Long COVID with brain fog and daily panic attacks, somewhat better after sertraline
- Condition
- Long COVID
- At worst
- Mild (working or studying, with limits)
- Ill before improving or writing
- 2.5 years
- Last post
- May 2025
In their words
- Condition: Long COVID
living with LC symptoms for over two years
In context ↗ - At worst: Mild
I am still technically in leadership positions with the student organizations that I am involved in ... I am also falling behind in my studies
In context ↗ - Now: Somewhat better
I’m now in a bit of a roller coaster period where I have several great days followed by one or two hard days.
In context ↗ - Began after: COVID
After my first infection, I attributed the symptoms to burnout
Read from 8 of their posts and comments; links to the 8 this page draws on
Summary
Fjord 47251, 24, had long COVID for over two years with brain fog, palpitations, breathlessness and daily panic attacks. A December 2024 reinfection brought worse symptoms, depression with suicidal thoughts, rashes and food and alcohol sensitivities. Sertraline stopped her panic attacks after about four weeks, though a planned rise from 25 mg to 50 mg worsened her suicidal thoughts. By May 2025 she felt like herself again.
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What they tried
Also tried
Their words about each treatment
- sertraline · Helped
my family doctor put me on sertraline which ultimately stopped me from having panic attacks after about four weeks of use
In context ↗ - COC treatment · Helped
I have PCOS (not overweight though since COC treatment works for me)
In context ↗ - consistent sleep schedule · Helped
The only thing that really helps me is keeping a consistent sleep schedule
In context ↗ - Therapy · Helped
Therapy and prescription meds, both at the same time.
In context ↗ - lorazepam · Helped
When an attack is actively occurring: lorazepam (but use in moderation because it can be habit-forming)
In context ↗ - light exercise (Pilates, walking, yoga) · Helped
The only thing that really helps me is keeping a consistent sleep schedule, doing light exercise (Pilates, walking, yoga)
In context ↗ - nutritious meals with minimal sugar and no alcohol · Helped
eating nutritious meals that keep sugar at a minimum ... I also found I need to avoid alcohol entirely.
In context ↗ - being compassionate towards myself · Helped
trying to be compassionate towards myself has helped a lot
In context ↗
Approaches: Exercise and activity · Radical rest
Their path
How ill they were on the ME/CFS severity scale, estimated from what they describe at each point, with time counted from when the illness began. Hover or tap a point. Dates are when they posted. What the levels mean.
Show as a table
| When | What happened | Where they were | After |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | long COVID symptoms after a first COVID infectionwhen I was “only” dealing with brain fog, panic attacks, palpitations, and gut problemsIn context ↗ | Mild | |
| December 2024 | reinfection; all symptoms worsened and depression with suicidal thoughts beganafter a reinfection in December 2024, my symptoms got much worseIn context ↗ | Mild | |
| April 2025 | panic attacks almost gone after about four weeks on sertralineSertraline made my panic attacks almost nonexistent. Went from daily to once in three monthsIn context ↗ | Mild | Sertraline (Zoloft) |
| May 2025 | felt like herself again after a few months on antidepressants, still limited by fatigue and cognitive problemsafter a few months taking them, I truly felt like myself againIn context ↗ | Mild | Sertraline (Zoloft) |
Adverse events
- Sertraline (Zoloft)“the scheduled dose increase from 25mg to 50mg went very poorly and my SI got a lot worse” In context ↗ Suicidal thoughts or attempt
- Sertraline (Zoloft)“I struggled terribly with panic attacks, and the first MONTH on antidepressants was absolutely terrible” In context ↗ Side effects
Symptoms mentioned
Their words about their symptoms
- Brain fog
I am also falling behind in my studies and worry about my future employability with the level of fatigue and cognitive issues that I am experiencing
In context ↗ - Breathlessness
New shortness of breath
In context ↗ - Gut problems
I have had issues with constipation for years, and interestingly they went away temporarily when I started on sertraline
In context ↗ - Anxiety & low mood
After a reinfection I also developed panic attacks with depression that resolved with medication, but I continue to live in fight or flight mode.
In context ↗
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