ArticleISRN neurology2013
The effect of fluoxetine on progression in progressive multiple sclerosis: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial.
Article in ISRN neurology, 2013. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 13 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
13 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 35 citations in OpenAlex.
- The correlation between 9-HPT and patient-reported measures of upper limb function in multiple sclerosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Journal of neurology · 2023Pooled it
- Evaluation of Study and Patient Characteristics of Clinical Studies in Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Review.PloS one · 2015Pooled it
- Efficacy of three neuroprotective drugs in secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (MS-SMART): a phase 2b, multiarm, double-blind, randomised placebo-controlled trial.The Lancet. Neurology · 2020Trial
- Kynurenines and Mitochondrial Disturbances in Multiple Sclerosis.International journal of molecular sciences · 2025Review
- The Effects of Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors on Neurological and Depressive Symptoms in Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.Galen medical journal · 2023Review
- Lactobacillus reuteri tryptophan metabolism promotes host susceptibility to CNS autoimmunity.Microbiome · 2022Article
- Central nervous system macrophages in progressive multiple sclerosis: relationship to neurodegeneration and therapeutics.Journal of neuroinflammation · 2022Review
- Review
- Review
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- Silent Free Fall at Disease Onset: A Perspective on Therapeutics for Progressive Multiple Sclerosis.Frontiers in neurology · 2018Review
- Depression Treatment among Adults with Multiple Sclerosis and Depression in Ambulatory Care Settings in the United States.Multiple sclerosis international · 2017Article
- Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Preclinical studies suggest that fluoxetine may have neuroprotective properties. In this pilot study forty-two patients with secondary or primary progressive MS were randomized to receive fluoxetine 20 mg twice daily or placebo for 2 years. Every 3 months the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), 9-hole peg test (9-HPT) and ambulation index (AI) were assessed. Brain MRI scans, Multiple Sclerosis Functional Composite, Fatigue Impact Scale, Guy's neurological disability Scale and SF-36 were performed at baseline, year 1 and year 2. Seven out of 20 (35%) patients in the fluoxetine group and 7 out of 22 (32%) patients in the placebo group had sustained progression on the EDSS, 9-HPT, or AI at 2 years. No differences were identified between the 2 treatment groups with respect to secondary clinical outcomes and T2 lesion load, grey matter volume and white matter volume. An unanticipated low rate of disability progression in the placebo group decreased the statistical power. At least 200 patients would have been needed to detect a 50% treatment effect. This trial shows that fluoxetine was generally well tolerated, but no assumptions can be made about a possible treatment effect. An adequately powered controlled trial of fluoxetine in progressive MS is still warranted. This trial is registered with Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN38456328.
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.