Common Antidepressant Shows Promise for Long COVID Fatigue in Clinical Trial
A randomized clinical trial involving 399 adults has found that the inexpensive antidepressant fluvoxamine may help address one of the most disabling symptoms of long COVID: crushing fatigue.
The study, which compared fluvoxamine against a placebo, demonstrated that patients receiving the antidepressant experienced significant reductions in fatigue levels alongside improvements in overall quality of life. Researchers described the findings as notable because effective treatments for long COVID's persistent symptoms have remained elusive.
Fluvoxamine is a well-established medication already approved for conditions such as obsessive-compulsive disorder and depression. Its relatively low cost and well-understood safety profile make it an accessible option if the findings are confirmed by additional research.
Long COVID continues to affect millions of people worldwide, with fatigue cited as one of the most common and debilitating persistent symptoms. This trial represents one of the first to demonstrate meaningful pharmaceutical benefits for this condition.