Long COVID is an ongoing post-viral syndrome that occurs in patients who have had a confirmed case of COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2 infection) and whose symptoms have continued for 12 weeks or more. In some patients, symptoms may last for several years.
Symptoms often include intense fatigue, aches and pains, “brain fog,” meaning issues with focus and memory, sleep disorders, and shortness of breath. Some people may experience palpitations, dizziness, or even confusion.
Because long COVID has only emerged as a problematic condition since 2020, research is still ongoing into the best treatment options. Some medical professionals are now prescribing medical cannabis for long COVID symptoms because, for some people, it may help improve their quality of life, via the potential for reduced pain, improved sleep, and better mood management.
26%
of people who catch COVID-19 may develop long COVID, with at least 2 million people in the UK self-reporting long COVID symptoms.
90%
of long COVID cases are estimated to have started with a mild case of the disease.
1.5 million
long COVID patients report that the condition adversely affects their ability to perform daily tasks.
97%
of the 1,669 respondents to the largest survey of active UK medical cannabis patients ever conducted reported an improved quality of life and the easing of symptoms.
Symptoms
Anxiety and depression
Breathlessness on minimal exertion
Chronic joint and muscle pain
Cognitive fog and difficulty concentrating
Gastrointestinal symptoms
Headaches
Heart palpitations and a fast heart rate on standing
Loss of smell or taste
Mast cell activation symptoms in a small number of patients
Non-restorative sleep
Post-exertional malaise
Profound fatigue lasting 12 weeks or more after COVID-19 infection
If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s important to seek tailored advice from a medical professional.
Treatment options:
Standard long COVID treatments patients may have tried:
Antihistamines, where MCAS features are present
Beta-blockers or ivabradine for PoTS features
Pacing and energy management
Physiotherapy for breathlessness and reconditioning
Prescribed medical cannabis treatment
Sleep medications
Specialised long COVID clinic assessment
SSRIs for anxiety and depression
Symptomatic management for individual features
Whether you’re new to cannabis-based medicines, switching from another medical cannabis clinic, or self-medicating, we’ll put you back in control of your health.
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“Patients with long COVID may experience anything from persistent fatigue and breathlessness to brain fog and joint pain, often long after the initial infection has cleared.
The unpredictable nature of these symptoms can make it difficult for patients to enjoy everyday life, with many patients left feeling anxious about when symptoms might appear.
For some eligible patients, a medical cannabis prescription may be worth looking into, as it could make it easier to manage certain symptoms, such as ongoing pain and poor sleep.”
Dr Mike Modestowicz
Consultant Neurologist
15. 11. 2024
Millions of people in the UK are living with the effects of long covid. As many of the symptoms overlap with those of other conditions that can be managed with cannabis-based medicines, there is a growing interest in medical cannabis treatments for this population.
15. 11. 2024
06. 10. 2023
October marks the start of the annual national stop smoking drive. In the UK, specialist doctors who prescribe medicinal cannabis flowers to patients advise vaporising their daily dose. Patients must invest in a handheld or tabletop device (or both) to take their medication.
06. 10. 2023
12. 03. 2025
These days, we are all well aware of the health implications of smoking tobacco. As a result, smoking rates have been consistently on the decline in recent decades. But for many, quitting smoking is easier said than done - and for those with chronic health conditions, this could pose an even more pressing concern. In honour of No Smoking Day 2025, we’re taking a closer look at how smoking impacts chronic conditions such as chronic pain, neurological disorders, and mental health.
12. 03. 2025
Medical cannabis treatment has been legal in the UK since 2018, and can be prescribed as a second line treatment options for long COVID, as it may help reduce the impact of some of the symptoms associated with the disease.
Long COVID, also called post-COVID syndrome, is a complication of the SARS-CoV-2 infection, more commonly known as COVID-19. COVID-19 emerged as a highly contagious and, in some cases, dangerous infection during 2020. Some people who become infected with COVID-19 experience symptoms for more than 12 weeks, at which point the condition becomes known as long COVID.
