Long COVID brain fog and depression, somewhat better after stopping niacin
- Condition
- Long COVID
- At worst
- Severe (mostly bedbound)
- Ill before improving or writing
- 10 months
- Last post
- Dec 2020
In their words
- Condition: Long COVID
My symptoms of both long-haul Covid AND depression
In context ↗ - At worst: Severe
It’s been 8 months for me, including one hospitalization
In context ↗ - Now: Somewhat better
the fog is only finally starting to lift
In context ↗ - Began after: COVID
I received 5 doses while in the hospital in June, for acute pneumonia caused by Covid
Read from 8 of their posts and comments; links to the 6 this page draws on
Summary
The user became ill with COVID-19 in early 2020 and was hospitalised in June with acute pneumonia, near death. Remdesivir and dexamethasone were credited with saving their life, though dexamethasone left them weepy and near suicidal. Five months after discharge they still had cardiovascular and nervous-system problems, brain fog and depression. A week of high-dose niacin worsened both; stopping helped within two days.
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What they tried
What they credit
Their words about each treatment
- Effexor · Not said
I have been on Effexor for years now.
In context ↗ - Remdesvir · Helped a lot
I received 5 doses while in the hospital in June ... I personally feel that the Remdesivir absolutely did save my life
In context ↗ - Dexamethasone · Helped a lot
after 2 weeks on the stuff (one in the hospital and one the following week at home) my lungs felt better than they ever had
In context ↗ - ibuprofen · Helped
nothing else has ever worked for pain and inflammation in my entire life
In context ↗ - baby aspirin · Not said
I take baby aspirin for blood coagulation
In context ↗ - Prozac · Helped
my psychiatrist added Prozac after I left the hospital for Covid in June. It has helped a little, but honestly not much.
In context ↗ - Niacin · Worse
I went and tried it out for a week ... My symptoms of both long-haul Covid AND depression, got worse.
In context ↗
Approaches: Antivirals · Other drugs and medicines
Their path
They say too little about how ill they were at each step to draw it on the severity scale, so the steps are listed as they describe them. Dates are when they posted.
| When | What happened | Where they were |
|---|---|---|
| February 2020 | became ill with Covid-19It’s been 8 months for me, including one hospitalizationIn context ↗ | Not stated |
| June 2020 | hospitalised with acute pneumonia from Covid, near deathI was near death from CovidIn context ↗ | Very severe |
| October 2020 | brain fog finally starting to liftthe fog is only finally starting to liftIn context ↗ | Not stated |
| December 2020 | long-haul and depression symptoms worsened during a week of niacinMy symptoms of both long-haul Covid AND depression, got worse.In context ↗ | Not stated |
| 2020-12-18 | felt better two days after stopping niacinI stopped taking it, two days later I feel better.In context ↗ | Not stated |
Adverse events
- Corticosteroid pulses“it did also make me uncontrollably weepy and near suicidal” In context ↗ Suicidal thoughts or attempt
- Niacin (vitamin B3)“My symptoms of both long-haul Covid AND depression, got worse.” In context ↗ Made symptoms worse
Symptoms mentioned
Their words about their symptoms
- Brain fog
the fog is only finally starting to lift
In context ↗ - Pain & fibromyalgia
nothing else has ever worked for pain and inflammation in my entire life
In context ↗ - Anxiety & low mood
My symptoms of both long-haul Covid AND depression, got worse.
In context ↗ - Heart symptoms & palpitations
Mainly having to do with my cardiovascular and nervous systems
In context ↗
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