TY - JOUR T1 - Routine fluoxetine in stroke JF - BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine JO - BMJ EBM SP - 195 LP - 196 DO - 10.1136/bmjebm-2019-111188 VL - 24 IS - 5 AU - Carl Heneghan AU - Kamal R Mahtani Y1 - 2019/10/01 UR - http://ebm.bmj.com/content/24/5/195.abstract N2 - A recent UK trial addressed whether routine use of fluoxetine in patients who had a stroke improved motor recovery at 6 months. EBM VerdictEBM Verdict on: Effects of fluoxetine on functional outcomes after acute stroke (FOCUS): a pragmatic, double-blind, randomised, controlled trial. FOCUS Trial Collaboration. Lancet 2019;393:265–74. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(18)32823-X.Fluoxetine 20 mg after an acute stroke does not improve functional outcomes. Although it appears to have some beneficial impact on the occurrence of depression (NNT 27), treatment decisions need to be balanced against the potential increase in bone fractures among the treated group (NNH 68).Stroke is a debilitating life-changing event that causes considerable mortality and morbidity. An ageing and growing population are thought to be some of the factors contributing to a rise in the incidence. However, improved management of acute stroke and better treatment of modifiable risk factors have led to an increase in the number of stroke survivors.Depression is a frequent complication following a stroke, occurring in up to 50% of patients.1 A previous … ER -