Fluoxetine on Motor Rehabilitation After Ischemic Stroke

Summary

Recovery from stroke is a major process and, except for acute intravenous thrombolysis, no treatment able to enhance recovery has yet been validated. Some drugs may have a positive effect when combined with physical rehabilitation. Previous studies have shown a potential effect of catecholaminergic drugs on cerebral plasticity of stroke patients. In 2001, our group has demonstrated in a small group of stroke patients (n=8) that a single dose of fluoxetine (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor - SSRI) improved motor performance and modulated cerebral plasticity. We conducted a phase IIb prospective, double-blind, randomized, placebo controlled study to assess the effect of a daily treatment with fluoxetin (20 mg) on motor performance in patients with mild to severe motor deficit after ischemic stroke.

Timeline

Start

2005-03

Primary completion

2010-12

Completion

2010-12

Publications

• Background Pariente J, Loubinoux I, Carel C, Albucher JF, Leger A, Manelfe C, Rascol O, Chollet F. Fluoxetine modulates motor performance and cerebral activation of patients recovering from stroke. Ann Neurol. 2001 Dec;50(6):718-29. doi: 10.1002/ana.1257.
• Background Dam M, Tonin P, De Boni A, Pizzolato G, Casson S, Ermani M, Freo U, Piron L, Battistin L. Effects of fluoxetine and maprotiline on functional recovery in poststroke hemiplegic patients undergoing rehabilitation therapy. Stroke. 1996 Jul;27(7):1211-4. doi: 10.1161/01.str.27.7.1211.
• Chollet F, Tardy J, Albucher JF, Thalamas C, Berard E, Lamy C, Bejot Y, Deltour S, Jaillard A, Niclot P, Guillon B, Moulin T, Marque P, Pariente J, Arnaud C, Loubinoux I. Fluoxetine for motor recovery after acute ischaemic stroke (FLAME): a randomised placebo-controlled trial. Lancet Neurol. 2011 Feb;10(2):123-30. doi: 10.1016/S1474-4422(10)70314-8. Epub 2011 Jan 7.

Drugs

Indications