Are there any Covid long haulers who are nicotine users?

I read several research articles that said the Covid spike protein attached to the nicotine receptor and prevented them from working which causes widespread autonomic dis-regulation. The inactivation of nicotine receptors in the brain could case mental symptoms ranging from brain fog to schizophrenia. In the article the doctor had the patients use the smallest dose nicotine patch for 5 days. All of the patients had major improvements. He theorize that the nicotine displaced the Covid virus/spike from the nicotine receptors and allowed the autonomic nerves to function normally again. Has any one tried nicotine?