Escitalopram in Asthma Patients With Frequent Exacerbation
Antidepressants, particularly selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), such as escitalopram are widely used for mood and anxiety disorders. However, they have also been explored, with promising findings, for a variety of disorders outside of psychiatry. Clinical studies of SSRIs in depressed people with asthma were associated with decreased asthma exacerbations and improvement in asthma control. In this study, the number of asthma exacerbations will be assessed as the primary outcome measure in patients using escitalopram vs. placebo.
• Moderate to severe persistent asthma
• Treatment with medium to high dose ICS and LABA therapy
• Three or more severe asthma exacerbations (requiring ≥ 3 days of systemic corticosteroids) in the past year
• Age 18-75 years old, male or female sex, English or Spanish speaking
• Participants will be required to be clinically stable with no recent exacerbations, infections or changes in asthma controller therapy for at least 4 weeks before study entry
• Biologic therapy for asthma (e.g., omalizumab, mepolizumab, reslizumab, benralizumab, dupilumab, tezepelumab) will be allowed if started at least 6 months prior to randomization