Why Psychiatric Drugs Might Have a Role in Covid-19 Treatment

Elemental senior writer Dana G Smith published a fascinating story today about why experts think antidepressants and antipsychotics could offer protection against Covid-19. Smith looks at a new study that found the antidepressant fluvoxamine may prevent some of the “clinical deterioration” seen in people with Covid-19. If it does work, it’s unlikely because of the drug’s effect on the brain, but rather because it activates a protein called the sigma-1, which may result in antiviral and anti-inflammatory effects against Covid-19. Read more below.

Psychiatric Drugs Could Be the Key to Treating Covid-19