Can You Get Rid of COVID Fast?

So, you tested positive for a COVID-19 infection. And now you’re stuck at home, hoping to feel better as soon as possible. After all, there’s never a good time to be sick. 

While there’s no magic pill to make COVID go away immediately, there are treatments and home remedies that can help you feel better faster. 

How long does COVID last?

The timeline for COVID can vary a bit from person to person. You may begin to feel COVID symptoms about 2 to 5 days after being infected. Symptoms typically reach their peak about 3 to 5 days after that and then gradually get better. But keep in mind that not everyone experiences symptoms.

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In one study, the average time to feel better from COVID was 15 days. But some took 3 weeks to completely recover.

Home remedies to reduce COVID symptoms quickly

The best way to improve your COVID symptoms quickly is to support your body’s natural healing. The more supported your body systems are, the better they can fight the virus. Here are some tips to help you boost your body’s natural ability to fight infections. 

Get rest

People who sleep fewer than 7 hours a night are more likely to get sick with viral upper respiratory infections like COVID. Sleep plays an important role in immune function, helping your body’s natural defenses work their magic to fight off viruses. So, turn off your phone and get to bed earlier than usual to help give your immune system an extra boost. 

Drink fluids

Staying hydrated can help regulate body temperature and also make sure that your blood vessels can deliver all those immune-boosting cells to the rest of your body. It can be hard to drink with a sore throat, but it’s worth forcing yourself to hydrate. Dehydration can also cause a headache, making your COVID symptoms feel worse overall. 

Rinse your nose

A nasal saline rinse can help clear out bothersome mucus from your nose and help you breathe more comfortably. 

One study found that people with COVID who used a nasal saline rinse got rid of their runny nose, congestion, and sneezing more quickly. As an added benefit, a nasal sinus rinse may also lower the viral load (the amount of virus in your body) and speed up recovery from COVID.

Gargle salt water

A saltwater gargle is a natural remedy that can help loosen mucus and reduce pain and inflammation from a sore throat. You can easily prepare your own at home. Just mix about ½ tsp of salt into an 8-oz glass of warm water. Aim to gargle for about 15 seconds, or longer if you can.

Try OTC remedies 

Over-the-counter (OTC) treatments can help make your COVID symptoms go away faster and keep you more comfortable while recovering. Here are some OTC treatments based on your symptoms: 

• Cough: Try a cough suppressant like dextromethorphan (Robitussin, Delsym) or an expectorant like guaifenesin (Mucinex).

• Fever and headache: Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and acetaminophen (Tylenol) can help treat both of these symptoms.

• Nasal congestion: Pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) can help decrease congestion. 

Keep in mind that experts don’t recommend OTC cough and cold medicines for children under 6 years old. 

Get vaccinated

Being vaccinated against COVID can lower the viral load in your body when you’re fighting off a COVID infection. A lower viral load usually means you can get rid of COVID more quickly. 

Also, if you’re vaccinated against COVID, you’re less likely to develop long COVID symptoms in the future. So make sure you’re up to date with the latest COVID vaccine available. But wait to get the vaccine if you have active symptoms of a COVID infection. You can get an updated shot after your symptoms fully resolve and you no longer need to be isolated.

Can antiviral medication make COVID go away faster?

Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir / ritonavir) is an antiviral medication that stops the virus that causes COVID from copying itself. People who take Paxlovid in the first 5 days of their COVID illness tend to get rid of the virus faster than those who don’t. So, Paxlovid does actually seem to make COVID go away faster. 

Paxlovid is recommended if you:

• Have mild-to-moderate illness

• Have had symptoms for 5 days or less

• Have a condition that puts you at high risk for complications from COVID

More studies are needed to understand how other COVID medications affect recovery time. Researchers continue to study Veklury (remdesivir) and Lagevrio (molnupiravir). 

How to get Paxlovid

If you have COVID and are considered at high risk for complications, you can contact your primary care provider to get a Paxlovid prescription. You may also get Paxlovid from a pharmacist or at a “test-to-treat” center in the U.S. 

Keep in mind that not all pharmacies are able to prescribe Paxlovid, and a pharmacist may need to review your medical records first.

Can supplements make COVID go away faster?

Scientists have studied many types of vitamins and dietary supplements as potential treatments for COVID. Some studies suggest that certain supplements might help people recover from COVID faster:

• Zinc may help people who are hospitalized recover faster from COVID.

• Herbal remedies, like echinacea and turmeric, have been found to speed up recovery rates in people with COVID infections.

• Melatonin may help, but the findings have been mixed. Some studies show it can help people recover faster, while others found no difference in recovery rates. 

It’s also possible that a combination of supplements might work better. One well-designed study (a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial) found that a combination of melatonin, zinc, and a multivitamin helped people recover from COVID faster than those who took a placebo. 

But despite the promising nature of these studies, the data isn’t definitive enough to make clear recommendations. According to the National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements, there isn’t enough evidence to recommend any particular vitamin to treat COVID. 

When to get medical care

Most cases of COVID can be treated at home. But if you develop signs of a more severe illness, getting prompt treatment can lower your chances of more serious complications. 

Get medical attention right away if you notice any of the following symptoms:

• Difficulty breathing

• Pressure in your chest

• New confusion

• Trouble staying awake

• Skin or lips that look pale or blue

And contact a healthcare professional if you have any health conditions that put you at high risk for complications of COVID. Examples include diabetes, cancer, and chronic lung disease. If you have one of these underlying conditions, you may benefit from early medication treatment even if your COVID symptoms are mild.

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Written by:

Karen Hovav, MD, FAAP

Karen Hovav, MD, FAAP, has more than 15 years of experience as an attending pediatrician in a variety of clinical settings. She has worked in a large academic center in an urban city, a small community hospital, a private practice, and an urgent care clinic.

Edited by:

Alex Eastman, PhD, RN

Alex Eastman, PhD, RN, is a California-based registered nurse and staff medical editor at GoodRx, where he focuses on clinical updates and Latino health.

Reviewed by:

Jennifer Sample, MD

After a fellowship, Dr. Sample worked as the medical director at the University of Kansas Hospital Poison Center (The University Of Kansas Health System Poison Control Center), which served the state of Kansas for poison exposures. In 2007, she returned to Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri, as a consultant in clinical pharmacology and medical toxicology.

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