The Amelie Clinic in Solna mass-medicates long-term patients: " Life-threatening"
A private clinic in Solna gives people who have been ill for years with post-viral fatigue syndrome such as ME and post-covid drugs that are not approved by the National Board of Health and Welfare. Two patients have now reported the doctor to the Health and Care Inspectorate, and SVT's investigation shows that many more patients have experienced side effects.
- 'I suffered from pain and fatigue. Jonas told me that my immune system was very affected and that I was very sick. And I trusted him," says Annika, whose real name is something else.
For three years, she received the antiviral Valganciclovir, which is normally given to AIDS patients for eye infections, and the HIV drug Ritonavir. She was also given the psoriasis drug Otezla. But she only had side effects, she says.
- "There were constant headaches, extreme fatigue, diarrhoea and elevated liver values," she says.
And Annika is not alone.
Many positive - despite side effects
SVT's review of closed groups on social media shows that many describe side effects. We find at least 28 prescription drugs. The most common are Valganciclovir and the diabetes drug Metformin. Around 30 people have discussed various side effects in the groups.
Most of them are still very positive.
But two of the patients have reported the clinic to Ivo, as Dagens ETC was the first to report.
Doctors raised the alarm: "Sounded weird"
And last year, general practitioner Björn Stridh at the Kry Gallerian health centre reacted.
- A patient came and had been given Valganciclovir and Otezla for post-covid. I thought it sounded strange. There are side effects and I couldn't find any research showing that this treatment produces results," says Björn Stridh.
He wrote to Ivo asking the authority to investigate whether the clinic was engaging in 'quackery'.
The clinic: Care is evidence-based
Jonas Axelsson, a doctor at the Amelie Clinic, told SVT that his care is evidence-based and that he does not treat ME. After the conversation, the diagnosis of ME was removed from the website.
He says that tests show that the herpes virus that most people have had in their bodies for a long time has started to affect the body, and that he therefore prescribes Valganciclovir.
"There is insufficient knowledge for us to issue treatment recommendations," says Thomas Lindén, head of department at the National Board of Health and Welfare. The National Board of Health and Welfare has been tasked by the government to develop knowledge support for post-covid and other post-viral, or post-infectious, conditions by 14 August 2024. Photo: Iman Tahbaz.
"Can be life-threatening"
But the theory is not proven. According to the National Board of Health and Welfare, there is no evidence for anything other than symptom relief. And other doctors warn against the treatment.
- 'You are using drugs that can be fatal,' says Christer Lidman, senior physician and specialist in infectious diseases at the post-covid clinic at Karolinska Huddinge.
- 'I know the drug and the side effects and we have control systems in place,' says Jonas Axelsson.
He says he removes medication immediately in case of liver damage.
The Amelie Clinic
The clinic started in 2019. Jonas Axelsson is the only doctor. He is an immunologist, has worked at Karolinska Hospital and previously conducted research, including laboratory tests linked to long-term disease states after viral infections.
ME is described as a post-viral fatigue disease just like post-covid. The number of patients is increasing but it is not known why they are ill. According to the National Board of Health and Welfare, there is no knowledge of how to treat it, and patients only receive symptom-relieving drugs in the public healthcare system.
The Amelie Clinic's patients have often been diagnosed with ME, post-covid or fibromyalgia in the public healthcare system. However, because the doctors have not found anything wrong with the body, the patients have not been helped, even though many have been ill for years.
They describe the Amelie Clinic and doctor Jonas Axelsson as their last hope. However, the clinic has no agreement with Region Stockholm, so patients pay for their care themselves, 4 000 SEK per visit.
At the Amelie Clinic, they receive treatment that they do not receive in the regular healthcare system. This includes antiviral drugs, diabetes medication, antihistamines and more. Patients often describe receiving a number of medications, sometimes at the same time. This is shown by SVT's review of closed Facebook groups, among other things.
The private clinic has been reported twice to the Health and Social Care Inspectorate for misdiagnosis and incorrect treatment. They are being investigated and no decision has been made by IVO.
