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Single Dose Of Fluoxetine Modulates Cerebral Sensory-Motor Activation In Stroke Patients

A single dose of fluoxetine is sufficient to modulate cerebral sensory-motor activation in patients recovering from lacunar stroke.

"This redistribution of activation toward the motor cortex output activation was associated with an enhancement of motor performance," say investigators.

They conducted a prospective, double-blind, crossover, placebo-controlled study that included eight patients with pure motor hemiparesia.

Each patient underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) after receiving fluoxetine or placebo. Imaging was first performed two weeks after stroke onset and again one week later.

Patients performed both an active controlled motor task and a passive task with the affected hand during fMRI examination.

Motor tests were conducted immediately before fMRI examinations to evaluate motor performance and investigate the effect of fluoxetine on motor function.

Results revealed that hyperactivation in the ipsilesional primary motor cortex occurred during the active motor task after fluoxetine administration. Also, motor skills were significantly improved on the affected side following administration of fluoxetine.

"We found that a single dose of fluoxetine was enough to modulate cerebral sensory-motor activation in patients," the investigators conclude.

These findings were from work performed at the Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale, the Centre d'Investigation Clinique and the Departments of Neurology and Neuroradiology at the Hôpital Purpan in Toulouse, France.
Ann Neurol 2001; 50(6): 718-729. "Fluoxetine modulates motor performance and cerebral activation of patients recovering from stroke"

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