What is Fluvoxamine?

Fluvoxamine is an antidepressant in a group of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Fluvoxamine affects chemicals in the brain that may become unbalanced and cause obsessive-compulsive symptoms.
Fluvoxamine is used to treat social anxiety disorder (social phobia), or obsessive-compulsive disorders involving recurring thoughts or actions.
Fluvoxamine may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What is the most important information I should know about Fluvoxamine?

Do not take this medication if you are allergic to fluvoxamine, or if you are also taking alosetron (Lotronex), tizanidine (Zanaflex), thioridazine (Mellaril), pimozide (Orap), or an MAO inhibitor such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), tranylcypromine (Parnate), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), or selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam). Some of these medications can cause serious or life-threatening drug interactions when taken within 14 days before or after taking fluvoxamine.
You may have thoughts about suicide when you first start taking an this medication, especially if you are younger than 24 years old. Your doctor will need to check you at regular visits for at least the first 12 weeks of treatment.
Call your doctor at once if you have any new or worsening symptoms such as: mood or behavior changes, anxiety, panic attacks, trouble sleeping, or if you feel impulsive, irritable, agitated, hostile, aggressive, restless, hyperactive (mentally or physically), depressed, or have thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself.
There are many other medicines that can cause serious medical problems if you take them together with fluvoxamine. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor. Keep a list with you of all the medicines you use and show this list to any doctor or other healthcare provider who treats you.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Fluvoxamine?

You should not take this medication if you are allergic to fluvoxamine, or if you are also taking:

• alosetron (Lotronex)
• tizanidine (Zanaflex)
• thioridazine (Mellaril)
• pimozide (Orap); or
• an MAO inhibitor such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), tranylcypromine (Parnate), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), or selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam)

Some of these medications can cause serious or life-threatening drug interactions when taken together with fluvoxamine. You must wait at least 14 days after stopping an MAO inhibitor before you can take fluvoxamine. After you stop taking fluvoxamine, you must wait at least 14 days before you can start taking an MAOI.
Before taking fluvoxamine, tell your doctor if you have:

• liver disease
• seizures or epilepsy
• bipolar disorder (manic depression); or
• a history of drug abuse or suicidal thoughts

If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take fluvoxamine.
You may have thoughts about suicide when you first start taking fluvoxamine, especially if you are younger than 24 years old. Tell your doctor if you have symptoms of depression or suicidal thoughts during the first several weeks of treatment, or whenever your dose is changed.
Your family or other caregivers should also be alert to changes in your mood or symptoms. Your doctor will need to check you at regular visits for at least the first 12 weeks of treatment.
FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may cause serious or life-threatening lung problems in newborn babies whose mothers take the medication during pregnancy. However, you may have a relapse of symptoms if you stop taking fluvoxamine during pregnancy. If you are planning a pregnancy, or if you become pregnant while taking fluvoxamine, do not stop taking the medication without first talking to your doctor.
Fluvoxamine can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
Do not give fluvoxamine to anyone younger than 18 years old without the advice of a doctor.

Fluvoxamine Side Effects

What are the possible side effects of Fluvoxamine?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: skin rash or hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if you have any new or worsening symptoms such as: mood or behavior changes, anxiety, panic attacks, trouble sleeping, or if you feel impulsive, irritable, agitated, hostile, aggressive, restless, hyperactive (mentally or physically), depressed, or have thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself.
Call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:

• seizure (convulsions)
• unusual thoughts or behavior
• anxiety, restlessness, memory problems, trouble concentrating, hallucinations, feeling like you might pass out
• high fever, chills or goose bumps, loss of coordination, overactive reflexes, stiff muscles; or
• confusion, sweating, fast or uneven heartbeats, and rapid breathing

Less serious side effects may include:

• loss of appetite, weight loss
• dry mouth, mild nausea or upset stomach, diarrhea, constipation
• sleep problems (insomnia)
• dizziness, drowsiness
• decreased sex drive, impotence, trouble having an orgasm; or
• unusual dreams

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Fluvoxamine Interactions

What other drugs affect Fluvoxamine?

Talk to your doctor before taking any medicine for pain, arthritis, fever, or swelling. This includes aspirin and NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), diclofenac (Voltaren), indomethacin, piroxicam (Feldene), nabumetone (Relafen), etodolac (Lodine), and others. Taking any of these drugs with fluvoxamine may cause you to bruise or bleed easily.
Many drugs can interact with fluvoxamine. Below is just a partial list. Tell your doctor if you are using:

• carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Tegretol)
• clopidogrel (Plavix)
• clozapine (Clozaril, FazaClo)
• a diuretic (water pill)
• linezolid (Zyvox)
• lithium (Lithobid, Eskalith)
• methadone (Dolophine, Methadose)
• mexiletine (Mexitil)
• omeprazole (Prilosec)
• phenytoin (Dilantin)
• propranolol (Inderal, Inderal LA)
• quinidine (Quinaglute, Quinidex, Quin-Release)
• ramelteon (Rozerem)
• St. John’s wort
• tacrine (Cognex)
• tramadol (Ultram)
• tryptophan (also called L-tryptophan)
• theophylline (Elixophyllin, Theo-24, Uniphyl)
• a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin)
• a sedative such as diazepam (Valium), alprazolam (Xanax), midazolam (Versed), or triazolam (Halcion)
• almotriptan (Axert), frovatriptan (Frova), sumatriptan (Imitrex), naratriptan (Amerge), rizatriptan (Maxalt), or zolmitriptan (Zomig)
• medicine to treat psychiatric disorders, such as chlorpromazine (Thorazine), haloperidol (Haldol), perphenazine (Trilafon), and others; or
• an antidepressant such as amitriptyline (Elavil), clomipramine (Anafranil), imipramine (Tofranil), and others

This list is not complete and there are many other medicines that can cause serious medical problems if you take them together with fluvoxamine. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor. Keep a list with you of all the medicines you use and show this list to any doctor or other healthcare provider who treats you.

What should I avoid while taking Fluvoxamine?

Avoid drinking alcohol, which can increase some of the side effects of fluvoxamine.
Cold or allergy medicine, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, anxiety or depression can add to sleepiness caused by fluvoxamine. Tell your doctor if you regularly use any of these medicines.
Fluvoxamine can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.

Fluvoxamine Dosage

How should I take Fluvoxamine?

Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label.
Do not crush, chew, or open an extended-release capsule. Swallow the pill whole. Breaking or opening the pill may cause too much of the drug to be released at one time.
You may take fluvoxamine with or without food.
Do not stop using fluvoxamine without first talking to your doctor. You may have unpleasant side effects if you stop taking this medication suddenly.
Store fluvoxamine at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
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What happens if I overdose on Fluvoxamine?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have taken too much of this medication. Overdose symptoms may include blurred vision, lack of coordination, extreme drowsiness, nausea and vomiting, fast heart rate, trouble breathing, fainting, and coma.

What happens if I miss a dose of Fluvoxamine?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for the next regularly scheduled dose, skip the missed dose and take the next one as directed. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
Sourced from everydayhealth.com