Can Nicotine Patches Treat Long COVID Symptoms?
Can nicotine patches treat long COVID symptoms?
Yes, a small case series suggests nicotine patches may rapidly improve long COVID symptoms within days. Four patients with persistent fatigue, brain fog, and loss of taste/smell experienced significant improvement after applying low-dose nicotine patches, with some achieving complete recovery within 2-3 weeks.
This intriguing case series from Bioelectronic Medicine proposes that SARS-CoV-2 viral proteins may bind to acetylcholine receptors in the nervous system, disrupting normal nerve signaling and causing long COVID symptoms. The researchers hypothesize that nicotine’s higher affinity for these receptors could displace the viral proteins and restore function.