Because the condition is only a few years old, research is still being done into the impact of long COVID and the best forms of treatment. Key facts from a 2026 report by Supporting Healthcare Heroes UK, a non-profit supporting healthcare workers living with long COVID, are as follows:
Long COVID is common, with some statistics suggesting that up to 26% of adults infected with COVID-19 will develop long COVID.
The more times you have a COVID-19 infection, the more likely you are to develop long COVID.
Long COVID increases the risk of blood clots, heart disease, and kidney disease.
COVID-19 infections and subsequent long COVID may also be associated with the development of myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).
Current statistics suggest that, so far, a maximum of 9% of patients have recovered from long COVID.
The symptoms range from mild to severe and may severely impact a person’s quality of life.
The symptoms of long COVID can be highly varied, in both type and severity. Here are some of the most common and how they impact daily life:
Symptom | How symptom presents | Potential impact on quality of life |
Fatigue | Persistent tiredness, malaise, feelings of weakness | An inability to perform daily tasks; impact on working life and personal relationships, which can lead to subsequent anxiety and depression |
Chronic pain | Constant or repeated joint aches and pains, similar to those you might feel with a bad case of the flu | Fatigue and difficulties with daily tasks; low mood; difficulty engaging with hobbies and interests |
Depression | Persistent low mood, lack of motivation, feelings of helplessness and/or hopelessness | Lack of motivation; problems with work and relationships; isolation |
Sleep disorders | Insomnia, restless nights due to pain | Worsened fatigue levels, difficulties concentrating, “brain fog” |
Depression is a common symptom, caused by the uncertainty that comes with long COVID. With recovery a distant prospect, patients may find their mood low. Another common mental health condition associated with long COVID is anxiety. Worries around the ability to work and missing out on activities can lead to stress and panic, which puts additional strain on the brain and body.
Some people may develop more severe symptoms or complications, such as postural tachycardia syndrome (PoTS), a form of dysautonomia. This is where the heart rate increases significantly upon standing, leading to palpitations, dizziness, chest pain, and even fainting.
Your treatment plan for long COVID will depend on what symptoms you’re experiencing and their severity. There’s no specific test to confirm that you have long COVID, although some GPs may check your blood pressure and oxygen levels, or take blood tests, sometimes to rule out other possible causes for your symptoms.
There is no cure for long COVID at this time, so treatments are all focused on symptom management. Medications may be used to help with mood and pain management. A post-COVID clinician or physiotherapist may recommend exercises to help improve your breathing or increase muscle flexibility. Other approaches may involve diet, mindfulness, and specialist emotional support.
Many people seek alternative treatments for long COVID when conventional medications and therapies are unsuccessful or because they don’t like the side effects of standard medicines.
Some clinicians may prescribe medical cannabis for long COVID symptoms such as:
Fatigue management via improved sleep
Relief for digestive complaints and nausea
Anxiety
Depression
Medical cannabis contains various potentially therapeutic compounds, including THC, CBD, and terpenes. The application of THC for long COVID could be therapeutic because of its associations with pain and inflammation management.
You may also be prescribed medical cannabis for post-COVID syndrome if you struggle to sleep. CBD/THC for long COVID symptoms of sleeplessness may promote an easier night’s sleep and, for some people, prevent frequent nighttime waking. A 2022 study into the effects of medicinal cannabis on sleep concluded that a combination of CBD and THC significantly contributed to a reduction in insomnia.
CB1 and CB2 receptors in the brain and body help regulate your internal systems with the help of cannabinoids and enzymes. The network this creates throughout your body is called the endocannabinoid system or ECS and it affects most aspects of wellness, including sleep and mood.
Your body produces its own cannabinoids, called endocannabinoids. Potentially therapeutic compounds found in medical cannabis include plant-based cannabinoids, which are called phytocannabinoids. Clinicians may prescribe medical cannabis with the goal of better regulating the ECS for symptomatic relief.
