Fluvoxamine

Brand names of fluvoxamine

  • Alti-Fluvoxamine
  • Apo-Fluvoxamine
  • Luvox
  • Novo-Fluvoxamine
  • Nu-Fluvoxamine
  • PMS-Fluvoxamine
  • Riva-Fluvoxamine

Fluvoxamine belongs to the class of medications known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and is prescribed to treat a variety of different mental ailments. Other SSRI medications include sertraline (Zoloft), fluoxetine (Prozac) and paroxetine (Paxil). SSRI drugs have an effect on neurotransmitters, chemicals released by the nerves in the brain to send signals to one another. Once a nerve releases the neurotransmitters, they move through the gaps among the nerves and, subsequently, they bind to the receptors on other nerves. Several experts are of the view that any disparity in the neurotransmitters is responsible for depression as well as additional psychiatric disorders. This medication acts by slowing down the uptake or acceptance of serotonin existing in the spaces flanked by the nerve cells after it is released. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the sale and use of fluvoxamine in the United States to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), a mental ailment, in December 1994.

Things you need to tell your physician before taking fluvoxamine

Prior to taking fluvoxamine for the first time, it is important to tell your physician as well as pharmacist whether you have any allergic reaction to this mediation, any of its ingredients or any other drugs. In addition, you should also tell your physician about your entire medical condition, especially if you are suffering from or have ever suffered from any heart disease, seizures, and ailments related to the liver, kidney and adrenal glands.

Before beginning treatment with fluvoxamine, you should also inform your physician if you are taking specific medications or have stopped taking them during the last two weeks. These drugs include MAO (monoamine oxidase) inhibitors like linezolid (Zyvox), isocarboxazid (Marplan), rasagiline (Azilect), phenelzine (Nardil) and selegiline (Emsam, Eldepryl, Zelapar) as well as tranylcypromine (Parnate). In case you are taking any of the above mentioned medications, it is very likely that your physician will advice you against taking fluvoxamine.

Also tell your physician as well as pharmacist regarding all the prescription and over-the-counter drugs, and vitamins you are taking already or intend to take. You should also tell them about all dietary supplements and herbal remedies, especially those enclosing tryptophan and St. John's wort that you are already taking.

Before using fluvoxamine, it is important that you let your physician know if you have ever consumed or continue to consume large amounts of alcoholic beverages; are using or have used any street drug; and/ or if you have used any prescription drug in excess. You ought to know that consumption of alcohol while undergoing treatment with fluvoxamine may increase the stupor/ lethargy caused by this medication.

Also make it known to your physician if you are using any tobacco product. Remember that smoking cigarettes may diminish the effectiveness of fluvoxamine.

Women who want to take fluvoxamine to treat their condition should tell their physician if they are pregnant, particularly if they are in the last stage of their pregnancy, planning to become pregnant or are breast feeding. If you become pregnant during the course of treatment with fluvoxamine, you should contact your physician right away for advice regarding what needs to be done subsequently. If fluvoxamine is taken during the last few months of pregnancy, this medication may result in problems in the newborn.

Before undergoing any type of surgery, including a dental surgery, it is essential that you inform your surgeon/ dentist that you are using fluvoxamine from before.

People undergoing treatment with fluvoxamine ought to be aware of the fact that this medication has the aptitude to make you feel drowsy or has an influence over your thoughts, judgment as well as the motor skills. Therefore, it is advisable that you should not undertake activities that require alertness and clear thought, such as driving or operating a machine, till such time when you are certain about the effects of this medication on your body and when you are absolutely sure that you can execute them safely.

Usage

Fluvoxamine belongs to the class of medications known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and is used for treating depression as well as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

How to use fluvoxamine

Before you start using fluvoxamine and whenever you get a refill of the medication, you should go through the Medication Guide. In case you do not understand any instruction in this text or have any questions, seek the help of your physician or pharmacist. This medication should be taken orally, with or without food as per the instructions of your physician. Usually, fluvoxamine is taken once every day just before bedtime. However, some patients may be instructed to take this medication two times every day - in the morning and then again at bedtime. In case you are taking fluvoxamine two times every day and not in equivalent doses, the larger dose should be taken before retiring to the bed at night.

