AUTHOR=Asadi Anar Mahsa , Foroughi Elaheh , Sohrabi Elika , Peiravi Samira , Tavakoli Yasaman , Kameli Khouzani Mozhgan , Behshood Parisa , Shamshiri Melika , Faridzadeh Arezoo , Keylani Kimia , Langari Seyedeh Faride , Ansari Akram , Khalaji Amirmohammad , Garousi Setareh , Mottahedi Mehran , Honari Sara , Deravi Niloofar 

TITLE=Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors: New hope in the fight against COVID-19

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pharmacology

VOLUME=13

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2022.1036093

DOI=10.3389/fphar.2022.1036093

ISSN=1663-9812

ABSTRACT=<p>The emerging COVID-19 pandemic led to a dramatic increase in global mortality and morbidity rates. As in most infections, fatal complications of coronavirus affliction are triggered by an untrammeled host inflammatory response. Cytokine storms created by high levels of interleukin and other cytokines elucidate the pathology of severe COVID-19. In this respect, repurposing drugs that are already available and might exhibit anti-inflammatory effects have received significant attention. With the <italic>in vitro</italic> and clinical investigation of several studies on the effect of antidepressants on COVID-19 prognosis, previous data suggest that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) might be the new hope for the early treatment of severely afflicted patients. SSRIs’ low cost and availability make them potentially eligible for COVID-19 repurposing. This review summarizes current achievements and literature about the connection between SSRIs administration and COVID-19 prognosis.</p>