Establishing the Effect(s) and Safety of Fluoxetine Initiated in the Acute Phase of Stroke
Overview
- Phase
- Phase 3
- Intervention
- Fluoxetine
- Conditions
- Stroke
- Sponsor
- Karolinska Institutet
- Enrollment
- 1500
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Functional status, measured with the modified Rankin scale.
- Status
- Completed
- Last Updated
- 5 years ago
Overview
Brief Summary
The purpose of this study is to investigate whether routine administration of fluoxetine 20mg once daily in the 6 months initiated during the acute stroke improves the patient's functional outcome.
EFFECTS is an investigator lead Sweden-based, multicenter, parallel group, double blind placebo controlled trial with broad entry criteria and follow up at 6 and 12 months.
EFFECTS managed to recruit its anticipated numbers of 1,500 participants between 20th October 2014 and 28th June 2019. Data will be unblinded when the 6-months follow-up is completed, and the primary outcome is due to report on May 2020.
Detailed Description
Stroke is a serious, life-threatening medical condition that happens when the blood supply to a part of the brain is cut off, usually due to a blood clot (ischemic) or hemorrhage. Symptoms vary according to how much of the brain is affected and where in the brain the stroke occurs but includes paralysis, muscle weakness and speech problems. A stroke can also have an impact on the sufferers emotions and can lead to anxiety, depression and personality changes. Fluoxetine (otherwise known as Prozac) has been used for many years to treat depression. However, there is evidence to suggest that it may also have other effects of the brain and enhance brain plasticity (the reorganisation of neural pathways in the brain) in a number of different ways. One small study, for example, has shown that, if taken soon after a stroke, fluoxetine might improve the recovery of arm strength and lead to greater restoration of movement of the limbs. Adult participants (at least 18 years old) who have had a stroke (either ischemic or hemorrhagic) within the last 2-15 days and still have some residual problems caused by the stroke e.g. weakness, or problems with their speech (speech impairment). Participants are randomly allocated into one of two groups. Those in group 1 are given fluoxetine capsules for 6 months. Those in group 2 are given a placebo capsules for 6 months. The participants are contacted after one week of starting their treatment, and then again after one month, to check on their well-being and that they are still taking their allocated caplets. Each participant is asked about any side effects and how much training they have had with e.g. a physiotherapist, occupational- or speech-therapist. The research team contacts each participant at 3 months to check whether they are still taking the capsules, ask about bad side effects, and about how they are feeling (mood). If all is well, the participant is given enough medication to cover the rest of the study period. The participant is asked to stop the study medication after 6 months and repeat assessments that they did before they started the study at the local hospital. They are also asked to fill in questionnaires together with their next of kin or carer. These questionnaires are sent to the trial main centre. If needed, they can also be filled in with the help of a trial nurse over the telephone. The participants are contacted again one month after they have stopped the medication to see how they have progressed. At 12 months after recruitment, participants are asked to complete the same questionnaires again about how well they have recovered from their stroke and what problems they now have after the stroke e.g. weakness in limbs, memory problems, problems with speech, low mood. These questionnaires can again be completed on paper or by telephone. The researchers then collect data on long-term recovery through national statistics.
Investigators
Erik Lundström, MD, PhD
MD, PhD, Senior Consultant in Neurology
Karolinska Institutet
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- •Informed consent can only be obtained from a patient who according to the trial investigator is mentally capable of decision-making and who, after having received information and got answers to their questions, wants to participate in the trial.
- •Brain imaging is compatible with intra cerebral hemorrhage or ischemic stroke.
- •Randomization can be performed between 2 and 15 days after stroke onset and by the research group at the patient's local/emergency hospital.
- •Persisting focal neurological deficit is present at the time of randomization severe enough to warrant treatment from the physicians and the patient's and relative's perspective.
Exclusion Criteria
- •Subarachnoidal hemorrhage except where secondary to a primary intracerebral hemorrhage.
- •Unlikely to be available for follow up for the next 12 months e.g. no fixed home address.
- •Unable to speak Swedish and no close family member available to help with follow up forms.
- •Other life threatening illness (e.g. advanced cancer) that will make 12-month survival unlikely.
- •History of epileptic seizures.
- •History of allergy or contraindications to fluoxetine including: Hepatic impairment (S-ASAT/ALAT \> 3 upper normal limit) and renal impairment (S-Creatinine levels \> 180 micromol/L).
- •Pregnant or breastfeeding, women of childbearing age not taking contraception. Minimum contraception is an oral contraceptive. An HCG-test is to be made prior randomization and after the end of trial medication.
- •Previous drug overdose or attempted suicide.
- •Already enrolled into a CTIMP.
- •Current or recent (within the last month) depression requiring treatment with an SSRI antidepressant.
Arms & Interventions
Fluoxetine
One capsule Fluoxetine 20mg once daily for 6 months.
Intervention: Fluoxetine
Placebo
One matching capsule placebo once daily for 6 months.
Intervention: Placebo
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Functional status, measured with the modified Rankin scale.
Time Frame: 6 months
The simple modified Rankin scale questionnaire delivered by postal questionnaire, or via interview over the telephone or face to face to determine the modified Rankin scale.
Secondary Outcomes
- Memory and thinking assessed with the Stroke Impact Scale(At 6 and 12 months)
- Mood and emotions assessed with the Stroke Impact Scale(At 6 and 12 months)
- Daily activities assessed with the Stroke Impact Scale(At 6 and 12 months)
- Overall rating of recovery assessed with the Stroke Impact Scale(At 6 and 12 months)
- Number of participants with an acute coronary syndromes(At 6 and 12 months)
- Cognition assessed with the Stroke Impact Scale(At 6 and 12 months)
- Health status measured with the Stroke Impact Scale(At 6 and 12 months)
- Functional status, measured with the modified Rankin scale.(12 months)
- Mobility assessed with the Stroke Impact Scale(At 6 and 12 months)
- Survival(This will be determined by following patients up for 12 months.)
- Arm, hand, leg and foot strength assessed with the Stroke Impact Scale(At 6 and 12 months)
- Communication and understanding assessed with the Stroke Impact Scale(At 6 and 12 months)
- Participation in work, leisure and social activities assessed with the Stroke Impact Scale(At 6 and 12 months)
- Hand function assessed with the Stroke Impact Scale(At 6 and 12 months)
- Number of participants with an episodes of Hyponatraemia(At 6 and 12 months)
- Number of participants with other major bleeds(At 6 and 12 months)
- Number of participants with poorly controlled diabetes(At 6 and 12 months)
- Number of participants with an Epileptic seizures(At 6 and 12 months)
- Number of participants with an upper gastrointestinal bleeding(At 6 and 12 months)
- Number of participants with falls resulting in injury(At 6 and 12 months)
- Number of participants with new fractures(At 6 and 12 months)
- Cost-effectiveness and cost-utility assessed by measuring costs, survival and health related quality of life (EQ5D)(At 6 and 12 months)
- Adverse events/outcomes(At 6 and 12 months)
- Number of participants with a recurrent stroke including ischaemic and hemorrhagic strokes(At 6 and 12 months)
- Fatigue measured with the vitality subscale of the Health Questionnaire(At 6 and 12 months)
- Physical activity(1 week, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months)
- Depression using the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS)(At 6 and 12 months)
- Health-related quality of life measured with the five-level Euroqol 5D (EQ5D-5 L)(At 6 and 12 months)