The dosage of fluvoxamine is dependent on the patient's medical condition, age, response to therapy as well as any other medications taken by him/ her. In the case of children, the dosage is also subject to their age as well as gender. In order to lessen the chances of developing the side effects of this medication, it is very likely that your physician will instruct you to start taking this drug at a low dosage and increase the dose gradually. People taking fluvoxamine should always follow their physician's instructions very closely. Never take this medication in larger doses, more frequently or for a longer period than what has been prescribed by your physician. Remember, doing so will not be of any help in improving your condition more rapidly. On the contrary, it may augment the chances of developing the side effects of using fluvoxamine. In order to obtain the maximum benefits of using this medication, you should take it on a regular basis. At the same time, it is important to take fluvoxamine at the same time(s) every day, as it will help you to remember that you have to take this medication.

Even if you start feeling better after few weeks of treatment with fluvoxamine, it is essential that you keep taking the medication for the complete regimen. Never stop using this medication without the advice and consent of your physician. It may be noted that a number of conditions endured by you may deteriorate further if you stop taking this medication all of a sudden. In addition, discontinuing fluvoxamine abruptly may also result in symptoms like headache, sleep changes, mood swings, fatigue and brief sensations akin to that of an electric shock. Therefore, it is likely that your physician will ask you to reduce the dosage of fluvoxamine gradually before you stop taking it, as it will help to prevent or diminish such adverse effects of withdrawal symptoms. It is advisable that you talk over to your physician or pharmacist for further information in this regard. Contact your physician right away if you notice any new symptom or the deterioration of the existing symptoms. Also inform your physician if you do not notice any improvement of your condition or if it worsens further. The complete benefits of using fluvoxamine are not experienced immediately, but may take many weeks for this to happen.

How fluvoxamine works

Fluvoxamine works by affecting the serotonin levels in the brain. In effect, serotonin is a chemical found in the brain and is believed to be associated with mood, emotions as well as the mental condition of an individual.

Side effects

Serious:
Common:
Less common:
  • chills
  • gas
  • swelling of the lower legs or feet
  • weight gain

Possible interactions

Herbal medicines or minerals:
Specific herbal remedies and mineral supplements may interact when used in combination with fluvoxamine. Hence, it is advisable that you avoid using them while undergoing treatment with this medication. As, the herb St. John's wort and fluvoxamine may possibly work in conjunction to enhance the levels of serotonin in the brain, you should never use this combination. The herb ginseng may partially also work in the form of a MAO (monoamine oxidase) inhibitor and, hence, you should also not be using this herb in combination with fluvoxamine. Other herbs, kava kava and valerian are likely to interact additively, thereby make you feel further drowsy. Therefore, it is advisable that you stay away from these herbs while undergoing treatment with fluvoxamine. People taking this medication should preferably keep off the herb Indian snakeroot also. While undergoing treatment with fluvoxamine it is important that you consult your physician before you include any new herbal remedy to the list of medications you are already taking.
Foods:
Consumption of foods containing vitamin C may possibly prevent the bruising that is likely to be caused by the use of fluvoxamine. It is best to take this vitamin in dosage of 500 mg every day for this purpose.
Tobacco smoking:
Smoking tobacco is not recommended while you are undergoing treatment with fluvoxamine, as you body is able to retain about 25 per cent less than the original amount of this medication when you smoke tobacco compared to those who do not use tobacco in any form at all. In addition, nicotine may possibly dull the benefits of using this medication.

Discontinuation

You should not stop taking fluvoxamine all of a sudden because there are several reports that suggest that the abrupt discontinuation of this medication results in withdrawal syndrome. It is advisable that before discontinuing this medication, you should decrease its dose gradually.

Storage instructions

Fluvoxamine should always be kept in the container it was available in. Seal the container firmly and keep it in a place that is not accessible to children. In addition, this medication should be stored at room temperature and in a place that is free from extreme heat and moisture. Never store fluvoxamine in your bathroom, which is mostly humid. If the expiry date of any medication lapses or you do not require a medication any more, it should be discarded properly and in a safe way. If are not sure how to do this, you may talk over to your pharmacist or a waste disposal firm in your locality regarding the safe as well as proper disposal of such medications.

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