A common antidepressant has shown strong results against persistent fatigue caused by long COVID in a new clinical trial. The study found that fluvoxamine improved symptoms and quality of life for participants in Brazil.
Researchers conducted a randomized trial with 399 adults who had fatigue lasting at least 90 days after a confirmed COVID-19 infection. Participants received fluvoxamine, metformin, or a placebo for 60 days.
Fluvoxamine outperformed the placebo, with a 99 percent probability of greater effectiveness. Those taking the drug reported less fatigue and better overall quality of life. Metformin showed no meaningful benefit.
The trial used an adaptive design that allowed early stopping once results were clear. It was led by teams from McMaster University and Brazilian institutions, with sites in Belo Horizonte and Minas Gerais.
"This is an important step forward for patients who have been desperate for evidence-based options," said Edward Mills, a senior author from McMaster University. Further studies are planned to identify who benefits most.
