Give a short and critical explanation of the rationale of using fluvoxamine (a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) in the treatment of Covid patients.

Fluvoxamine is an SSRI that was approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) to treat OCD and depression. However, it was not approved to treat infections (NIH, 2021). Fluvoxamine has a high affinity for the sigma-1 receptors which inhibit SARS-CoV-2 replication, therefore it can prevent the health of covid patients from worsening (Hashimoto, 2021:2). Fluvoxamine may inhibit enzymes such as CYP1A2, 2C9 and 3A4 which therefore lowers metabolism and increases the concentrations of drugs that are metabolised by them. In conclusion, Fluvoxamine is a safe drug to use in the treatment of COVID-19 patients. However, trials are still occurring as there is not enough conclusive data (Medical letter, 2021:63).

Reference list:

Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics. 2021. https://secure.medicalletter.org/sites/default/files/freedocs/w1623d.pdf Date of access: 23 Oct. 2021.

NIH (National Institute of health): COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines. 2021.  https://www.covid19treatmentguidelines.nih.gov/therapies/immunomodulators/fluvoxamine/ Date of access: 23 Oct. 2021.

Hashimoto K. 2021. Repurposing of CNS drugs to treat COVID-19 infection: targeting the sigma-1 receptor. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci, 271(2):249-258.