Long COVID with PEM worst in first two years, now somewhat better after Lexapro
- Condition
- Long COVID
- At worst
- Not stated
- Ill before improving or writing
- 3.5 years
- Last post
- Jul 2025
In their words
- Condition: Long COVID
Sick 3.5 years.
In context ↗ - Now: Somewhat better
I’m not what I was, but I’m better than I was two or three years ago. Could just be time.
In context ↗
Read from 4 of their posts and comments; links to the 4 this page draws on
Summary
A Reddit user in the long COVID forum had been sick about 3.5 years, with post-exertional malaise worst in the first two years and POTS now much better. About a year before July 2025 they started Lexapro and said they were much, much better since, though 'not what I was' and unsure whether time was responsible. Cannabis, a near-daily habit before, became intolerable and could trigger panic attacks setting them back days. PEM remained but milder.
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What they tried
What they credit
Also tried
Their words about each treatment
- marijuana · Worse
Was a near daily smoker before this, now I can’t handle it at all. ... Have tried periodically since then.
In context ↗ - lexapro · Helped a lot
Has helped me a ton. ... Started on lexapro about a year ago. Much, much better since then.
In context ↗
Approaches: SSRIs
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 | After |
|---|---|---|
| early 2022 | long COVID onsetSick 3.5 years.In context ↗ | |
| 2022-2023 (first two years) | POTS and PEM at their worst in the first two yearsPEM still an issue, but not nearly as much as it was the first two years.In context ↗ | |
| 2024-05-15 | panic attack after cannabis set them back for daysWorst case is a full blown panic attack that sets me back for multiple days.In context ↗ | |
| about mid-2024 (a year before July 2025) | much better after starting LexaproStarted on lexapro about a year ago. Much, much better since then.In context ↗ | Escitalopram (Lexapro) |
| 2025-07-14 | better than two or three years ago; POTS much better, PEM milderI'm not what I was, but I'm better than I was two or three years ago. Could just be time.In context ↗ |
Symptoms mentioned
Their words about their symptoms
- Post-exertional malaise
PEM still an issue, but not nearly as much as it was the first two years.
In context ↗ - POTS & dysautonomia
POTS is much better.
In context ↗ - Anxiety & low mood
a full blown panic attack that sets me back for multiple days
In context ↗
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