Promising Relief or False Hope? Lidocaine treatment for Long Covid Faces Scrutiny
Despite a lack of rigorous scientific evidence, a private clinic in the Netherlands is offering a lidocaine treatment for Long Covid, sparking debate among medical experts adn offering a lifeline – albeit an expensive one – to desperate patients.
The potential breakthrough came to light in late 2025, with initial reports suggesting significant symptom reduction in nearly 80% of patients treated at Excellent Care Clinics in Velsen-Noord. The clinic administered the local anesthetic lidocaine to 103 participants, with some experiencing complete remission of their Long covid symptoms. However, the study’s methodology has drawn sharp criticism from the medical community.
Lack of Scientific Rigor Raises Concerns
A key point of contention is the absence of a control group. According to leading epidemiologists, this fundamental flaw makes it unachievable to determine whether improvements are attributable to the lidocaine itself, or to other factors such as the placebo effect or natural symptom fluctuation. “People feel better, but whether that’s due to the lidocaine, you just don’t know,” explained Anske van der Bom, a professor of clinical epidemiology at the LUMC and project leader of the Postcovid Netwerk nederland. “Improvements can be due to all sorts of other factors. That’s why you need good research to establish whether you feel better as of the lidocaine.”
The concerns extend beyond the study design. Critics argue that offering the treatment without robust evidence could instill false hope in long Covid patients, a population already facing limited effective treatment options.
clinic Proceeds Despite Criticism, patients Pay Out-of-Pocket
Despite the reservations, Excellent Care Clinics, wich conducted the research in collaboration with the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, has decided to continue offering the treatment to new patients. However, acces
Despite the ongoing scrutiny, Coen van Kalken, physician and director of Excellent Care Clinics, remains optimistic. “The results we have seen so far in the patients we have given this treatment are so hopeful that there is no reason to stop the treatment,” he said. The clinic reports receiving over 1,000 inquiries following the initial publication, with more than 100 patients expressing willingness to self-fund the treatment.
Marieke van Wijngaarden, one of the original 103 study participants, experienced a significant enhancement in her condition. Previously limited to 20 minutes of walking, she now reports being able to walk almost without limitation. “I have my life back,” she said, adding that she is now 80% recovered after eight months of daily injections, and is currently reducing the frequency.
A Difficult Choice for Desperate Patients
Ruumpol acknowledges the criticism surrounding the research but feels she had little to lose. “I have nothing to lose, as it can’t get any worse than this,” she said.She described feeling disconnected from society since contracting Long Covid and emphasized the broader societal costs of the illness, including the impact on her family.
Demissionair Minister Bruijn of Public Health acknowledged the desperation of patients, stating that he understands their desire for access to lidocaine.However, he stressed the importance of adhering to established procedures for drug approval and reimbursement to ensure quality and accessibility for all patients. The final decision on coverage rests with the health insurers.
van der Bom urged patients to support rigorous research. “Only then will we know if it really works and whether we should prescribe it to the next patient. Or else, we keep trying and learning nothing.”
Van Kalken acknowledged the need for further investigation, stating that the observational study was just the first step. Excellent Care Clinics plans to conduct a randomized controlled trial, which is expected to take at least a year. “I’m not saying that lidocaine will solve all the problems of Long Covid patients,” he clarified. “But it is indeed clear that we are onto something.”
