Corona: Study comes to astonishing results - antidepressant as new hope?

The corona pandemic has been influencing world events for more than a year and a half.

Now, according to a new study, a well-known drug should help.

Brasilia - A new study gives hope for shorter hospital stays for already infected Covid patients.

In Brazil, 1,500 people infected with the coronavirus took part in a study with the active ingredient fluvoxamine, which is also known as an antidepressant.

The authors of the study indicate that this agent could be used mainly in countries where sufficient vaccine is not yet available.

Antidepressant against corona: study proves effectiveness

The results of the research were published on Wednesday in the journal "The Lancet Global Health".

According to these, fluvoxamine was able to reduce the risk of a longer inpatient stay by around a third.

To be more precise: only ten percent of the 741 patients who received the drug had to remain in hospital for longer.

This is due, among other things, to the anti-inflammatory effect of the drug.

In the comparison group that was not given the antidepressant, almost 16 percent had to be hospitalized for longer.

In terms of deaths, the researchers found even more serious differences between the group with fluvoxamine and the group without.

In the experimental group that received the drug, only one of the patients died.

In the comparison group, however, twelve people died.

Corona hope in antidepressant: more research needed

With their study, the scientists pursued the approach of testing existing and approved drugs for their suitability with regard to Covid-19.

Especially when it comes to inexpensive drugs, such as the tested antidepressant.

According to the researchers, the study is not a final result.

On the contrary: you have to wait for further results.

Because fluvoxamine can be addictive.

The dramatic situation in Great Britain currently shows how important research is in relation to the relief of corona symptoms and, above all, hospital stays.