Effects of fluoxetine on functional outcomes after acute stroke (FOCUS): a pragmatic, double-blind, randomised, controlled trial

Publication date: Available online 5 December 2018Source: The LancetAuthor(s): Martin Dennis, Gillian Mead, John Forbes, Catriona Graham, Maree Hackett, Graeme J Hankey, Allan House, Stephanie Lewis, Erik Lundström, Peter Sandercock, Karen Innes, Carol Williams, Jonathan Drever, Aileen Mcgrath, Ann Deary, Ruth Fraser, Rosemary Anderson, Pauli Walker, David Perry, Connor McgillSummaryBackgroundResults of small trials indicate that fluoxetine might improve functional outcomes after stroke. The FOCUS trial aimed to provide a precise estimate of these effects.MethodsFOCUS was a pragmatic, multicentre, parallel group, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial done at 103 hospitals in the UK. Patients were eligible if they were aged 18 years or older, had a clinical stroke diagnosis, were enrolled and randomly assigned between 2 days and 15 days after onset, and had focal neurological deficits. Patients were randomly allocated fluoxetine 20 mg or matching placebo orally once daily for 6 months via a web-based system by use of a minimisation algorithm. The primary outcome was functional status, measured with the modified Rankin Scale (mRS), at 6 months. Patients, carers, health-care staff, and the trial team were masked to treatment allocation. Functional status was assessed at 6 months and 12 months after randomisation. Patients were analysed according to their treatment allocation. This trial is registered with the ISRCTN registry, number ISRCTN83290762.FindingsBetween S...
Source: The Lancet - Category: General Medicine Source Type: research