to any side effects Paxlovid might have.
    - sudosysgen 5y ago
      It's not a non-statement, such effects are a serious concern for nucleoside analogs. But I can't say it's an actual issue or that it's definitely not because we just don't have sufficient data. You're correct that almost anything with a pharmacological effect has such concerns, which diminish with time. That's why prevention is superior to treatment. Also I wasn't talking about Paxlovid, but molnupiravir, which you'd also be taking.
      - datameta 5y ago
        I don't know enough about the difference between how viral RNA polymerase and human RNA polymerase function, but my hunch is the nucleotide substitution might not apply to us. This could be wrong.
        sudosysgen 5y ago
        That's the hunch these drugs are based upon. But things in biochemistry are rarely black and white. There are people with serious experience in the field saying that there is a risk. Certainly the risk is lower than untreated covid, but it's just that if you can avoid the risk then all the better.
- deleted 5y ago
  [deleted]
- resoluteteeth 5y ago
  Sorry I was confusing it with Merck's molnupiravir which could potentially cause genetic errors in humans. The drug this article is about is unlikely to have side effects that appear later.

School-Cotton 5y ago

Why is the probability of late-appearing side effects higher for this than for the vaccine?

sudosysgen 5y ago
Because of its mechanism of action, which is to induce massive and deadly mutation and reproductive issues on the virus. Normally this should not have an effect on our bodies, but it's not impossible that it does lead to higher cancer rates.
- datameta 5y ago
  > but it's not impossible that it does lead to higher cancer rates. That is almost a non-statement that could be seemingly applied to anything with some pharmacological effect. I think you and I and every other layman are talking out of their ass when we make some kind of determination as to any side effects Paxlovid might have.
  - sudosysgen 5y ago
    It's not a non-statement, such effects are a serious concern for nucleoside analogs. But I can't say it's an actual issue or that it's definitely not because we just don't have sufficient data. You're correct that almost anything with a pharmacological effect has such concerns, which diminish with time. That's why prevention is superior to treatment. Also I wasn't talking about Paxlovid, but molnupiravir, which you'd also be taking.
    - datameta 5y ago
      I don't know enough about the difference between how viral RNA polymerase and human RNA polymerase function, but my hunch is the nucleotide substitution might not apply to us. This could be wrong.
      - sudosysgen 5y ago
        That's the hunch these drugs are based upon. But things in biochemistry are rarely black and white. There are people with serious experience in the field saying that there is a risk. Certainly the risk is lower than untreated covid, but it's just that if you can avoid the risk then all the better.
deleted 5y ago
[deleted]
resoluteteeth 5y ago
Sorry I was confusing it with Merck's molnupiravir which could potentially cause genetic errors in humans. The drug this article is about is unlikely to have side effects that appear later.