sElective Serotonin reuPtake inhibitoRs In posT-covid After COVID-19

NOT YET RECRUITING

NCT07359482

PHASE3

Sponsor: Academisch Medisch Centrum - Universiteit van Amsterdam (AMC-UvA)

Summary

Fatigue, cognitive problems, post-exertional malaise (PEM) and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) are common and debilitating symptoms after COVID-19. The pathophysiology of post-COVID is not well understood and there is no established biomedical treatment. Treatment options for post-COVID are thus much needed. A promising candidate intervention is fluvoxamine, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), that may reduce post-COVID symptoms because of its regulatory effect on the (neuro) immune system, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the tryptophan system. The investigators will randomize 160 participants to either fluvoxamine or placebo for 12 weeks. The investigators will use advanced functional neuroimaging techniques during cognitive challenge (optional substudy) and plasma biomarkers (inflammatory markers, cortisol, serotonin, IDO-2 activity), to facilitate identifying potential mechanistic pathways of post -COVID treatment.

Official title: sElective Serotonin reuPtake inhibitoRs In posT-covid: ESPRIT

Key Details

Gender

All

Age Range

18 Years - 70 Years

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Enrollment

160

Start Date

2026-03-01

Completion Date

2028-05-01

Last Updated

2026-02-20

Healthy Volunteers

No

Conditions

Post-COVID POST-Covid 19 Post-COVID Conditions

Interventions

DRUG

Fluvoxamine

Subject are randomized in a double-blind manner (1:1 ratio) between fluvoxamine and placebo. During the first week subjects will receive a low dose daily dose of fluvoxamine of 25 mg or placebo. In the second week, subjects will receive a daily dose of 50 mg or placebo. From week 3 onwards, the fluvoxamine or placebo dose is increased by daily 50 mg every 6 days in a blinded manner but will not be further increased if participants are unwilling to accept a dose increase. For doses higher than 100 mg per day, dosing is done twice daily. The dose is increased to a maximum of 200 mg per day (i.e. 100 mg bid). The minimal daily dose is 50 mg.

DRUG

Placebo

Subject are randomized in a double-blind manner (1:1 ratio) between fluvoxamine and placebo. During the first week subjects will receive a low dose daily dose of fluvoxamine of 25 mg or placebo. In the second week, subjects will receive a daily dose of 50 mg or placebo. From week 3 onwards, the fluvoxamine or placebo dose is increased by daily 50 mg every 6 days in a blinded manner but will not be further increased if participants are unwilling to accept a dose increase. For doses higher than 100 mg per day, dosing is done twice daily. The dose is increased to a maximum of 200 mg per day (i.e. 100 mg bid). The minimal daily dose is 50 mg.

Inclusion Criteria: * Adults aged 18 to 70 years * Severely fatigued (CIS fatigue score ≥ 35) at screening * Fatigue started/increased significantly after Covid-19 (self-declared) * Fatigue symptoms must be present for at least 3 months following the acute infection. * Self-reported confirmation of having a SARS-CoV-2 infection by: Positive SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT), such as PCR; Positive SARS-CoV-2 rapid diagnostic test, including home-administered tests; COVID-19 diagnosis by a medical specialist (GP or in-hospital), based on the above or other clinical test or assessments. The above information will not be verified in medical records. * Command of Dutch or English language to complete questionnaires * Able to participate in video calling. * Willing and able to provide informed consent * Allowing the trial team to exchange medical information that is relevant for the participants' safety and trial assessments with their GP and pharmacy. Exclusion Criteria: * Use of medication with interaction with fluvoxamine that cannot be discontinued * Hospitalized in the acute phase of Covid-19 * Psychiatric/somatic disorders that could explain the severity of fatigue * Neurodegenerative disorders (i.e. M Parkinson, Multiple sclerosis, M Alzheimer) * Suicidality (current or recent) (according to WHO suicide screener) * Starting or started with other medication intended to reduce post-covid symptoms during the last 2 months * Pregnancy (a positive urine or serum pregnancy test) or unwilling to use standard contraception * Brugada- or Long QT interval syndrome * epilepsy, porphyria, history of severe liver impairment * known allergies to fluvoxamine or placebo/excipients * known current alcohol or drug use problems. * Bleeding disorders and past medical history of bleeding gastric or duodenal ulcers or other significant bleeding disorders * claustrophobia (optional MRI substudy) * having metal implants (optional MRI substudy) * inability to lay still for 45 minutes (optional MRI substudy) * Neurotrauma/ large stroke or brain abnormalities interfering with image analyses (optional MRI substudy) * Inability to come to the Amsterdam UMC (optional MRI substudy).

Locations (1)

Amsterdam UMC

Amsterdam-Zuidoost, Netherlands

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