Five years of long COVID with lung damage, somewhat better on ER guanfacine
- Condition
- Long COVID
- At worst
- Severe (mostly bedbound)
- Ill before improving or writing
- 5 years
- Last post
- Oct 2026
In their words
- Condition: Long COVID
Has been 5 years for me as well feeling non human.
In context ↗ - At worst: Severe
Covid landed me in ICU and left me with lung damage
In context ↗ - Now: Somewhat better
Brain fog improved somewhat, a little more energy. It is not a cure but I'll take what I can get.
In context ↗ - Began after: COVID
Covid landed me in ICU and left me with lung damage
In context ↗
Read from 13 of their posts and comments; links to the 12 this page draws on
Summary
Five years of long Covid after a 2021 infection put them in ICU and left lung damage. Strattera made them lethargic and brought dark thoughts, so it was stopped. Extended-release guanfacine at 1 mg gave an immediate but partial improvement: sharper vision, better focus, less brain fog, a little more energy, but also thirst, constipation and broken sleep; a prescription mix-up (immediate-release instead of ER) lowered their blood pressure, and switching back to 2 mg ER brought a rebound high blood pressure, so the 2 mg benefit is still unclear.
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What they tried
What they credit
Also tried
Their words about each treatment
- Pepcid · Not said
That didn’t cute mine but I am glad it helped you. It has helped a lot of people. I think 40-60mg of Pepcid makes a difference.
In context ↗ - drinking less coffee · Helped
I feel better drinking less coffee. I try to just have one cup in the mornings.
In context ↗ - Strattera · Worse
The last two days I have had major negative dark thoughts and urine hesitancy. I messaged the doctor and he told me to stop taking it immediately.
In context ↗ - Extended release Guanfacine · Helped
Not a cure so far but a definite improvement.
In context ↗ - Unisom (Doxylamine Succinate) · Helped
Half a Unisom helps that but adds to the dryness.
In context ↗ - NAC · No change
Doesn’t do anything
In context ↗ - Senna · Not said
In week 2 I had constipation. Take Senna. I got the Wal Mart brand. Two should help.
In context ↗ - MiraLAX · No change
MiraLAX didn’t help that much.
In context ↗ - Metronidazole · Worse
Metronidazole destroyed my gut microbiome. I got Covid within town months of taking it and ended up in ICU with respiratory failure.
In context ↗
Approaches: Other drugs and medicines
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Covid with respiratory failure; ICU stay and lasting lung damageCovid landed me in ICU and left me with lung damageIn context ↗ | Severe | |
| November 2025 | cut coffee down to one cup in the morning and felt betterI feel better drinking less coffee.In context ↗ | Moderate | |
| March 2026 | Strattera caused lethargy and dark thoughts; stopped on doctor's adviceIt was supposed to be a morning dose and make me focus but made me lethargic instead.In context ↗ | Moderate | |
| April 2026 | started extended-release guanfacine 1 mg and felt better straight awayI immediately felt better and my vision was better, better focus.In context ↗ | Moderate | Guanfacine |
| August 2026 | given immediate-release instead of extended-release tablets by mistake; rebound high blood pressureI just switched them and had a rebound in my blood pressure.In context ↗ | Moderate | |
| August 2026 | guanfacine 2 mg extended release: definite but partial improvementNot a cure so far but a definite improvement.In context ↗ | Moderate | Guanfacine |
Adverse events
- Atomoxetine (Strattera)“It was supposed to be a morning dose and make me focus but made me lethargic instead. My mind tingled. I got so sleepy and slept unlike I have in years” In context ↗ Side effects
- Atomoxetine (Strattera)“It has some negative effects like increased thirst and reduced bladder output. I am on 40 mg. ... It made me drowsy the first few days” In context ↗ Side effects
- Atomoxetine (Strattera)“The last two days I have had major negative dark thoughts and urine hesitancy. I messaged the doctor and he told me to stop taking it immediately.” In context ↗ Mood or psychiatric effects
- Guanfacine“It does help but dries me out so bad and causes bad sleep interruptions.” In context ↗ Side effects
- Guanfacine“It also helps with nightmares to an extent but also causes sleep interruptions. I take half a Unisom to balance that.” In context ↗ Insomnia from treatment
- Guanfacine“My idiot doctor upped me to 2mg but gave me the immediate release by mistake. It lowered my blood pressure significantly.” In context ↗ Low blood pressure or fainting
- Guanfacine“I just switched them and had a rebound in my blood pressure. Now trying to get my blood pressure regulated.” In context ↗ Other
- Guanfacine“I will say my dreams are better but I am having sleep interruptions.” In context ↗ Insomnia from treatment
- Guanfacine“The downside? Increased thirst and you will have that immediately.” In context ↗ Side effects
- Guanfacine“In week 2 I had constipation. Take Senna.” In context ↗ Gut side effects
- Metronidazole (Flagyl)“Metronidazole destroyed my gut microbiome.” In context ↗ Gut side effects
Symptoms mentioned
Their words about their symptoms
- Brain fog
Brain fog improved somewhat
In context ↗ - Vision problems
very slight out of focus vision
In context ↗ - Sleep problems
my horrible morning waking stupor ... also causes sleep interruptions
- Anxiety & low mood
Supposed to help PTSD which I have from ICU ... I have had major negative dark thoughts
In context ↗ - Gut problems
In week 2 I had constipation.
In context ↗
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