What is Long Haul COVID?

You may have heard the term Long Haul COVID Syndrome (LHCS), but are not quite sure what that means. Perhaps you have conquered the dreaded COVID-19, or maybe only had a mild case, but find that you are just not yourself anymore. There are many types of post-COVID-19 conditions related to having the virus that can affect multiple organs such as heart, lungs, brain, kidneys, and skin. The most commonly reported issues include tiredness, a feeling of overall weakness or discomfort, joint or muscle pain, headache, diarrhea, shortness of breath, chest pain, rapid or pounding heartbeat, difficulty sleeping, depression or anxiety, rash, loss of smell or taste, change in menstrual cycles and brain fog. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, these symptoms can last weeks to months after exposure. LHCS has also been seen in some people who were vaccinated, likely due to an inflammatory response activated by the spike protein from the COVID-19 vaccine. Post-COVID-19 syndrome is not only experienced by patients who had severe illness but often affects young adults and people who had mild to moderate symptoms.

You've determined you are a COVID "Long-hauler", what are your next steps?

If you have come to realize that you are a COVID "Long-hauler", you are not alone. In a recent PLOS Medicine Journal study researchers found that over 1 in 3 patients had one or more features of long-COVID recorded between 3 and 6 months after a diagnosis of COVID-19. This was significantly higher than after influenza. Even though this is a fairly new phenomenon, new treatments and protocols are being developed to help patients recover and regain their health.

At NextGenRx Compounding Pharmacy, we offer a wide variety of therapeutics for LHCS. Our compounded ivermectin is a great prophylactic measure and alternative therapy for COVID-19, It is also a powerful first-line therapy to get you on the road to recovery from long COVID. Listed as one of the World Health Organization's essential medicines, its antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties are an outstanding asset to the COVID arsenal.

Another prescription medication we compound in-house is low-dose naltrexone (LDN). LDN prevents inflammatory and excitatory factors that can cause sickness behaviors such as pain sensitivity, fatigue, lack of mental focus and clarity, sleep disorders, and mood disorders.

Our Compounded Immune Booster is made up of Compounded Vitamin C-600mg, Vitamin D-2500u, and Zinc Gluconate-15mg, promoting immune health. A majority of those with post-COVID-19 syndrome continue to have low levels of vitamin D. Learn more about these vitamins and what they can do for you.

Omega-3 fatty acids play an important role in inflammation, as well. As you have probably concluded, inflammation is one of the key contributors to long-COVID symptoms. It is thought that the continual presence of viral “garbage" keeps your body's defense system on alert to get rid of the culprits. At NextGenRx, we have many options for fighting inflammation including prednisone, fluvoxamine, and curcumin.

NextGenRx's Elderberry E-Hist with Quercetin is a blend of antioxidants, botanicals, enzymes, and flavonoids combined to support the immune system, regulate histamine levels and decrease inflammation.

Many agree that there is a similarity between post-COVID and mast cell activation syndrome, in which your body releases an inappropriate amount of chemical substance that causes an allergic reaction. Medications that may help are montelukast, famotidine, cetirizine, and loratadine.

What's that smell?

There is an old saying "your nose knows". Although the loss of your sense of smell might seem trivial to some, if it has happened to you, it's kind of a big deal. Many people post-COVID suffer from loss of smell or taste and regain it within a few days or perhaps a couple of weeks. But to the long-haulers that haven't been able to stop and smell the roses for months on end, it can be a real problem. Not only can it lead to decreased appetite (especially when your sense of taste is not what it used to be), but it can also have a profound effect on you mentally. Scents can cause a wide range of emotions from the cozy feeling of a hot cup of coffee in the fall, the joy you have baking cookies at Christmas, to the sense of rejuvenation you get when you smell that first freshly cut lawn in the Spring. Your nose can also be a warning signal if there is a fire or a natural gas leak. What about that sniff test to see if the milk has gone bad? So what are you to do if your nose doesn't know?

Vitamin A plays a decisive role in the regeneration of olfactory receptor neurons (smell receptors). NextGenRx has formulated a compounded Vitamin A prescription nasal spray that has had very positive outcomes.

No matter what your lingering COVID symptoms may be, we are here for you and in it for the "long haul".

From the beginning, NextGenRx has prided itself in building a pharmacy with quality, individualized medicine for an affordable cost by eliminating the middleman. Our goal is to provide you, the patient, with a positive experience without dealing with insurance companies while also lowering the cost of medications.

With more than 30 years of experience in compounding, our staff works to solve patients’ health care problems through unique formulas, not all pharmacies can offer. We aim to serve our patients with top-quality service, uncompromised quality, and affordable prices.

Contact us with all of your questions about our Long Haul COVID options and ask how we can help you by calling our team at 918-578-0031. You can also request a refill every day by going directly to our website.