GLP-1 agonists (Ozempic, etc.) to treat long-COVID?

I have not heard of treating Long Covid with these GLP-1 drugs. I have Long Covid and my husband is taking Wegovy for weight loss. I would be interested in hearing what this type of medication can do for us?

For Long COVID, studies are trying extremely small microdoses of GLP-1s. You can purchase a vial of Wegovy direct from Novo Nordisk for $499 and it will last for months when microdosing. Here is some info on a study at Scripps:

- A new clinical trial launched by Scripps Research, known as the Long COVID Treatment Trial (LoCITT), is investigating the use of tirzepatide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist, for treating long COVID symptoms through a digital, remote platform.
This trial will assess whether microdosing tirzepatide—marketed as Mounjaro for diabetes and Zepbound for weight loss—can reduce symptoms such as fatigue, brain fog, and joint pain over a 12-month period.
The study aims to enroll 1,000 participants across the U.S. who have medically documented long COVID, with half receiving the drug and half a placebo to ensure scientific rigor.

The rationale for using GLP-1 drugs stems from their anti-inflammatory properties, which may address underlying inflammation associated with long COVID.
While there are currently no FDA-approved treatments for long COVID, anecdotal reports and early physician observations have spurred interest in repurposing GLP-1 agonists.
Some patients with ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, and long COVID have reported significant improvements in cognitive function and fatigue after using low doses of these medications, although responses vary and some individuals experience adverse effects like worsened brain fog or sleep disruption.

Due to the sensitivity of patients with chronic conditions, experts recommend starting at much lower doses than those approved for diabetes or obesity, a practice referred to as microdosing.
In the U.S., this is typically done using vials of tirzepatide from which precise microdoses can be drawn with a syringe, as pre-filled pens do not allow dose adjustment.
The Scripps trial will titrate doses gradually, beginning low and increasing only if well-tolerated, to find each participant’s optimal dose without triggering side effects.

@vostie @roxannelee
This is an exiting thing I’m looking into for my ME/CFS.
My daughter goes through an online program to get hers (for weight loss) at a much lesser price. She’s very happy with it and has lost a lot of weight and feels great. It costs her out of pocket around $50 a month. It’s compounded and apparently there are many companies like this now.

I'm currently on a compounded GLP-1. It helps me not to gain any more weight after 5.5 years of long COVID and a lot of weight gain from barely moving. I get it from a compound pharmacy, prescribed by my primary care doctor, and it's $350 per month. My insurance would not pay for it because I don't have Type 2 diabetes. Of course, insurance wants to wait until I get SICKER to help me with costs. Grrrr. Anyway, I think it has helped my brain fog a bit, and my overall feeling of wellness a bit. The drug has not, however, helped my extreme Long COVID fatigue or joint/muscle pain. Lyrica has helped that some. I will stay on it as long as I can afford to because I really really can't gain more weight at this point.

I was just able to qualify for the Long COVID Treatment Trial - Tirzepatide study. This study is being performed by Scripps La Jolla on the use of Zepbound for Long COVID symptoms. They will send me the drug or a placebo for one year at no cost to me and everything can be done remotely. I recommend seeing if you qualify for the study - see the first application here:
https://longcovid.scripps.edu/

I've had Long Covid symptons since having Covid in 2020. I did not get any of the shots.
They started about 6 months after my first illnes and I lost my sense of taste and smell. It wasn't so bad and I fine about a week or so later.
Then a few months later it happened again. This time it was worse and lasted longer. I started to get headaches every day also.
A couple months later the same thing happened, each time getting worse so now the smells are making me nauseous. I can't even describe what they smell like because I've never smelled anything like them before. At first it was like burning rubber or rotting fruit, now I can't even describe it.
I started on Zepbound in July for weight control without any thought that this drug might possibly help with Long Covid. In my case , none of my symptoms have improved or gone away so I am still looking for that magic potion to help me live a normal life again