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Study: Antidepressant May Ease Long Covid Fatigue
31 Mar
Summary
- Fluvoxamine, an antidepressant, shows promise in reducing long Covid fatigue.
- A clinical trial found improvements in fatigue and quality of life.
- Metformin showed no significant benefit in the study.
- The study's findings on fluvoxamine require cautious interpretation.
A recent randomized clinical trial indicates that fluvoxamine, an antidepressant also known as Faverin, could be a viable treatment for persistent fatigue in long Covid patients. The study involved almost 400 adults experiencing fatigue for at least 90 days post-COVID-19 infection.
Participants were administered fluvoxamine, metformin, or a placebo for 60 days. Those treated with fluvoxamine reported notable improvements in their fatigue levels and overall quality of life over a 60 to 90-day period. This treatment was also associated with fewer side effects compared to the placebo.
Metformin, a drug that regulates insulin and blood sugar, did not demonstrate significant benefits in alleviating long Covid fatigue. While both treatments were generally safe, fluvoxamine presented a better side-effect profile. The findings were published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Researchers noted a limitation in the study as participants' history of depression was not assessed, leaving open the question of whether the observed effects were directly due to long Covid or underlying depressive conditions. Experts suggest that while promising, fluvoxamine is unlikely to be a universal cure and further replication in diverse patient groups is essential.
