Fluoxetine for Visual Recovery After Ischemic Stroke

Fluoxetine for Visual Recovery After Ischemic Stroke

The purpose of this study is to determine whether fluoxetine, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor commonly used for depression, enhances visual recovery after an acute ischemic stroke.

Inclusion Criteria:

• MRI-confirmed acute ischemic stroke resulting in an isolated homonymous visual field loss.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Known hypersensitivity to fluoxetine or other selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
• National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score greater than 5
• Premorbid modified Rankin Scale score greater than 2
• Premorbid monocular or binocular visual field deficits
• Premorbid retinopathy or optic neuropathy
• Premorbid depression
• History of cognitive impairment, dementia, or neurodegenerative disorder
• History of seizure disorder
• History of mania or hypomania
• History of hyponatremia
• History of angle-closure glaucoma or elevated intraocular pressure
• Current alcohol abuse or impaired liver function
• Current use of an antidepressant medication
• Current use of a medication likely to have an adverse interaction with fluoxetine
• Current use of a medication likely to impair post-stroke recovery
• Contraindication to MRI
• Pregnancy or lactation
• Hemorrhagic transformation of the index stroke, resulting in mass effect
• Enrollment in another clinical trial at the time of the index stroke