9 Comments

This was fascinating thank you 🙏. It mirrors my experiences.

Expand full comment

SARS-Cov-2 binds to Ace-2 receptors on platelets, causing a prothrombin estate and reduced platelet count.

Expand full comment
author

Definitely true for SCoV2, but Wong et al showed the effect to be more generalized, as it also occurred in mice infected with VSV, LCMV, and injected with viral RNA mimic poly(I:C)!

Expand full comment

Thank you so much for this immensely clarifying paper! I was really struggling with the concept of the IDO "trap" and now I'm much closer to grasping it, as well as having better understanding of multiple biochemical interactions I've been reading about (and experiencing) for years!

Personally, I've had both severe depression and ME for decades, since my teens in the 80s, and I was trialed on pretty much every SSRI with very limited and short term benefits. Then I was given Cymbalta, ten years ago now, and have had complete remission from depression ever since. This remarkable uplift was marred by the fact that my body then proceeded to fall apart, with ME that has oscillated from Moderate to nearly Severe ever since.

I have to admit. reading your paper makes me yearn to try 5-HTP, but I will control the urge as I've given myself serotonin syndrome mixing supplements with my Cymbalta once already ;)

Again, thank you so very much for this great paper. It really helped!

Expand full comment
author

I'm so glad it's helped clarify things, that's 100% my goal! Sounds like we have similar experiences, although I actually don't tolerate SNRIs, likely because the NE enhancement aggravates my dysautonomia symptoms. So thrilled to hear it works for you 🙏

Expand full comment
Nov 17, 2023·edited Nov 17, 2023

Interestingly Cymbalta significantly helped my cognitive fatigue symptoms but I also couldn't tolerate it because of how badly it exacerbated my POTS symptoms. Now I'm on a low dose of Lexapro and I don't think it's doing anything at all.

Expand full comment
Nov 16, 2023Liked by Janna Moen, PhD

Excellent paper! I was prescribed an SSRI last fall to treat my Long Covid (ME-CFS). I reacted horribly to it. The month I was on it my brain could barely function and I had an incredible nonstop headache. It was so bad I didn't even understand how bad things were until the prescription ran out and I started to come back to myself, it was like a drunk person thinking they're mostly sober and doing ok.

Expand full comment
author

Wow! I'm so sorry you went through that ☹️ it definitely seems like initiating an SSRI while already deficient in circulating serotonin could aggravate symptoms like that. Glad you were able to figure out the cause!

Expand full comment

Hmm, I’ve been on the very journey you described: DUTCH test showed low morning cortisol. On my hellish journey through LC, I’ve had SSRI pushed on me constantly. Finally accepted in June as I have having panic attacks. Literally making myself sick (with fight/flight/fears). Just weaned off 2 weeks ago, on guidance of functional MD. Started 5-HTP last month. But now I’ll pause. I have the MECFS version of LC. IXCELA test showed low tryptophan as well. What is next? Heal the gut so I can absorb better? Eat high tryptophan foods (how does that get processed in the gut of LC folks...or does food present the same uptake issue as tryptophan supplements? Thanks for your work!

Expand full comment