A widely available antidepressant may help ease the heavy fatigue that many people experience after COVID-19, according to a global clinical trial co-led by McMaster University and reported by ScienceDaily.
Researchers found that fluvoxamine, sold under the brand name Luvox, reduced fatigue and improved quality of life in adults with long COVID. The study was randomized and placebo-controlled, and its results were published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
The trial included 399 adults in Brazil who had reported 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 outperformed the placebo in reducing fatigue, and researchers said the drug showed a 99% probability of being more effective. People in the fluvoxamine group also reported better quality of life across several measures, while metformin did not produce meaningful improvement for those already dealing with long COVID fatigue.
Researchers said the condition remains a major global health problem and that proven treatment options are still limited. They also cautioned that fluvoxamine is not a complete solution, but said the findings offer the first strong evidence for a medication that can help with long COVID fatigue.
