Scientists are exploring the potential role of a common antidepressant, fluvoxamine, in preventing severe symptoms and lung damage in patients infected with the novel coronavirus. The drug is classified as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor.
In addition to its ability to activate a protein in the central nervous system that regulates inflammation in the body, Dr. Eric Lenze, a geriatric psychiatrist and assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of Washington School of Medicine, conducted small clinical trials. He found that COVID-19 patients treated with fluvoxamine did not show any health deterioration. The results of his study were published in the JAMA journal, and further studies have confirmed the drug's effectiveness. However, experts note that a large randomized trial is needed to ensure that the use of a psychiatric medication to treat patients with the novel coronavirus is safe.
Dr. Caroline Matchett, a professor of cell biology at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and a member of the advisory board at the University of Washington School of Medicine, stated, "The results of the fluvoxamine trial are encouraging, but they require further evaluation in a larger study, as there is an urgent need to find a treatment that can prevent lung problems in individuals with mild symptoms from COVID-19." It is worth noting that researchers in France conducted large-scale studies and confirmed that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors significantly reduced the need for COVID-19 patients to use ventilators or die from their infection.
