Antidepressant fluvoxamine shows promise for long COVID fatigue in trial
7 reported3 unconfirmed
A randomized clinical trial co-led by McMaster University found that the antidepressant fluvoxamine reduced fatigue and improved quality of life in adults with long COVID. The study, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, involved 399 adults in Brazil who had experienced ongoing fatigue for at least 90 days after a confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. Participants were randomly assigned to receive fluvoxamine, metformin, or a placebo for 60 days. Fluvoxamine performed better than the placebo, with a 99 percent probability that the medication was more effective. Metformin did not produce meaningful improvement for those with established long COVID fatigue. Researchers used a Bayesian adaptive trial design that allowed them to end individual treatment groups early once evidence became clear. The study was funded by The Latona Foundation and involved researchers from Canada, Brazil, and the United States.
What’s reported
The trial included 399 adults in Brazil with long COVID fatigue lasting at least 90 days.
Participants received fluvoxamine, metformin, or a placebo for 60 days.
Fluvoxamine reduced fatigue and improved quality of life compared to placebo.
Statistical analysis indicated a 99 percent probability fluvoxamine was more effective than placebo.
Metformin did not provide meaningful improvement for established long COVID fatigue.
The study used a Bayesian adaptive trial design to reach conclusions efficiently.
The research was published in the Annals of Internal Medicine and funded by The Latona Foundation.
Open questions
Which patients are most likely to benefit from fluvoxamine.
Why the drug works for long COVID fatigue.
Whether fluvoxamine could be used alongside other developing treatments.
Key figures
Edward Mills, senior author, professor at McMaster University
Gilmar Reis, lead author, researcher with Cardresearch and part-time associate professor at McMaster
Jamie Forrest, corresponding author and postdoctoral research fellow at the University of British Columbia
Sources: ScienceDaily
