Escitalopram for COVID-19
c19early.org
COVID-19 Treatment Clinical Evidence
COVID-19 involves the interplay of 400+ viral and host proteins and factors, providing many therapeutic targets.
c19early analyzes 6,000+ studies for 210+ treatments—over 17 million hours of research.
Only three high-profit early treatments are approved in the US.
In reality, many treatments reduce risk,
with 25 low-cost treatments approved across 163 countries.
-
Naso/
oropharyngeal treatment Effective Treatment directly to the primary source of initial infection. -
Healthy lifestyles Protective Exercise, sunlight, a healthy diet, and good sleep all reduce risk.
-
Immune support Effective Vitamins A, C, D, and zinc show reduced risk, as with other viruses.
-
Thermotherapy Effective Methods for increasing internal body temperature, enhancing immune system function.
-
Systemic agents Effective Many systemic agents reduce risk, and may be required when infection progresses.
-
High-profit systemic agents Conditional Effective, but with greater access and cost barriers.
-
Monoclonal antibodies Limited Utility Effective but rarely used—high cost, variant dependence, IV/SC admin.
-
Acetaminophen Harmful Increased risk of severe outcomes and mortality.
-
Remdesivir Harmful Increased mortality with longer followup. Increased kidney and liver injury, cardiac disorders.
Escitalopram may be beneficial for
COVID-19 according to the studies below.
COVID-19 involves the interplay of 400+ viral and host proteins and factors providing many therapeutic targets.
Scientists have proposed 11,000+ potential treatments.
c19early.org analyzes
210+ treatments.
We have not reviewed escitalopram in detail.
, Evaluating The Antiviral Potential Of Fluoxetine, Sertraline, And Escitalopram Against SARS-CoV-2 In Vero Cells: A Drug Repurposing Study, IOSR Journal of Dental and Medical Sciences, doi:10.9790/0853-2310065564
Background: COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2, remains a global health crisis with limited therapeutic options. Despite the availability of vaccines, the rapid evolution of viral variants necessitates the exploration of alternative treatments. Drug repositioning, the use of existing medications for new therapeutic indications, offers a promising approach. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as fluoxetine, sertraline, and escitalopram have shown potential antiviral properties due to their immunomodulatory effects. This study investigates the impact of these SSRIs on SARS-CoV-2-induced cytopathic effects (CPE) in Vero cells. Materials and Methods: Vero cells were cultured and treated with varying concentrations of fluoxetine, sertraline, and escitalopram. Ivermectin, was used as a positive control. The cytotoxicity of these drugs was assessed using the Neutral Red assay. After viral infection of the cells, cytopathic effects were measured to determine the antiviral activity of the drugs. IC50 (half-maximal inhibitory concentration) values were calculated for each drug, and the results were compared using statistical analysis. Results: Fluoxetine, sertraline, and escitalopram demonstrated dose-dependent inhibition of SARS-CoV-2- induced cytopathic effects, with escitalopram showing the highest efficacy (IC50 = 0.02557 µM, p < 0.03). The selectivity indices (SI) for fluoxetine, sertraline, and escitalopram were significantly higher than that of ivermectin, indicating their safety at higher doses. Escitalopram exhibited superior antiviral activity, with up to 38% inhibition of SARS-CoV-2-induced CPE, compared to ivermectin's 10%. Conclusion: Fluoxetine, sertraline, and escitalopram, particularly escitalopram, are promising candidates for treating SARS-CoV-2 infections. These SSRIs exhibit significant inhibition of virus-induced cytopathic effects in Vero cells, suggesting their potential use as therapeutic agents against COVID-19. Further studies are requiredto confirm their clinical efficacy and safety in human subjects.