Fluoxetine for stroke recovery: Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

And EXACTLY WHY WAS THIS STUDY DONE? This study from January 2019 already came to this conclusion ; 

Fluoxetine 20 mg given daily for 6 months after acute stroke does not seem to improve functional outcomes. Although the treatment reduced the occurrence of depression, it increased the frequency of bone fractures. These results do not support the routine use of fluoxetine either for the prevention of post-stroke depression or to promote recovery of function. Study here:

Effects of fluoxetine on functional outcomes after acute stroke (FOCUS): a pragmatic, double-blind, randomised,controlled trial /u> January 2019 

I can only conclude that you, your mentors and senior researchers are fuckingly out-of-date.  Correspondingly please leave stroke to those who live stroke 24x7 and find another job.

Fluoxetine for stroke recovery: Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials 

Show all authors

Gillian E Mead, Lynn Legg, Russel Tilney, ...

First Published October 17, 2019 Research Article Find in PubMed

https://doi.org/10.1177/1747493019879655

Article information

Abstract

Objective

To determine whether fluoxetine, at any dose, given within the first year after stroke to patients who did not have to have mood disorders at randomization reduced disability, dependency, neurological deficits and fatigue; improved motor function, mood, and cognition at the end of treatment and follow-up, with the same number or fewer adverse effects.

Methods

Searches (from 2012) in July 2018 included databases, trials registers, reference lists, and contact with experts. Co-primary outcomes were dependence and disability. Dichotomous data were synthesized using risk ratios (RR) and continuous data using standardized mean differences (SMD). Quality was appraised using Cochrane risk of bias methods. Sensitivity analyses explored influence of study quality.

Results

The searches identified 3414 references of which 499 full texts were assessed for eligibility. Six new completed RCTs (n = 3710) were eligible, and were added to the seven trials identified in a 2012 Cochrane review (total: 13 trials, n = 4145). There was no difference in the proportion independent (3 trials, n = 3249, 36.6% fluoxetine vs. 36.7% control; RR 1.00, 95% confidence interval 0.91 to 1.09, p = 0.99, I² = 78%) nor in disability (7 trials n = 3404, SMD 0.05, −0.02 to 0.12 p = 0.15, I² = 81%) at end of treatment. Fluoxetine was associated with better neurological scores and less depression. Among the four (n = 3283) high-quality RCTs, the only difference between groups was lower depression scores with fluoxetine.

Conclusion

This class I evidence demonstrates that fluoxetine does not reduce disability and dependency after stroke but improves depression.

Keywords Stroke, fluoxetine, recovery, rehabilitation

Access Options