Positives

• A Reddit long-hauler said a 7 mg patch “woke me up” and had them feeling “back to 105 %” after one week, with brain-fog and fatigue gone.Reddit

• A 2023 Bioelectronic Medicine case series of four nicotine-naïve long-COVID patients reported near-complete remission of fatigue, anosmia, dyspnea and cognitive issues within 6–14 days on 7 mg patches.BioMed Central

• ME/CFS users on Health Rising’s forum said 7 mg patches felt like “an IV caffeine drip,” letting them skip daytime naps and climb stairs without breathlessness.Health Rising

• In Phoenix Rising threads, several dysautonomia/POTS sufferers reported steadier heart-rates and a “calm, relaxed” feeling that made daily life bearable.Phoenix Rising ME/CFS Forums

• A long-COVID Redditor who trialed 7 mg for one week listed big improvements in brain-fog, PEM, shortness of breath and chronic fatigue that persisted months later.Reddit

Negatives

• Multiple posters quit in the first few days when patches provoked tachycardia or “heart flutters” that worsened their POTS.Covid Institute

• Some users felt “wired-but-tired,” with insomnia and jitteriness wiping out any daytime gains.Phoenix Rising ME/CFS Forums

• Headaches, nausea or a sick stomach around days 4-5 pushed a subset of testers to abandon treatment.Reddit

• Reddit threads also recount benefits that faded after a few cycles, leaving people “worse than before.”Reddit

• Reporters and clinicians warn the evidence base is still thin; some users worry the stimulant may aggravate anxiety or blood-pressure spikes.Verywell Health

Hurdles & Side Effects

• Night-time insomnia is so common that many long-haulers cut patches in half, wear them only 12 h, or rip them off before bed.Phoenix Rising ME/CFS Forums

• Skin irritation or burning under the adhesive forces some to rotate sites daily—or give up entirely.Mayo Clinic Connect

• Doubling the dose or stacking patches has triggered classic nicotine toxicity—violent vomiting and diarrhea—per a long-COVID case report.BioMed Central

• Because the therapy is off-label, insurance rarely covers it; demand spikes have left some patients paying cash or hunting multiple pharmacies.Men's Health

• Dependence and withdrawal worries loom large—guides list vivid dreams, dizziness, and “brain-zaps” when stopping abruptly, urging gradual tapers.goodrx.com