Our patient-led researchers reviewed studies about nicotine used to try to treat #LongCovid and #MCFS symptoms
#TheNicotineTest created a research protocol using lower doses and shorter periods of nicotine patches to study patient impacts:
thesicktimes.org/2025/10/17/n...
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Have questions about our #LongCovid #MECFS project #TheNicotineTest, led by project investigator @unitedstatesian.bsky.social?
Read @thesicktimes.org coverage by Astra Lincoln in 2025 on the project's first round of research (helped by @tessfalor.bsky.social)
thesicktimes.org/2025/10/17/n...
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Please donate to #TheNicotineTest, to fund the second round of research for this project - the Zeffy crowdfunding link is in this post ⬇️
Follow @thenicotinetest.bsky.social to learn more and support - Troy Roach, the project's principal investigator, explains the 3 years+ ongoing project's efforts
You can also follow @thenicotinetest.bsky.social and see their LinkTree for more info, resources and updates about #TheNicotineTest linktr.ee/thenicotinet...
#TheNicotineTest #MECFS #LongCovid #PASC #MECFSResearch #MEResearch #LongCovidResearch #PASCResearch #FundMECFS #FundLongCovid #Vielight #RedLightTherapy #Rutin #HRV #HeartRateVariability #PEM #GIP #PostPrandial #MedicalResearch #PatientLed #PatientLedResearch #FundMedicalResearch
You can donate to support The Nicotine Test project here: zeffy.com/en-US/donati...
This is a follow-up project to our previous project #TheNicotineTest, back by popular demand
You can read more about this and our other projects in detail at: www.renegade-research.org/projects
So, adding 5HTP to my sleep mix is def. helping. You know what else is helping? Nicotine patches. Once I get past the "gotta take it off at 6pm or I won't sleep" stage (1st week or so), then my sleep's better, my poo is better, I'm better. #MECFS #TheNicotineTest
8 weeks of 7mg nicotine patches and.... hello HSV2, how kind of you to stop by. #MECFS #TheNicotineTest #HSV2 Wah-wah 🎺
Ab heute startet der Versuch mit Nikotinpflastern. Mal schauen ob es mir helfen wird. Frau wartet erstmal ab. #LongCovid #thenicotinetest
With #TheNicotineTest my tolerance for activity w/o crashing has gone up. There’s a piece I associate with my #mecfs that is no longer there—a feeling like my body is going into a sort of acute shock with overexertion.
This has been my experience of mecfs for years now, alongside some other ⬇️ 2/6
Guys… if my typical pattern is anything to go by, I got away with it.
I GOT AWAY WITH IT.
#TheNicotineTest #mecfs #longcovid
Oof, this is my fastest migraine onset in months. Nurtec plz kick in soon?
I’ve been feeling surprisingly great the past few days as I’m ramping up dose on #theNicotineTest. I know it’s not an instant silver bullet (if it helps long-term). But it’s more disappointing than usual to feel like shit.
Me outside smiling behind an N95 with fogged glasses perched on my forehead. Shoppers Drug Mart is in the background, two blocks from my home
Made it to Shoppers!
Trying not to have any expectations over the next few days about what will or will not happen re: PEM.
If it happens, I’ll listen to my body ofc.
But I think I’ll be ok, as this seems comparable to my recent activity level at home.
#TheNicotineTest #mecfs
Headshot of me as a child, in 3/4 profile to the camera. I’m wearing a blue & white knit sweater. Taken at Helliwell Park on Hornby Island in the late 80s.
Portrait of me as a child, standing in a grassy field in front of a line of trees. I’m wearing a blue & white knit sweater and probably jeans. I’m holding a big walking stick. Taken at Helliwell Park on Hornby Island in the late 80s.
As I was getting ready for a big health experiment just now, my dad sent these lovely pics of me as a child on Hornby Island BC.
Looking to the future, to when I may be able to do such things again.
