Can a common drug clear long COVID brain fog?
NCT ID NCT06055244
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tested whether amantadine, a medication used for other conditions, can improve memory and thinking problems in people with Long COVID. 64 adults with lasting cognitive issues after a COVID infection took part. Researchers also looked for lab markers that might predict who benefits most.
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Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Phase 2
Tests whether the treatment actually works, and watches for side effects, in a larger group.
- Participants
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64 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Dec 2023
- Finished
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Dec 2025
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: 1. 18 years of age and above at the signing of informed consent 2. Had a positive laboratory or home test for COVID19 within one year prior to signing of informed consent, with subsequent symptoms meeting criteria for PASC. 3. Subjective Cognitive impairment associated with PASC 4. Cognitive symptoms will be formally assessed at a pre-enrollment visit using the PROMIS Cognitive Function Questionnaire (CGQ) and the PROMIS Cognitive Abilities subset (CAS), which are validated patient-reported measures of subjective cognitive functioning. Potential participants must have a cumulative score less than 60 (indicating at least mild subjective cognitive dysfunction) to be eligible. 5. Is willing and able to comply with study visits and study-related procedures/assessments. 6. Is able to provide informed consent to participate in the study 5. 7. Is not currently taking a medication with adverse interactions with amantadine. (Table 2) 8. If the participant is of child bearing potential, , is not pregnant at enrollment based on negative urine pregnancy test. 9. If the participant is of child-bearing potential, is consistently using one or more forms of prescribed birth control, such as an oral contraceptive, intrauterine device or a long-acting reversible contraceptive. 10. Is not breastfeeding. 11. Is willing to abstain from alcohol use for the duration of the study. 12. Endorses self-reported cognitive impairment on the PROMIS CF\[40\]. 13. Does not have any other contraindications to amantadine use as noted in section 6 below or as identified by the study clinician investigators. Exclusion Criteria: 1. At risk for complications of study drug with conditions such as: * Lifetime history of compulsive or impulsive behavior: Compulsive gambling, hypersexuality, binge eating; suicidality. * Underweight, malnourished at time of enrollment. * History of restrictive eating disorder within 3 months prior to consent. * Lifetime history of heart failure or diagnosed cardiac arrhythmia. * Untreated angle closure glaucoma at time of enrollment. * Lifetime history of psychosis or psychotic disorder. * Lifetime history of seizure disorder. * Known allergy to amantadine. * History of binge drinking, heavy alcohol use, or alcohol use disorder as defined by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)\[54\] and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5)\[55\]. * Use of kava-kava within 3 months prior to consent. * Breastfeeding at screening or expected to be breastfeeding during study period. * Pregnant at time of screening or expecting to become pregnant during the study period. 2. Is taking a medication that adversely interacts with amantadine (see Table 2) 3. Has any physical examination findings, and/or history of any illness, concomitant medications or recent live vaccines that, in the opinion of the study investigator, might confound the results of the study or pose an additional risk to the subject by their participation in the study. 4. Prior diagnosis of dementia, neurodegenerative disorder, multiple sclerosis or other autoimmune neurologic disorder, or cognitive impairment. 5. Enrolled in any other research study involving intervention for PASC. 6. If the individual is of child-bearing potential, is not consistently using one or more forms of prescribed birth control. 7. Is not willing to abstain from alcohol for the duration of the study. 8. Is not willing and able to adhere to study visits and study-related procedures/assessments. 9. Is not able to provide informed consent to participate in the study.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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The Ohio State University Medical Center
Columbus, Ohio, 43221, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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