Preliminary evidence suggests that SSRIs may improve outcomes of COVID-19 and lower the risk of developing Long COVID. The reason why they seem to work, however, is up for debate. Learn how one study’s findings challenged a popular theory.*

What causes Long COVID?

It’s estimated that one-third of people diagnosed with COVID-19 will go on to develop Long COVID. Over 200 Long COVID symptoms have been reported, including:

• fatigue
• pain
• brain fog
• loss of taste and smell
• breathing difficulties
• complications in the cardiovascular, digestive, and other body systems 

While scientists can’t point to one specific cause of Long COVID, mounting evidence points to changes in the immune system, hormone imbalances, tiny blood clots, and leftover remnants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus as being among the contributors.

SSRIs show promising results

Animal studies and controlled trials have shown that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may improve health outcomes of COVID-19 and possibly reduce the risk of Long COVID. SSRIs are a class of drugs primarily used to treat depression, anxiety, and other psychological disorders. 

Some scientists think this benefit might come from SSRIs’ ability to bind to specific receptors (S1R) in cells, which in turn reduces the surge of inflammation-promoting molecules (inflammatory cytokines) that occurs during severe COVID-19. According to a study recently posted to the preprint server medRxiv, however, this may not be the case.

Protection against Long COVID

For the new study, the researchers examined whether or not the benefits of SSRIs on Long COVID could be related to their anti-inflammatory effects. They grouped participants into three categories: 

• Those who received a receptor-binding SSRI, 
• Those who received a non-receptor-binding SSRI, and 
• Those who received no SSRI.

The results showed that the group of participants who received the receptor-binding SSRI showed a 26% reduction in Long COVID risk compared to those who did not receive an SSRI. The participants who received a non-receptor-binding SSRI showed a 25% reduction in risk compared to the control group.

These findings suggest the benefits of SSRI on Long COVID may not be related to the S1R. Instead, the authors of the study suggest SSRIs may reduce Long COVID risk through changes in the immune system or protecting against very small blood clots, although more research is needed.

*Sidharthan, C. (2022, November 15). Do SSRIs lower the risk of long COVID? News-Medical.net. https://www.news-medical.net/news/20221115/Do-SSRIs-lower-the-risk-of-long-COVID.aspx