November 13, 2020

Fluvoxamine vs Placebo and Clinical Deterioration in Outpatients With Symptomatic COVID-19

Category: Article Summary

Topic: Testing and Treatment

Keywords (Tags): treatment

• In a double-blind, randomized trial, adult outpatients with mild symptomatic COVID-19 treated with the SSRI antidepressant drug fluvoxamine had a lower likelihood of clinical deterioration over 15 days compared to placebo (8.7% absolute difference). The study included 152 participants and was conducted without patient contact. Clinical deterioration was defined as both (1) having shortness of breath or being hospitalized for shortness of breath or pneumonia, and (2) having less than 92% oxygen saturation, or requiring supplemental oxygen. 0/80 participants met the primary endpoint (clinical deterioration) in the fluvoxamine group compared to 6/72 in the placebo arm. Overall adverse events were similar between the two groups.

Lenze et al. (Nov 12, 2020). Fluvoxamine vs Placebo and Clinical Deterioration in Outpatients With Symptomatic COVID-19. JAMA. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2020.22760