### Metformin and Long COVID: What You Need to Know A recent study has found that metformin, a common and inexpensive medication used to treat type 2 diabetes, may help reduce the risk of developing long COVID. Long COVID refers to symptoms that persist for more than 28 days after the initial COVID-19 infection. These symptoms can include tiredness, difficulty focusing, difficulty sleeping, shortness of breath, headache, and loss of sense of smell. #### Key Findings - **Reduced Risk:** The study showed that patients who took metformin within a few days of developing COVID-19 symptoms had a 41% lower chance of developing long COVID compared to those who took a placebo. - **Early Treatment:** The effect was even more significant when metformin was started within four days of symptom onset, reducing the risk by 63%. - **Safety:** Metformin is considered safe and has been shown to have anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties. It does not increase the risk of low blood sugar or lactic acidosis and is safe for use in children, pregnant women, and those with renal failure. #### Study Details - **Participants:** Over 1,200 individuals aged 30 to 85, who were overweight or obese, participated in the study. Half of them were vaccinated, and none had previously had COVID-19. - **Duration:** Participants took metformin or a placebo for 14 days and reported their symptoms for up to 10 months. - **Results:** Only about 6% of those taking metformin developed long COVID, compared to nearly 11% in the placebo group. #### Implications While the study suggests that metformin can reduce the risk of long COVID, it does not indicate that the drug can treat existing long COVID symptoms. More research is needed to explore this potential. However, the findings highlight that metformin could be a valuable preventive measure against long COVID, offering significant public health benefits. Researchers are also interested in seeing if long-term metformin users, such as those with diabetes, have a lower risk of developing long COVID. This could open new avenues for preventing long-term complications from COVID-19.