Opportunities for Drug Repurposing of Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors:
                    Potential Uses in Inflammation, Infection, Cancer, Neuroprotection, and
                    Alzheimer’s Disease Prevention

Madeline J. Nykamp; Charles F. Zorumski; Angela M. Reiersen; Ginger E. Nicol; John Cirrito; Eric J. Lenze

doi:10.1055/a-1686-9620

Pharmacopsychiatry, Table of Contents

Pharmacopsychiatry 2022; 55(01): 24-29
DOI: 10.1055/a-1686-9620

Review

Opportunities for Drug Repurposing of Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors: Potential Uses in Inflammation, Infection, Cancer, Neuroprotection, and Alzheimer’s Disease Prevention

Madeline J. Nykamp

¹Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA

,

Charles F. Zorumski

¹Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA

,

Angela M. Reiersen

¹Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA

,

Ginger E. Nicol

¹Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA

,

John Cirrito

²Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA

,

Eric J. Lenze

¹Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA

› Author Affiliations

Abstract

Serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SRIs) are safe and widely used for a variety of indications including depressive disorders, anxiety, and chronic pain. Besides inhibiting the serotonin transporter, these medications have broad-spectrum properties in many systems. Their roles have been studied in cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, and infectious processes. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of drug repurposing of medications already in use. We conducted a narrative review of current evidence and ongoing research on drug repurposing of SRIs, with a focus on immunomodulatory, antiproliferative, and neuroprotective activity. SRIs may have clinical use as repurposed agents for a wide variety of conditions including but not limited to COVID-19, Alzheimer’s disease, and neoplastic processes. Further research, particularly randomized controlled trials, will be necessary to confirm the utility of SRIs for new indications.

Key words

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) - Drug Repurposing - Alzheimer-s disease (AD) - COVID 19 - Antiinflammatory agents

Full Text

References

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Supplementary Material

Supplementary Material