sElective Serotonin reuPtake inhibitoRs In posT-covid: ESPRIT
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.
• 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.