Long COVID with POTS and PEM, brain fog somewhat better with guanfacine and NAC
- Condition
- Long COVID
- At worst
- Mild (working or studying, with limits)
- Ill before improving or writing
- Not stated
- Last post
- Mar 2024
In their words
- Condition: Long COVID
I got POTS with LC and Guanfacine didn’t help with that or make it worse either.
In context ↗ - At worst: Mild
I started taking 2mg of Guanfacine extended release ... I’m not 100% but so much better with it.
In context ↗ - Now: Somewhat better
Cleared up brain fog but didn’t resolve all memory and executive functioning issues
In context ↗ - Began after: COVID
before I got Covid
Read from 8 of their posts and comments; links to the 8 this page draws on
Summary
A Reddit user with long COVID, POTS and PEM reported brain fog and memory/executive problems. Two months of 2 mg extended-release guanfacine plus high-dose NAC greatly improved brain fog and focus, though they were not fully recovered; 3 mg lowered blood pressure and heart rate. They did well on a POTS exercise protocol, found creatine no help, and said glucomannan and PHGG helped.
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What they tried
What they credit
Also tried
Their words about each treatment
- Creatine · No change
Creatine hasn’t helped my long covid or PEM at all. I was taking it consistently before I got Covid and also after.
In context ↗ - Guanfacine extended release · Helped
The 2mg extended release helped me a lot. Cleared up brain fog but didn’t resolve all memory and executive functioning issues
In context ↗ - NAC · Helped
paired with a high dose of NAC (2500 mg) it has really helped my brain fog and focus
In context ↗ - Levine protocol (CHOP Modified Dallas POTS Exercise Program) · Helped
My doctors started me on this protocol and so far I’ve been doing well on it. I’ve had to go back and repeat weeks if needed.
In context ↗ - Urolithin A · No change
I started taking it almost a month ago and haven’t noticed anything yet
In context ↗ - Glucommanan · Helped
Glucommanan and PHGG helped me
In context ↗
Approaches: Physiotherapy and rehab
Their path
How ill they were on the ME/CFS severity scale, estimated from what they describe at each point, in the order they describe; they don’t give enough times to place each step. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| — | developed long COVID with POTS, PEM and cognitive problemsI got POTS with LCIn context ↗ | Mild | |
| 2023-11-08 | brain fog and focus improved on guanfacine with NACit has really helped my brain fog and focus. I’m not 100% but so much better with it.In context ↗ | Mild | Guanfacine |
| 2024-02-05 | doing well on a POTS exercise protocolMy doctors started me on this protocol and so far I’ve been doing well on it.In context ↗ | Mild | Graded rehab and self-made programmes |
| 2024-02-08 | 3 mg guanfacine made blood pressure and heart rate plummet; returned to 2 mgmy doctor tried me on 3mg extended release but it made my blood pressure and heart rate plummet so I have to go back to 2mg.In context ↗ | Mild | Guanfacine |
| 2024-03-21 | still had long COVID and PEM; creatine had no effectCreatine hasn’t helped my long covid or PEM at all.In context ↗ | Mild |
Adverse events
- Guanfacine“It was a little rough to acclimate to and made me sleepy but after two months I started feeling the positive effects of it and the increased drowsiness went away.” In context ↗ Side effects
- Guanfacine“my doctor tried me on 3mg extended release but it made my blood pressure and heart rate plummet so I have to go back to 2mg” In context ↗ Low blood pressure or fainting
Symptoms mentioned
Their words about their symptoms
- Brain fog
didn’t resolve all memory and executive functioning issues
In context ↗ - POTS & dysautonomia
I got POTS with LC
In context ↗ - Post-exertional malaise
Creatine hasn’t helped my long covid or PEM at all.
In context ↗
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