Fluvoxamine

What is Fluvoxamine?

Fluvoxamine (SSRI) is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor. Fluvoxamine can be used to treat the symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder in children and adults over 8 years old. This medication guide does not list all possible uses of fluvoxamine.

Side effects of Fluvoxamine

If you experience any of the following symptoms of an allergic reaction, seek immediate medical attention: skin rash or blisters; joint pain or fever; difficulty breathing; swelling in your face, lips, or throat; or difficulty breathing. Tell your doctor if there are any sudden or new changes in mood, behavior, or feelings, such as new or worse depression, anxiety, attacks of panic, or trouble sleeping. Also, tell them if you're feeling impulsive, agitated, hostile, aggressive, or restless.

If you experience:

• Anxiety, racing thoughts and risky behavior, insomnia, feelings of extreme happiness, irritability, or elation
• Blurred vision, redness or pain in the eyes, and seeing halos around lights are all symptoms of blurred vision.
• A seizure;
• Changes in weight or appetite
• Easy bruising and unusual bleeding
• Low blood sodium can cause headaches, memory problems, confusion, and weakness.

If you experience symptoms of serotonin disorder, including agitation or hallucinations, a rapid heartbeat, muscle stiffness, and twitching, Fluvoxamine can affect the growth of children. You should check your child's weight and height regularly.

Fluvoxamine side effects may include:

• Drowsiness, dizziness, and weakness;
• Anxiety, depression, agitation, and trouble sleeping;
• Shaking is an increase in muscle movement.
• Stomach upset, gas, and loss of appetite
• Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea;
• Dry mouth, yawning, and sore throat.
• Muscle pain;
• Sweating, rash;
• Heavy menstrual periods;
• Sexual problems are a serious problem.

There may be other side effects. For advice regarding possible side effects, it is always best to speak to your physician first. For reporting side effects directly, call the FDA's hotline at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Similar/related drugs

Sertraline, fluoxetine, venlafaxine, citalopram, Zoloft, Prozac, and Paroxetine

Warnings

Suicidal thoughts can occur in people with mental illness or depression. Young adults taking depression medication for the first time may experience increased suicidal thoughts.If you notice any sudden changes in your mood, behavior, or thoughts of suicide, tell your doctor immediately. Fluvoxamine should not be stopped without consulting your doctor.

Before you take this drug

If you have an allergy to fluvoxamine, it is best not to take it. Fluvoxamine should not be taken within 14 days of taking an MAO inhibitor or within 14 days following the MAO inhibitor. A harmful drug interaction may occur. MAO inhibitors are isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene green injection, phenelzine, transylcypromine, and others.

Fluvoxamine and some drugs are not compatible. You may need to change your treatment plan if you use:

• Alosetron;
• Ramelteon;
• Thioridazine;

Inform your doctor if any of the following apply to you:

• Bipolar disorder
• A seizure;
• Glaucoma;
• Sexual problems
• Liver or kidney disease
• Heart failure or high pressure;
• Bleeding problems
• Low levels of sodium (an electrolyte balance) in the blood.

Suicidal thoughts can occur in people with mental illness or depression. When first taking depression medication, some young people experience increased suicidal feelings. Be mindful of any sudden shifts in your emotions or symptoms.You and your family members should be on the lookout for any sudden changes in behavior. Inform your doctor if other medications are being used for mental illness, Parkinson’s disease, or migraine headaches. A serious condition known as serotonin syndrome can be caused by an interaction between fluvoxamine and other drugs. Fluvoxamine can harm a baby during pregnancy, but it may be dangerous for you to stop taking the medication. Consult your doctor before starting or stopping fluvoxamine. Breastfeeding is not recommended.

How to take Fluvoxamine?

Read all the instructions or guides that come with your medication and follow the directions. Sometimes, your doctor will change the dose. Take the medication exactly as directed. Fluvoxamine can be taken with or without food at night. Do not open, crush, chew, or break the capsule. If you notice any changes in your sexual function (such as a loss of interest in sex or difficulty having an orgasm) or (in men) if there are problems with erections, ejaculation, or both, tell your doctor. Certain sexual problems are treatable. You may experience unpleasant symptoms (such as agitation, confusion, tingling, or electric shock-like feelings). Before stopping the medication, consult your doctor. Store at room temperature and away from moisture and heat sources.

Details on dosage

Adult dose for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder:
Initial immediate-release tablets: 50 mg once daily at bedtime.
Initial extended-release dose: 100mg orally, once daily at bedtime
Maintenance dose: 100–300 mg orally daily
Maximum dose: 300 mg/day
Comments:
The dose can be increased by 50mg every 4–7 days, if tolerated. This should continue until the maximum therapeutic effect is reached.
If the doses are not equal, give the larger dose at bedtime. If the doses differ, give the higher dose at bedtime if the doses do not match.
Use: Treatment for obsessions and compulsive behaviors in patients with OCD, as defined by DSM-III-R/DSM-IV.
The usual pediatric dose for obsessive-compulsive disorder is:
8 to 11 years:
Initial dose: 25mg orally, once daily at bedtime.
Maintenance dose: 25–200 mg orally daily
Maximum dose: 200 mg/day
11–17 years old:
Initial dose: 25mg orally, once daily at bedtime.
Maintenance dosage: 25 to 300mg orally daily
Maximum dose: 300 mg/day
Comments:
As tolerated, the dose can be increased by 25 mg every 4–7 days.
If the two divided doses are not equal, then give the larger dose at bedtime. The larger of the two divided dosages should be taken at bedtime if the doses aren't equal.
Lower doses are more effective for female patients than male patients.
Use: Treatment for obsessions and compulsive behaviors in patients with OCD as defined by DSM-III-R/DSM-IV

What happens if I miss the dose?

If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the one you missed and continue taking as scheduled.Never take two doses of the same medicine at once.

What happens if I overdose?

Call 1-800-222-1222 for poison help or seek immediate medical attention.
An overdose may cause vomiting, diarrhea, breathing problems, slow heartbeats, or seizures.

What should be avoided?

Alcohol can cause certain side effects to worsen. Before taking NSAIDs such as Advil, ibuprofen, or naproxen (or other nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs), consult your doctor. Fluvoxamine and NSAIDs can cause you to bleed or bruise easily. Fluvoxamine can affect your reactions. Avoid driving and other hazardous activities until you are familiar with how they will affect you. You may be unable to react properly.

Interaction with other drug

Fluvoxamine can make you more drowsy when taken with other drugs. Before taking an opioid, sleeping pill, muscle relaxant, anxiety medicine, or medication for seizures or anxiety, consult your doctor.

Inform your doctor of all the medications you are taking. Fluvoxamine can be affected by many drugs, including:

• Methadone, mexiletine, St. John's wort, theophylline, and tramadol
• A benzodiazepine sedative such as Valium, Klonopin, or Xanax.
• A blood thinner (warfarin; Coumadin; Jantoven);
• A diuretic, or "water pill".
• "triptan", a migraine headache medicine such as Imitrex or Maxalt.
• Medicine to treat mental illness, anxiety, or mood disorders (such as lithium, antidepressants, or antipsychotics)

Fluvoxamine can be affected by many other drugs. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, herbal, vitamins, and other products. This list does not include all possible interactions with drugs.