An inexpensive, generically available antidepressant, fluvoxamine, may decrease the risk of severe COVID-19 by about one-third in people at high risk, noted researchers in a study.

A trial conducted in around 1,500 patients in Brazil noted that those who were given the drug had lesser odds of progression to severe disease and to need hospital admission. Dr. Angela Reiersen, associate professor of psychiatry at Washington University in St. Louis, one of the study investigators, stated that the drug may reduce the production of inflammatory cytokines which can be triggered by SARS-CoV-2 infection. 

A total of 741 volunteers with COVID-19 received 100 mg of fluvoxamine twice a day for 10 days while 756 volunteers received a placebo. Among those who were given fluvoxamine, about 11% required treatment in an ER or hospital room compared to around 16% of those administered a placebo. There was a 5% decrease in absolute risk and a 32% reduction in the relative risk. The findings are published in The Lancet Global Health… (CNN, October 28, 2021)