A recent large clinical trial published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases explored the effectiveness of common medications in alleviating fatigue associated with long COVID. The study, involving nearly 800 adults treated at specialized long-COVID clinics in England, compared the impact of three drugs—colchicine (an anti-inflammatory), a combination of famotidine and loratadine (antihistamines), and rivaroxaban (a blood thinner)—against standard care over a 12-week period. Participants were experiencing significant fatigue at the outset, with an average score of 36.8 on a 50-point Fatigue Assessment Scale.
Findings indicated that fatigue improved across all groups, including those receiving only usual care. On average, fatigue scores decreased by 4.3 points, which is considered a clinically meaningful improvement. Participants taking colchicine and the famotidine-loratadine combination reported slightly greater reductions in fatigue compared to the usual care group, with scores dropping by an additional 1.49 and 1.48 points, respectively. Rivaroxaban did not demonstrate a significant impact on fatigue.
However, these improvements were not sustained long-term. By the 24-week mark, there was no significant difference in fatigue scores between the drug-treated groups and the usual care group.
Experts note that while these specific medications may not offer lasting relief on their own, the trial contributes valuable data to the ongoing search for long COVID treatments. The findings align with some previous research suggesting potential benefits of antihistamines for long COVID symptoms, while offering conflicting results regarding colchicine compared to other studies. Further investigation into the underlying mechanisms, particularly how these drugs might influence immune system responses linked to long COVID, is recommended.