By Dr. Sushama R. Chaphalkar, PhD.Nov 5 2023Reviewed by Susha Cheriyedath, M.Sc. In an exploratory study published in the journal Scientific Reports, researchers from the Netherlands investigated the efficacy of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in the treatment of 95 patients with post-coronavirus disease 2019 syndrome . They explored the neurobiological mechanisms underlying the response.
The patients were advised to consult their physician for treatment initiation. The dose for depression was used as a guideline and was further varied on a case-to-case basis, considering the observed adverse effects and potential drug interactions. The recommended drugs included SSRIs such as fluvoxamine, citalopram, escitalopram, citalopram, and fluoxetine, as well as venlafaxine, a serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor .
Related StoriesAs per the open-question results, irrespective of the SSRI used, a reduction in symptoms was observed in 63.4% of patients post-treatment. The improvement was rated as reasonably good in 26.9% of patients, good in 29% of patients, and strong in 7.5%. Additionally, a decrease in PEM, depression, loss of dissociative symptoms, and an improvement in sleep were observed among the treated patients.