Escitalopram in Asthma Patients With Frequent Exacerbation
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Summary
Antidepressants, particularly selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), such as escitalopram are widely used for mood and anxiety disorders. However, they have also been explored, with promising findings, for a variety of disorders outside of psychiatry. Clinical studies of SSRIs in depressed people with asthma were associated with decreased asthma exacerbations and improvement in asthma control. In this study, the number of asthma exacerbations will be assessed as the primary outcome measure in patients using escitalopram vs. placebo.
Description
A 26-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of escitalopram will be conducted in 105 people with moderate to severe persistent asthma who, despite treatment with medium to high dose inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting beta-agonist therapy, had ≥ 3 asthma exacerbations in the past year. The primary outcome measure will be the number of times systemic corticosteroids are given for an asthma exacerbation with the Asthma Control Questionnaire as a secondary outcome measure. Mood and anxiety symptoms and functioning will be assessed as will the role of psychological asthma tri…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18–75 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * Moderate to severe persistent asthma * Treatment with medium to high dose ICS and LABA therapy * Three or more severe asthma exacerbations (requiring ≥ 3 days of systemic corticosteroids) in the past year * Age 18-75 years old, male or female sex, English or Spanish speaking * Participants will be required to be clinically stable with no recent exacerbations, infections or changes in asthma controller therapy for at least 4 weeks before study entry * Biologic therapy for asthma (e.g., omalizumab, mepolizumab, reslizumab, benralizumab, dupilumab, tezepelumab) will be allo…
Interventions
- DrugEscitalopram
Escitalopram is an FDA-approved SSRI antidepressant that is administered by mouth
- DrugPlacebo
Inactive placebo comparator
Location
- UT Southwestern, 1440 Empire Central, Ste. LD4.100Dallas, Texas