Montreal study shows effectiveness of fluvoxamine against COVID-19

At this time, fluvoxamine is not recommended against COVID-19 by U.S. scientific authorities, including the National Institutes of Health, the Infectious Diseases Society of America, and the National Drug and Safety Agency. health. These organizations consider the evidence for the benefits of the drug against this disease insufficient. However, the STOP COVID 1 and STOP COVID 2 clinical trials, as well as the TOGETHER study, have demonstrated that there is a strong likelihood that fluvoxamine is associated with a reduced risk of hospitalization. McGill researchers did a statistical analysis of the results of these three randomized clinical trials in which fluvoxamine was used in the outpatient setting in adults with COVID-19. The study authors used statistical methods (Bayesian and frequentist random-effects meta-analyses) to take into account all the results of the individual studies. "These results were combined based on the size and effect of each study, the degree of difference between studies, and various assumptions about the likelihood that a drug would be effective," a statement from the research centre said. A total of 2,196 COVID-19 positive and vaccinated participants were enrolled in these studies. A “safe and inexpensive” option The researchers found that fluvoxamine is associated with a reduced risk of hospitalization from 94.1% to 98.6%. In comparison, the antiviral Paxlovid reduces hospitalizations by 89%, according to the clinical study that led to its approval by Health Canada, and is much more expensive. Read: Gut microbes identified to be associated with incidence of diabetes Indeed, Paxlovid costs about $875 per treatment while the price of fluvoxamine is, according to the researchers, about $1 per day. "Fluvoxamine is an immediately available, safe and inexpensive treatment option with a high likelihood of moderate efficacy," read the study led by Dr. Todd Lee and Dr. Emily McDonald, researchers at the RI-MUHC and associate professors of medicine at McGill University. The most commonly reported side effects of fluvoxamine in clinical trials are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, dizziness, drowsiness and anxiety. According to Drs. Lee and MacDonald, “fluvoxamine may be a reasonable option for high-risk outpatients who do not have access to SARS-CoV-2 monoclonal antibodies, direct-acting antivirals or clinical trials.” Read: NACI issues initial guidance on second booster dose of COVID-19 vaccines The researchers note that, unlike fluvoxamine, outpatient trials with hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin showed no efficacy, “yet these agents continue to be prescribed.” The study authors want their work to inform clinical decision-making and guidelines related to the management of patients with COVID-19. The study was published earlier in April in the Journal of the American Medical Association. This story was translated from its original French and was first published in our sister publication Profession Santé.

Montreal study shows effectiveness of fluvoxamine against COVID-19

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