Can This Common Medication Help Reduce The Risk Of Long COVID?

It looks like each time you activate the information or open your cellphone, new details about COVID-19 pops up.

Most of this info is pertinent to the newest variant EG.5, additionally referred to as “Eris,” however just lately, different extra promising information is making its rounds: Metformin, a drug usually used to deal with kind 2 diabetes, could also be used to stop lengthy COVID.

In line with Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum, a board-certified internist specialising within the remedy of persistent fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia, roughly 10% of people that get COVID (even a light case) come down with lengthy COVID. The situation is strictly what it feels like — signs of the an infection linger for days, weeks, months and even years.

These issues might embody persistent ache, mind fog, shortness of breath, chest ache and intense fatigue. Different widespread signs embody nausea, belly ache, lack of urge for food, heartburn and constipation.

Now, medical doctors are hoping metformin could be an answer after a latest research means that the favored prescription might scale back an individual’s threat for creating the situation following a COVID an infection. Right here’s what specialists need you to know.

The analysis, printed within the The Lancet in June, confirmed that taking metformin for 2 weeks throughout an acute COVID an infection decreased the danger of getting lengthy COVID by 63% if began within the first 4 days of the an infection. The chance of getting lengthy COVID was decreased by 42% if the contaminated individual began taking metformin after 4 days.

“Metformin has been recognized as a COVID-19 therapeutic agent as a result of its in vitro antiviral exercise, its antithrombotic and anti inflammatory exercise, and its work in opposition to protein manufacturing,” stated Jennifer Bourgeois, a well being and pharmacy skilled at SingleCare who was not affiliated with the research. In different phrases: Metformin might have properties that may scale back clotting, protein manufacturing and irritation – points that may be a part of lengthy COVID.

The research examined 1,431 contributors between the age of 30 and 85 who have been thought-about obese or overweight. One subset of research volunteers have been both given metformin or a placebo. One other group was both given ivermectin (an antiparasitic drug that individuals have tried to make use of to deal with COVID, regardless of considerations from specialists), fluvoxamine (a psychological well being medicine that confirmed some early promise for stopping COVID hospitalisations in high-risk sufferers) or a placebo.

About 50% of contributors within the ivermectin or fluvoxamine teams have been additionally given metformin. The contributors then reported on their signs for as much as 10 months following their COVID-19 prognosis. The outcomes confirmed that metformin use noticed the most important discount in lengthy COVID threat.

There are a number of caveats: As a result of the symptom tracker was self-reported, there’s room for human error. Not the entire preliminary research contributors continued to report their signs to researchers following their an infection (ultimately, about 1,100 of the 1,400 volunteers did). And of those that did comply with the research to completion, the researchers did notice that “there’s choice bias in that people who select to enrol in medical trials and full 10 months of follow-up surveys may not characterize the overall inhabitants affected by COVID-19 and lengthy COVID.”

Researchers solely checked out one high-risk group, so it’s laborious to say if this is applicable to a broader inhabitants as nicely. The research additionally didn’t management for vaccine standing.

“Additional analysis is required to find out if the COVID vaccine contributes to the discount in lengthy COVID and if metformin can also be efficient in adults with earlier an infection and with regular physique mass index,” stated Dr. Phillip Kadaj, a doctor and medical skilled on JustAnswer.com who was not affiliated with the analysis.

Specialists say the outcomes are promising. If it seems that this holds up in the actual world, it may very well be a low-cost approach to sort out lengthy COVID. As a diabetes remedy, metformin has additionally been proven to be secure to be used in youngsters, and through being pregnant and lactation. It’s unclear proper now if the identical will maintain true in COVID remedy.

“I’d warning readers to let the info develop just a little bit additional relating to metformin,” Kadaj stated. “I wouldn’t run out and begin taking medicine to stop lengthy COVID based mostly on one research. Let the info develop and accumulate and make selections based mostly on a number of research.”

Whereas this research with metformin has proven good outcomes for some people, different strategies ― like utilizing paxlovid after an an infection ― are additionally at present being studied as lengthy COVID prevention, too. As a result of the situation is so new, scientists nonetheless must do plenty of analysis in an effort to definitively decide the very best programs of remedy. Nonetheless, specialists agree these outcomes may very well be a sport changer sooner or later after extra research are carried out.

One of the best ways to stop lengthy COVID now’s to do all you possibly can to not get a COVID an infection within the first place. Specialists nonetheless stress the identical precautions we’ve recognized for years are nonetheless relevant now, together with:

That is one thing we’ve all been doing our whole lives, however it’s essential extra now than ever. The Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention recommends scrubbing your arms with cleaning soap for no less than 20 seconds for optimum outcomes — that is the equal to 2 “pleased birthday” songs.

You’ll be able to put on a masks whenever you’re in a public setting to assist forestall the unfold of germs, particularly for those who’re in crowded, indoor areas. Hold the masks over your nostril, mouth and chin. The World Well being Group advises in opposition to carrying masks with valves.

In case you’re not feeling nicely, it’s essential to steer clear of folks to cut back any unfold of the virus. Taking checks on the first indicators of signs can also be essential so you can begin any potential remedy you could want, relying in your threat degree.