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Common Over-The-Counter Drug May Relieve Long COVID Symptoms, Case Report Suggests
https://www.iflscience.com ^ | February 10, 2022 | Rachel Funnell

Posted on 02/10/2022 11:47:07 AM PST by Red Badger

Promising news for people with long COVID may have arrived in a new case report, as two people report that their symptoms were almost completely relieved by taking common over-the-counter antihistamines. Authors of the new paper express that while the evidence thus far is anecdotal and based on a very small sample size, it’s a worthy avenue of investigation considering that – for most people – antihistamines are safe to take on a daily basis.

“Patients tell us they wish more than anything that they could work and do the most basic activities they used to before they got sick with long COVID,” said corresponding author and University of California, Irvine associate professor of nursing, Melissa Pinto, in a statement. “They are desperately searching for something to help them get back on their feet.”

That search led Pinto and colleagues to the cases of two women, details of which they describe in a paper published in The Journal for Nurse Practitioners. Both women were otherwise healthy and ended up taking the antihistamine diphenhydramine, sometimes branded as Benadryl or Nytol, as something of a happy accident.

In the first case, the woman had triggered an existing lactose intolerance by eating cheese so took the antihistamine to manage the subsequent symptoms. The second had run out of her usual allergy medication so switched.

In both instances, the women found daily doses of the antihistamine led to significantly improved quality of life. Their cognition, exercise tolerance, and pain severity – all of which had worsened after SARS-CoV-2 infection – were improved and rashes and lesions associated with long COVID (which has around 203 possible symptoms) went away.

Each woman reports they’ve regained 90 and 95 percent of their pre-illness function under the diphenhydramine antihistamine regime. Their promising outcome potentially demonstrates that this readily available medication could have a big impact on those who feel they have lost much of their quality of life to long COVID.

“Currently, there is no cure for [long COVID], only symptom management,” said Pinto. “A number of options are being tried, with antihistamines being one of them.”

While the women represent a small sample size, with similar characteristics including age, sex, and ethnicity, Pinto maintains that the promise of an afforable medication easing long COVID symptoms is worth further investigation.

“The possibility that an easy-to-access, over-the-counter medication could ease some of the [long COVID] symptoms should offer hope to the estimated 54 million people worldwide who have been in distress for months or even years,” she continued. "The next steps for this research into antihistamine treatment are to conduct broad-based trials in order to evaluate efficacy and to develop dosage schedules for clinical practice guidelines.”


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Health/Medicine; History; Society
KEYWORDS: benadryl; chinavirustreatment; covid; diphenhydramine; longcovid; nytol
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1 posted on 02/10/2022 11:47:07 AM PST by Red Badger
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To: Red Badger

HURRY... antihistamine diphenhydramine, sometimes branded as Benadryl or Nytol
We need more sales!!!!!


2 posted on 02/10/2022 11:49:13 AM PST by TribalPrincess2U
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To: Red Badger

I took Benadryl both times I had Covid-19 and to neutralize the read itchy rash from the vaccine.

It really helped.


3 posted on 02/10/2022 11:51:15 AM PST by tired&retired (Blessings )
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To: Red Badger
Oh... at first glance I thought this was another smash n grab story....

"Come on over the drug counter....."

4 posted on 02/10/2022 11:51:40 AM PST by G Larry (The "Racism" charge is code for "No Intelligent Argument")
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To: Red Badger

And then, 30 years later, will be dealing with antihistamine-caused dementia.


5 posted on 02/10/2022 11:52:43 AM PST by steve86 (Prophecies of Maelmhaedhoc O'Morgair (Latin form: Malachy))
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To: TribalPrincess2U

I just recovered from COVID and it made me feel like I have persistent allergies. Sinus headaches more specifically. I take Benadryl. It works but only to a certain extent. I’m finding 3 tylenol/3 advil combo works also.


6 posted on 02/10/2022 11:53:18 AM PST by EQAndyBuzz (If you are vaccinated, you cannot get COVID from someone who is not vaccinated. Lighted up Karen!)
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To: tired&retired

It really helped me sleep, too. Found a 1000 pill bottle of diphenhydramine for about $10 on Amazon.


