It’s been more than four years since COVID-19 first swept across the globe—and for many people, it never truly left. Millions are now living with long COVID, a condition that causes lingering symptoms like fatigue, dizziness, brain fog, heart palpitations, and breathing issues long after the initial infection. Yet, despite the growing number of people affected, there are still no proven treatments—and patients are running out of patience.
A Life on Hold
Take Shaney Wright, for example. He was young, active, and healthy when he caught COVID in April 2020. Now, three years later, he’s still battling debilitating symptoms that affect his entire body. “It’s like living with a different illness every day,” he says.
Wright is not alone. Researchers have identified over 200 long COVID symptoms, ranging from memory loss to digestive issues. It’s been compared to myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), another misunderstood illness often triggered by viral infections.
Why Is It So Hard to Find a Treatment?
There’s no single reason why some people get long COVID while others recover completely. Scientists are exploring many theories, including:
- Lingering virus or viral fragments
- Reactivation of old viruses like Epstein-Barr
- Autoimmune responses
- Persistent inflammation
- Damage to blood vessels and mitochondria (the body’s energy producers)
Because long COVID may have many causes, finding a “one-size-fits-all” treatment is tough. And without a clear way to diagnose or measure the condition, drug companies and researchers are hesitant to test treatments.
A $1.15 Billion Effort… Still No Trials?
In 2021, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) launched the RECOVER initiative, promising to better understand long COVID and find treatments. But two years in, and after spending most of its funding, RECOVER still hasn’t started a single treatment trial.
This delay has angered patient advocates. “We don’t have time to waste,” says JD Davids, co-founder of Long COVID Justice. “People are desperate, and they’re being forced to experiment on themselves.”
Patients Are Taking Matters Into Their Own Hands
With little official help, many long COVID sufferers are turning to unproven therapies—some based on science, others less so. Popular options include:
- Antivirals like Paxlovid
- Low-dose naltrexone (a drug that may reduce inflammation)
- Blood thinners, antihistamines, and beta blockers
- Probiotics to support gut health
Some even try unconventional options like psilocybin (magic mushrooms) or worm-based supplements. For every person who finds relief, there’s another who doesn’t. Without randomized clinical trials, it’s impossible to say what’s truly working.
Moving Forward: What Needs to Change
Experts like Akiko Iwasaki of Yale say that waiting until we fully understand long COVID before testing treatments is the wrong approach. “We need to start trials now,” she says, “and track who improves to learn more about what’s causing the illness.”
That’s how science has often worked in the past—try a treatment, learn from the results, and refine from there. Even if we don’t fully understand the disease, treating symptoms could lead us to answers faster.
The Clock Is Ticking
For long COVID patients, this isn’t just about science—it’s about survival. “We’re not asking for miracles,” says Wright. “We’re asking for action. People are losing years of their lives.”
The government, health agencies, and pharmaceutical companies must step up. We don’t need to wait for perfect knowledge to start offering help. For the millions still suffering, every day without treatment is a day lost.
Source:
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/nchs_press_releases/2022/20221214.htm
https://patientresearchcovid19.com/
https://www.statnews.com/2023/04/20/long-covid-nih-billion/
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/eclinm/article/PIIS2589-5370(21)0029…
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