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Scientists Offer a New Explanation for Long Covid (www.nytimes.com)

submitted 1 year ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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A team of scientists is proposing a new explanation for some cases of long Covid, based on their findings that serotonin levels were lower in people with long Covid. They said that the biological pathway that their research outlines could unite many of the major theories of what causes long Covid: lingering remnants of the virus, inflammation, increased blood clotting and dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system.

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[–] Transcendant 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

This seems like a simple thing to check. 5HTP is a known serotonin precursor, and in most countries is not a controlled substance.

BUT, to anyone reading this with long covid thinking of giving 5HTP a go, for fucks sake PLEASE treat it with respect & do your due diligence with regard to researching the effects and safety of it. Serotonin syndrome is real and deadly. If you are taking an SSRI, or other things that affect / increase serotonin levels then you prob shouldn't be taking 5HTP.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Definitely. Serotonin syndrome is deadly and any serotonin increasing medication (SSRI/SNRI/TCA, etc) should be taken only under physician's guidance.

[–] Transcendant 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I experienced it once. Was already on SSRI, took a 5HTP cap, forgot I had taken it, took another.

I ended up on the floor of my bedroom... made it about 2 steps towards the bathroom. Was a very bizarre sensation, I distinctly remember for about what I assume was 10 mins, I didn't know what I was let alone who I was; utter confusion. Then I made an inexplicably-neat little puddle of puke next to my face (good job I was on my front as I was completely immobile) and shat myself, I remember hearing an ambulance go past and thinking "I need one of those". Then just an insane amount of heat feeling like it was radiating off me.

I hope someone can learn from my fail!

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

That sounds scary. I take a TCA and SNRI daily and sometimes I also need to take sumatriptan. Fear of serotonin syndrome is always at the back of my mind.