7 posted on 02/10/2022 11:54:49 AM PST by mikey_hates_everything
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To: Red Badger; ransomnote

And...just like articles about “criminal youths”, some important parts are left out.
Likewise, as you can guess at the demographic of such criminals, we can also guess that part of these women’s LONG COVID not mentioned is that they took the vaxx after recovering.

RN, adding you since you are the only FReeper researching about such studies.
Same war, different foxhole.


8 posted on 02/10/2022 11:56:02 AM PST by Cletus.D.Yokel (This is NOT a pandemic of the unvaxx'd. It is a complete loss of common sense.)
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To: Red Badger

They should include a test group to see whether it could possibly do a better job of preventing the disease that has so far proved available “vaccines” worthless.


9 posted on 02/10/2022 11:56:44 AM PST by immadashell (New Planned Parenthood slogan: Black Babies’ Lives Don't Matter!c)
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To: Red Badger

This is indeed good news but really: Almost everyone with a lick of sense already has a stash of antihistamine on hand. A lot of folks just don’t realize how useful it is!

If I start having nasal congestion or a sore throat - which is frequently, because I live in the land of pollen (in some years there are actual DRIFTS of pollen from the trees all over the place) - I don’t think I have “the flu” or whatever: I think “I have a stuffy nose/sore throat” and I take antihistamine, go to bed early and VOILA!! The next day I feel great. (Or tolerable.)

One negative about the diphenhydramine type allergy meds is that they make me really, really sleepy. The loratadine variety (Claritin) is supposed to be “non drowsy,” and yes, I don’t feel sleepy on it, but otoh I feel sort of like I’m having an LSD flashback. (Mr K - not the one on this forum - will not take loratadine under any circumstances but he takes diphenhydramine/Benadryl almost every day before bedtime.)


10 posted on 02/10/2022 11:56:45 AM PST by Scarlett156 (Someone with "comedian" on his social media profile is invariably a self-hating sadistic loser.)
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To: EQAndyBuzz

“I just recovered from COVID and it made me feel like I have persistent allergies. “

I had the same symptoms and found that sudafed really helped.

I take lots of Vitamin D and had a very mild case.


11 posted on 02/10/2022 11:59:48 AM PST by desertfreedom765
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To: Red Badger

I wish they made allergy medicine for libtardism 🤪


12 posted on 02/10/2022 12:01:26 PM PST by NWFree (Somebody has to say it)
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To: steve86
… dealing with antihistamine-caused dementia.

There is that rumor but no current tested proof.

13 posted on 02/10/2022 12:02:15 PM PST by immadashell (New Planned Parenthood slogan: Black Babies’ Lives Don't Matter!c)
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To: Cletus.D.Yokel

Long Covid was known before any vaccines were available.


14 posted on 02/10/2022 12:03:37 PM PST by heartwood (Someone has to play devil's advocate.)
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To: Red Badger

CVS sells Diphenhydramine in the allergy section AND the sleep section.

Diphenhydramine will alleviate your allergy symptoms AND put you to sleep.

I buy the big bottle of Diphenhydramine at Sam’s...a plot cheaper than CVS.


15 posted on 02/10/2022 12:04:12 PM PST by moovova
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To: Red Badger
Happened to notice another article from the same site...LOL.

"Swallowing Semen May Actually Increase Your Chances Of Having A Baby"

16 posted on 02/10/2022 12:04:48 PM PST by moovova
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To: steve86

That is a consideration.

Next pill developed will counter that. It’s like handing out free street drugs to get kids hooked. Then you pay.


17 posted on 02/10/2022 12:05:16 PM PST by Cold Heart (Seriously injured by the vaxx)
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To: TribalPrincess2U

The FDA will BAN it next week!........................


18 posted on 02/10/2022 12:05:16 PM PST by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegal aliens are put up in hotels.....................)
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To: Red Badger

Driving after taking this drug in many states is considered to be driving “Under the Influence”!

It seems to work very well as a sleeping pill.


19 posted on 02/10/2022 12:05:32 PM PST by Grampa Dave (“Cloth and paper masks are as worthless as the people, who wear and advocate them!” A Clemenza post!)
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To: moovova

They are doing it wrong................


20 posted on 02/10/2022 12:05:37 PM PST by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegal aliens are put up in hotels.....................)
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