Long COVID with severe anxiety and POTS, much better on escitalopram and ivabradine
- Condition
- Long COVID
- At worst
- Moderate (mostly housebound)
- Ill before improving or writing
- 3 years
- Last post
- Aug 2025
In their words
- Condition: Long COVID
This didn’t cure all my long covid symptoms
In context ↗ - At worst: Moderate
I could only walk about 3km and had to rest for a long period after
In context ↗ - Now: Much better
Ivabradine for POTs has improved my quality of life drastically ... Unfortunately these wont cure everything
In context ↗ - Began after: COVID
I was like you, lifeguard before Long Covid.
In context ↗
Read from 7 of their posts and comments; links to the 6 this page draws on
Summary
Cove 38165 got long COVID in 2022 and was a lifeguard before it. Severe anxiety with hours-long panic attacks was cleared by 20 mg escitalopram, taken for six months and then stopped with difficult withdrawal. POTS stopped them returning to swimming, and ivabradine later cut chest pain, breathlessness and heart rate, improving quality of life a lot, though they still have to take it easy.
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What they tried
What they credit
Also tried
Their words about each treatment
- escitalopram (lexapro) · Helped a lot
The only thing that worked and got rid of the anxiety was 20mg of escitalopram, or lexapro (brand name).
In context ↗ - building walking up and swimming · Worse
When I started swimming, I found I nearly passed out after a single length when getting out of the pool and my heart rate would surpass 200
In context ↗ - ivabradine · Helped a lot
Ivabradine for POTs has improved my quality of life drastically and reduced chest pain and breathless substantially
In context ↗ - salt / increased water · Worse
For some reason I can’t hack the salt, it’ll give me vertigo or stomach pains after. I just stick with the increased water
In context ↗
Approaches: POTS medication
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. 1 step says too little to place on the scale and is only in the table. Dates are when they posted. What the levels mean.
Show as a table
| When | What happened | Where they were | After |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Long Covid onsetI was like you, lifeguard before Long Covid.In context ↗ | Not stated | |
| 2022 | Severe anxiety attacks and severe POTSI personally experienced very severe anxiety, to the point where I was having back to back long lasting panic/anxiety attacks for hours.In context ↗ | Moderate | |
| late 2022 | Anxiety clearedThe only thing that worked and got rid of the anxiety was 20mg of escitalopramIn context ↗ | Moderate | Escitalopram (Lexapro) |
| late 2023 | Nearly passed out after one length of swimmingI found I nearly passed out after a single length when getting out of the pool and my heart rate would surpass 200In context ↗ | Moderate | |
| 2025 | POTS symptoms much improved on ivabradineI take ivabradine to lower my heart rate now, and it’s improved my qualify of life a lot.In context ↗ | Mild | Ivabradine |
| 2025-08-22 | Chest pain and breathlessness mostly gone but still has to take it easyUnfortunately these wont cure everything, and you’ll still have to take it easy.In context ↗ | Mild | Ivabradine |
Adverse events
- Escitalopram (Lexapro)“it is very hard to come off, and it took me nearly 3 months with quite severe withdrawal symptoms” In context ↗ Withdrawal problems
- Salt, electrolytes and fluids“I can’t hack the salt, it’ll give me vertigo or stomach pains after.” In context ↗ Side effects
- Everyday exercise and activity“I found I nearly passed out after a single length when getting out of the pool and my heart rate would surpass 200” In context ↗ Low blood pressure or fainting
Symptoms mentioned
Their words about their symptoms
- Anxiety & low mood
very severe anxiety, to the point where I was having back to back long lasting panic/anxiety attacks for hours
In context ↗ - POTS & dysautonomia
I take ivabradine to lower my heart rate now
In context ↗ - Heart symptoms & palpitations
it’s helped a lot with the chest pain and heart rate problems I was having
In context ↗ - Breathlessness
Chest pain, breathless and pain were other symptoms for me.
In context ↗
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