News from Germany

[forestglip]

We've just had a negative trial for one of those! (Thread)

Technically, for Metformin, the use they're recommending is for preventing long COVID before it starts, not for symptom reduction in already sick people.

Metformin is regularly approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, particularly in overweight patients. Off-label, the drug can now be used for the prophylaxis of long/post-COVID-19. This is possible within 3 days of diagnosis of an acute SARS-CoV-2 infection in adults and adolescents aged 16 years and older who have the risk factor "overweight/obesity (BMI >25)" and whose COVID-19 symptoms have been present for less than 7 days.

 

[DHagen]

Technically, for Metformin, the use they're recommending is for preventing long COVID before it starts, not for symptom reduction in already sick people.

Yes, that's fair and an important distinction; I should have noted it - I'll admit I was probably too focused on my own interest here (treatment vs. prophylaxis).

 

[EndME]

Not sure why this is in the news again, this is just the same announcement from months ago right: https://www.bfarm.de/DE/Arzneimittel/Zulassung/Zulassungsrelevante-Themen/Expertengruppe-Long-COVID-Off-Label-Use/_node.html ?

 

[Jonathan Edwards]

"Individuals with statutory health insurance and long/post-COVID-19 will soon be able to receive treatment with certain medications for so-called off-label use.

The list:
Ivabradin (POTS & LC)
Metformin (LC)
Agomelatin (LC & ME/CFS)
Vortioxetin (LC)

This seems very strange.
It almost sems to be a recognition that German doctors need some placebos handy to deal with the LC patients.

Atypical anti-depressants can produce some pretty horrific side-effects too.