New Drugs Show Promise in Preventing Long COVID, Offering Hope for Millions
Recent clinical trials have shown that a diabetes drug and an antiviral medication used for mild-to-moderate COVID-19 can potentially prevent the development of long COVID. Long COVID is characterized by symptoms such as fatigue, shortness of breath, and cognitive impairment that persist for more than three months after initial infection. The trials, which included a placebo-controlled study, revealed that the antiviral Paxlovid reduced the risk of long COVID by 40% among participants. Additionally, a separate trial indicated that the diabetes drug metformin could cut the risk of physician-diagnosed long COVID by half. Despite these promising results, some physicians remain skeptical, citing concerns about the study's definitions and the self-reported nature of symptoms. 
