Fluvoxamine, not just for OCD and Anxiety

According to a JAMA study, Fluvoxamine, an antidepressant SSRI pill included in treatment for OCD and anxiety, has been shown to prevent non-hospitalized COVID-19 patients' conditions from worsening. In the study, Fluvoxamine was compared to a placebo in a smaller, randomized control trial. Fluvoxamine has immune-modulating effects (strong effect on inflammation) that could explain why it was effective in treatment against COVID-19. 

Although this is promising, as we have seen with the COVID-19 vaccination development, the quick pace of this universal endeavor has its setbacks. This small study does not fully demonstrate efficacy due to its size and the few measures of illness indicated. In larger groups this may be hopeful.

The double-blind study consisted of 152 patients total who were previously diagnosed in the last 7 days with COVID-19 and this group was split into 2, those receiving Fluvoxamine (80) and those receiving placebo (72). Although after 15 days the Fluvoxamine group did not have their symptoms ameliorated (respiratory in general), 6 patients in the placebo group had worsened symptoms. 

However, many physicians and researchers want to see the long-term affects of antivirals that the current COVID-19 timeline simply does not support. In order for this, larger group data and longer periods of taking a certain medication are needed to see this. In addition, the oral aspect of Fluvoxamine makes it an attractive candidate of antivirals as intravenous use can be more difficult in larger group studies. In addition, an antiviral for mild cases of COVID-19 that are not hospitalized would be a great benefit. 

Lastly of note, the study was primarily white, at 70% showing that more racially-diverse studies still need to be incorporated in current research. 

- Liz 

Article:

https://www.statnews.com/2020/11/12/pill-fluvoxamine-to-treat-ocd-anxiety-may-prevent-covid-19-from-worsening-preliminary-study-suggests/?utm_source=Global+Health+NOW+Main+List&utm_campaign=72250f2a63-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2020_11_12_02_49&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_8d0d062dbd-72250f2a63-2994893 

Study:

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/10.1001/jama.2020.22760?guestAccessKey=03f3ea60-bf34-4fe5-bad2-0b5a985a71d0&utm_source=For_The_Media&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=ftm_links&utm_content=tfl&utm_term=111220&utm_source=Global+Health+NOW+Main+List&utm_campaign=72250f2a63-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2020_11_12_02_49&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_8d0d062dbd-72250f2a63-2994893