For now, I’m walking 2 blocks to the pharmacy. (HUGE)
Wish me luck 🍀❤️🩹✨
#TheNicotineTest #mecfs
Oh, for those who want to learn more about the underlying hypothesis, published case study, how to do this safely, etc., there’s a wealth of info about #theNicotineTest here: Linktr.ee/thenicotinet... 7/tbc
I’ll update this thread with my experiences with #theNicotineTest as I go, and I also fairly rigorously track my symptoms with @bearable.bsky.social so will be looking for any subtler impacts in that data. 6/ to be contd
I’m starting #theNicotineTest today with 1/4 of a 7mg nicotine patch. Note that it is NOT safe to cut patches, so I have exposed only 1/4 of the patch and left the rest of the backing on, using medical tape to secure it to my calf, which should also lessen the first dose impact vs. arm placement. 5/
It’s hard to overcome a lifetime of NICOTINE BAD messaging and take the plunge to try #theNicotineTest. After nearly half a decade with #LongCovid, it’s also hard to let myself believe that new interventions might help. But it’s worth a try, and I’ll try to comment on my experience with it here. 4/
I mean, how do you go to your doctor and say “hi, I’m wondering if nicotine might be right for me”?? So imagine my surprise when last week my Long Covid doctor brought up #theNicotineTest to me. We discussed the theory, case studies, and his patients’ experiences and I decided it’s worth a try. 2/
Today I am starting a trial of nicotine patches for my #LongCovid, following the protocol of #theNicotineTest. I have been aware of this idea for ~4-5 months but was hesitant to try it without medical supervision, given all the meds I am on to manage my condition. 1/
Back in November, I could only stand for a 1-2 mins.
Today I made tortilla soup in the instant pot & took my first stand-up shower in five years. At least.
I haven’t said anything bc everyone is suffering.
But maybe hope helps… ❤️🩹✨
#mecfs since 2011
#longcovid #chronicillness #TheNicotineTest
They might get some benefit by accident. #TheNicotineTest was an Long Covid patient-led trial of nicotine patches on Xitter before it got really bad—beginning of 2023, maybe? The anti-inflammatory effect is real and I've used them for LC, but hadn't heard of them being used for acute covid. 🤷♀️
Round 3 of 7mg NP in #TheNicotineTest and this morning I woke up with 100% Garmin #bodybattery and 5/5 #Visible . It's a first. Mind you, it was a melatonin-night last night, which helps too. 👏🏼👍🏼🤞🏼
Dag 33, dag 9 van ronde 3. 2,5 mg
😳😳 Dat was m’n kortste PEM ooit, het trok alweer weg voor het goed en wel doorgezet was. Normaal 24 uur. Wauw…
Afgelopen nacht wel slechte biodata: Hoge hartslag en lage hrv. Beetje onverwacht, zo ná de PEM ipv ervoor. Rustig aan maar weer 🤷♀️
#TheNicotineTest
Gister -volgens verwachting- een prima dag. Ik verwachtte de PEM gisteravond of vanmorgen. Tot nog toe niks (ik durf het bijna niet te schrijven 🤫) De biodata geeft een kleine parasympatische swing, maar veel kleiner dan verwacht. Duimen en afwachten maar weer.
#TheNicotineTest #ME #LC
Dag 32/Dag 7 van ronde 3.
Nog steeds op 2,5 mg. De hoofdpijn is weggebleven sinds ik het hoorapparaatje eerst af deed en daarna veel zachter zette.
Waarschijnlijk de boosdoener dus.
Eergister Sinterklaas gevierd, normaalgesproken PEM-waardig. ‘S Avonds weinig directe klachten.
#TheNicotineTest
Thank you for the reminder. I did #TheNicotineTest while Twitter was still useful and...had forgotten how much it helped; I just haven't used the patches in a while.
But I'm in a crash, so all hands on deck. 🙄
De biodata is ondertussen best enthousiast. De hrv hobbelt op een voor mij mooi niveau heel rustig wat omhoog en de hartslag is stabiel laag (dat pleit beiden overigens ook tegen een PEM of virusje).
Het Sintfeestje is uitgesteld naar morgen. Duimen dat dat wel lukt!
#TheNicotineTest #pwME #LC
Vandaag dag 28, dag 3 van ronde 3. 2,5 mg nicotine geplakt.
Goede nacht gehad maar weer wakker met pemmige hoofdpijn. Niet goed. Ik had alles zo netjes uitgemikt op ons Sintfeestje vanavond, maar zo zie je maar weer, het lijf beslist anders. Stom.
#TheNicotineTest #ME #LC
Gister dag 26, dag 1 van ronde 3. Ik plakte plm 2 mg.
Hartslag weer iets hoger, logisch wel.
De afgelopen week was ik wat stabieler en lijkt m’n baseline een ministapje hoger te liggen. Ik kan nu (bijna) elke dag even schilderen en ‘s avonds een serie kijken op de bank. Winst!
#TheNicotineTest
