TL;DR
Could alpha-1 agonists help me regain functionality? I have POTS and documented alpha-1 adrenergic receptor autoantibodies.
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Hi all,
I'm new here, from Los Angeles. It's great to see so many intelligent people posting.
I had a flu-like illness back in December and have been disabled with a set of debilitation symptoms since then. I was very active and independent 30 year old man and now I live with family and cannot work.
Metoprolol, high dose IVIG, earthing sheet, neurofeedback therapy, LDN, and various supplements have been of marginal help.
I'm considering trailing some of the following alpha-1 agonists to see if they help:
Butchers broom (herbal)
Midodrine (antihypotensive)
Phenylephrine (decongestant)
Cirazoline (vasoconstrictor)
Methoxamine (vasoconstrictor)
Synephrine (mild vasoconstrictor)
Etilefrine (antihypotensive)
Metaraminol (antihypotensive)
Naphazoline (decongestant)
Oxymetazoline (decongestant)
Pseudoephedrine (decongestant)
Tetrahydrozoline (decongestant)
Xylometazoline (decongestant)
Has anyone with a similar profile to me tried any of these and gotten restored functionality? Have any of these worked longer term?
My current symptoms include:
Disabling physical fatigue and low stamina / exercise intolerance
Physical weakness and malaise
High heart rate on standing
Breathlessness w/ exertion
Dizziness
Lightheadedness on standing
Brain fog / cognitive dysfunction
Light sleep
High volume urination
Anxiety / depression / irritability
Symptoms which more or less gone away:
Chest pain
Mild sore throat
Muscle pain
Labs / tests:
TTT revealed increase in HR from ~45 resting to ~75 standing. BP normal and steady
Elevated alpha-1 adrenergic antibodies (tested through CellTrend)
Elevated proinflammatory cytokines IL6, INFy, TNFa (have decreased)
Evidence of Coxsackie B4 virus antibodies
Low ADH
Krebs cycle metabolite imbalances