由麦克马斯特大学领导的全球临床试验发现，抗抑郁药氟伏沙明在减轻长新冠患者疲劳症状方面具有显著效果。[1]该随机对照试验共纳入399名巴西成人患者，这些患者在确诊感染SARS-CoV-2后至少持续90天的疲劳症状。[1]试验将参与者随机分为三组，分别接收氟伏沙明、二甲双胍或安慰剂治疗，疗程为60天。[1]结果表明，氟伏沙明在减轻疲劳方面优于安慰剂，统计分析显示该药物比安慰剂更有效的概率达99%。[1]
相比之下，二甲双胍未能产生相同的治疗效果，尽管早期研究表明在COVID感染初期服用该药可降低后来患长新冠的风险。[1]研究论文已发表在《内科学年鉴》上，为医疗工作者提供了首个有强有力证据支持的药物治疗选择。[1]该研究由加拿大、巴西和美国的研究人员联合领导，临床试点位于巴西贝洛奥里藏特市和米纳斯吉拉斯州，由拉托纳基金会资助。[1]长新冠目前全球估计影响约6500万人。[1]
A global clinical trial led by McMaster University has found that fluvoxamine, a widely used antidepressant marketed as Luvox, significantly reduces fatigue in long COVID patients and improves their quality of life.[1] The randomized controlled trial involved 399 Brazilian adults who experienced fatigue for at least 90 days following confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, with results published in Annals of Internal Medicine.[1] Statistical analysis showed a 99 percent probability that fluvoxamine was more effective than placebo at relieving fatigue, marking the first strongly evidence-supported pharmacological option for treating long COVID fatigue.[1]
The study divided participants into three groups receiving either fluvoxamine, metformin, or placebo over a 60-day treatment period.[1] While metformin failed to replicate the same benefits despite early research suggesting it could reduce long COVID risk when taken early in COVID infection, fluvoxamine demonstrated clear superiority over placebo.[1] The trial was conducted across sites in Belo Horizonte and Minas Gerais state in Brazil by researchers from Canada, Brazil, and the United States.[1]
Long COVID affects an estimated 65 million people globally.[1] Edward Mills stated that this represents "an important step for patients who have long been seeking evidence-based treatment options," while Jamie Forrest noted that "for the first time, this trial provides healthcare workers with strong evidence that a medication can help reduce long COVID fatigue."[1] The research was funded by the Latona Foundation.[1]