A commonly-used antidepressant doesn ' t improve recovery after stroke

The antidepressant fluoxetine works no better than placebo to reduce disability after a stroke, lowering hopes that had been raised by other smaller studies. After a six month trial including more than 3,000 adult stroke patients recruited at 103 UK hospitals, researchers concluded that fluoxetine should not be used to promote recovery from stroke-related disability, or routinely prescribed to prevent depression after stroke. Several smaller studies and animal trials had found promising results from the use of fluoxetine after stroke. However, this trial of fluoxetine 20mg daily for six months found no improvement in function among those taking the drug. Although people who took fluoxetine were less likely to get depression, they were more likely to have fractures. Other studies of fluoxetine after stroke are underway, but this trial does not support using it in standard post-stroke care.
Source: Current Awareness Service for Health (CASH) - Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news