Nicotine patches to treat long-COVID?

https://www.publichealth.columbia.edu/news/overactive-immune-system-seen-patients-chronic-fatigue-syndrome-me-cfs
Speaks about how the human body due to long Covid ends up with overactive immune system.
I am getting ready to try Nicotine patch never smoke a day in my life but Drs on Maine are saying to my face long Covid does not exist. Treating me with things that don't work

@bgpage My doc gave me low dose naltrexone...it took about 8 weeks for me to titrate up to 4.5 mg and now I have more energy, less fatigue, less food allergies, less shortness of breath, less palpitations, and all of the lesions on my legs have cleared up. The Naltrexone is regulating my overactive immune system. I will probably have to use it forever unless research finally finds something that is a cure...but I am better than I have been in 5 long years.

@bgpage
That's a pretty interesting link, and thank you for that.
I've subscribed to that theory as the most likely cause for decades, since I had that for about two years in the late eighties.
I'm very intrigued with its mention of Metformin as a possible aid in calming things down. It seems as though more information is coming out about that drug, making it something bordering on miraculous. In addition to controlling diabetes, some research indicates it may have anti-aging effects. It also, though, may decrease the benefits of exercise (which I can barely now do anyway), unfortunately.
My wife had a lot of trouble with her digestion with Metformin--a common side effect--but since there's a lot hanging around the house I just may experiment carefully with it to see if it does anything for my LC.
This is what we're reduced to, essentially, as LC/ME/CFS sufferers: throwing stuff at the wall, (harmless stuff, hopefully), and seeing what sticks!

In regards to nicotine--gum in my case--for LC. Like you, as a non-smoker, I expected a lot of effect, stimulation at least, but after gradually increasing the dose I rather oddly didn't feel any effects whatsoever.

@vostie I am happy to hear it is helping you. I tried that a couple years ago to find out I was allergic to it. However From everything I can see and locate from Dr . Papers etc. The over active immune system hits so many things it's crazy. For me it has reactivated aan allergy asthma which only was active when around things like chemicals or hay and I am not around any of those, along with causes a very bad Inflammation from head to toe and in my lungs that Drs aren't checking out they keep throwing Prednisone at it which helps for a couple weeks to a month and it comes right back . I am getting ready to try Nicotine patches . Never smoked a day in my life but the Nicotine receptor helps reduce inflammation a lot . I hope that the weather Naltrexone helps you as long as you need it to . Please keep me updated on anything that helps

I am a Covid Long Hauler and have been dealing with loss of taste and smell and body tremors since December of 2022. This morning, I bit the bullet and applied a NicoDerm Patch 7 mg to my arm. Time will tell if this will work or not. What I’m wondering, how long will I need to wear this for?

@lkirnbauer Your length of loss is similar to mine. It took me 3 cycles. 5 days with patch under my chin then 10 days off between patching. It was on day 6 (second cycle) that I made cinnamon rolls and I could smell them. The next day, my first taste in years was watermelon. I did a third cycle as senses were 'slight' when they began to return. On last day of the third cycle, I stopped. Senses now fully back to normal 2 months later!

@pattig09 When you say 3 cycles, do you mean 3 boxes of patches? This is day 3 of wearing a 7 mg patch and I have been taking it off before bedtime as I’ve read that you may experience bad dreams or nightmares. Did you wear your patch overnight? I haven’t noticed any changes in my taste or smell yet, but will continue using these patches.

@lkirnbauer Just one box of 15 patches was purchased and that was my only purchase. I only wore a patch between hours of 9am and around 7pm, but never when I slept. My patches lasted longer than wearing one full patch each of the days because I cut the tape on the edges off to prevent any allergic reactions. Then I cut each patch in half and placed it on tape I knew I would not react to. So my does was actually 3.5mg each day. That was all it took and by day 6 which was in the 2nd cycle, I could smell a baking cinnamon roll! I still have the 1/2 box stored in the refrigerator in the event something changes with smell or taste.

@jostrowski74 I also have major ear pressure most of the day. At times I feel like I have a stick in my ear. It’s very uncomfortable and I’m very sensitive to sounds. My daughter just moved to New York two weeks ago and I can barely talk to her because my ears hurt so bad. Any suggestions anyone? I’ve been putting heat on my neck and it helps a little bit.

@pattig09 Thanks so much for getting back to me. I am on day 4 wearing a 7 mg patch and my Long Covid tongue looks better, more pink! I still can’t smell or taste, but I will continue wearing the patches until something does! Thanks again for the explanation! Much appreciated.