Antidepressant drug could ease long COVID brain fog and fatigue
NCT ID NCT05874037
First seen Jun 27, 2026 ยท Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This completed trial tested whether fluvoxamine, an FDA-approved drug for OCD, can improve long COVID symptoms like trouble concentrating, anxiety, depression, and fatigue. 191 adults from Missouri and Illinois who had COVID at least 3 months earlier took either fluvoxamine or a placebo. Participants rated their symptoms daily to see if the drug helped reduce their severity.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only โ not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Fluvoxamine
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could point toward a treatment for long COVID symptoms like fatigue, anxiety, and trouble concentrating.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, completed trial with 191 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. Fluvoxamine is an antidepressant, and its benefits for long COVID are not proven yet.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Washington University School of Medicine
St Louis, Missouri, 63110, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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