Some research looks specifically at the application of CBD for long COVID symptom relief. The goal of one 2021 study was to consider the feasibility of prescribing CBD for long COVID. The results tentatively suggested that patients taking CBD saw improvements in both health and quality-of-life measures, although the conclusion also states that the study should be repeated with a larger sample of patients and a control group.
Both ME/CFS and long COVID present similar symptoms of fatigue and malaise. The ME Association states that there is a significant overlap, leading to the organisation supporting long COVID patients with the same methods they use for ME/CFS sufferers. A 2022 study published in Medical Cannabis and Cannabinoids reported that out of 1,224 people prescribed cannabis-based medicine, 91.94% experienced decreased fatigue levels, a symptom linked to both ME and long COVID.
If you find out you’re eligible for medical cannabis for long COVID, you may be prescribed the following formats:
Dried flower for vaporisers
Capsules
Oils
Pastilles
Your consultant will consider your preferences, lifestyle, and any symptoms that might impact which format is best for you. If you suffer from frequent nausea, for example, pastilles may not be ideal due to their sweet flavours. Capsules may be better, as they’re swallowed quickly.
In the UK, there are many conditions medical cannabis can be prescribed for, including symptoms often associated with long COVID, such as fatigue, joint pain, and disrupted sleep, among others. Finding out if you’re eligible for medical cannabis is easy. Just head to the online eligibility checker on the Releaf website.
Releaf’s world-class clinical team of 50+ specialists has expertise in a range of conditions, including post-viral syndromes, and will be able to carefully assess whether medical cannabis is the right next step for you. That expertise is just one reason why Releaf is the most trusted UK medical cannabis clinic, with a 240,000+ strong community.
Before you book your consultation, take a look at how Releaf pricing works:
| Releaf Pay As You Go | |
Initial consultation fee | £99 | £99 |
Prescription charges | £19.99 per prescription, plus £4.99 fee for delivery, and any medication charges | Free delivery and prescription charges, plus reduced medication charges |
Follow-up consultation fee | £69.99 | Included |
Additional benefits | Unlimited patient support; online resources such as educational articles on medical cannabis, e.g., understanding differences between indica vs sativa strains of plants. | Patient support, resources, and access to the Releaf+ rewards programme and Releaf Protect, which offers free legal advice on any aspect of medical cannabis. |
All Releaf patients are eligible for a free medical cannabis card once the first prescription is paid for. It will be delivered separately from your medication and can take 3-5 days to arrive. A medical cannabis card can’t guarantee you won’t be questioned by the police, but it helps you identify yourself as a legal medical cannabis patient. Planning overseas travel? Releaf can offer advice on when you need to apply for travel certificates.
Find out if you’re eligible for medical cannabis for long COVID symptoms using the medical cannabis eligibility checker or contact our team.
If you’re eligible for medical cannabis for long COVID UK treatments, this prescription will most likely be to help with symptoms like pain, sleeplessness, or mood disorders. There’s no clinical evidence as yet to suggest that medical cannabis could hasten recovery from long COVID.
There is a large overlap of symptoms between long COVID and ME/CFS, particularly fatigue, malaise, sleep disturbances, and pain. Both conditions are also only diagnosed after at least 12 weeks of continuous symptoms. However, long COVID may also have symptoms more associated with COVID-19, such as a loss of taste or smell, or a sore throat.
Some people do experience sleepiness with medical cannabis, but this is not the same as chronic fatigue. Medical cannabis could, in some cases, promote better sleep and more regulated moods, which offer potentially therapeutic effects on constant fatigue.
Mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) is the term for a range of serious inflammatory or allergic conditions. Depending on the other treatments you may be taking for this condition, you may still be considered for a medical cannabis prescription. The clinician may advise you to wait until you have a definitive diagnosis.
When a clinician prescribes medical cannabis for post-viral conditions, they’ll take all your symptoms into account, including brain fog. For some people, improved sleep and mood can help contribute to increased focus, memory, and concentration.
