What Is Fluvoxamine (Luvox) And What Does It Treat?
Fluvoxamine (Luvox) is an antidepressant of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) class. It is approved for the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in adults and children ages 8 and older.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) occurs when a person experiences the following symptoms at the same time:
• Obsessions (unwanted, recurrent, and disturbing thoughts)
• Compulsions (repetitive, ritualized behaviors that the person feels driven to perform in order to lessen the anxiety produced by the obsessions)
Fluvoxamine (Luvox) may also be helpful when prescribed “off-label” for major depressive disorder (MDD), social phobia (also known as social anxiety disorder), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), panic disorder, and eating disorders including bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder. “Off-label” means that it hasn’t been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for this condition. According to a study published in The Lancet in October 2021, fluvoxamine reduces the severity of COVID-19 symptoms.
Your health provider should justify his or her thinking in recommending an “off-label” treatment. They should be clear about the limits of the research around that medication and if there are any other options.
How Fluvoxamine (Luvox) works
Fluvoxamine (Luvox) is a potent selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor with around 100-fold affinity for the serotonin transporter over the norepinephrine transporter. It has negligible affinity for the dopamine transporter or any other site, with the sole exception of the σ1 receptor. It behaves as a potent agonist at this receptor and has the highest affinity (36 nM) of any SSRI for doing so. This may contribute to its antidepressant and anxiolytic effects and may also afford it some efficacy in treating the cognitive symptoms of depression. Unlike some other SSRIs, fluvoxamine’s metabolites are pharmacologically neutral.
What Is The Most Important Information I Should Know About Fluvoxamine (Luvox)?
Do not stop taking fluvoxamine, even when you feel better. With input from you, your health care provider will assess how long you will need to take the medicine.
Missing doses of fluvoxamine may increase your risk for relapse in your symptoms.
Stopping fluvoxamine abruptly may result in one or more of the following withdrawal symptoms: irritability, nausea, dizziness, vomiting, nightmares, headache, and/or paresthesias (prickling, tingling sensation on the skin).
Depression is also a part of bipolar illness. People with bipolar disorder who take antidepressants may be at risk for “switching” from depression into mania. Symptoms of mania include “high” or irritable mood, very high self-esteem, decreased need for sleep, pressure to keep talking, racing thoughts, being easily distracted, frequently involved in activities with a large risk for bad consequences (for example, excessive buying sprees).
Medical attention should be sought if serotonin syndrome is suspected. Please refer to serious side effects for signs/symptoms.
What Should I Discuss With My Health Care Provider Before Taking Fluvoxamine (Luvox)?
• Symptoms of your condition that bother you the most
• If you have thoughts of suicide or harming yourself
• Medications you have taken in the past for your condition, whether they were effective or caused any adverse effects
• If you experience side effects from your medications, discuss them with your provider. Some side effects may pass with time, but others may require changes in the medication.
• Any other psychiatric or medical problems you have, including a history of bipolar disorder
• All other medications you are currently taking (including over the counter products, herbal and nutritional supplements) and any medication allergies you have
• Other non-medication treatments you are receiving, such as talk therapy or substance abuse treatment. Your provider can explain how these different treatments work with the medication.
• If you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding
• If you drink alcohol or use drugs
How Should I Take Fluvoxamine (Luvox)?
Fluvoxamine (Luvox) is usually taken two times per day with or without food. The extended-release formulation may be taken one time per day with or without food.
Typically patients begin at a low dose of medicine and the dose is increased slowly over several weeks.
The dose usually ranges from 50 mg to 300 mg. Only your health care provider can determine the correct dose for you.
Consider using a calendar, pillbox, alarm clock, or cell phone alert to help you remember to take your medication. You may also ask a family member or friend to remind you or check in with you to be sure you are taking your medication.
The extended-release forms should be swallowed whole. They should not be chewed, crushed, or broken.
What Happens If I Miss A Dose Of Fluvoxamine (Luvox)?
If you miss a dose of fluvoxamine, take it as soon as you remember, unless it is closer to the time of your next dose. Discuss this with your health care provider. Do not double your next dose or take more than what is prescribed.
What Should I Avoid While Taking Fluvoxamine (Luvox)?
Avoid drinking alcohol or using illegal drugs while you are taking antidepressant medications. They may decrease the benefits (e.g., worsen your condition) and increase adverse effects (e.g., sedation) of the medication.
What Happens If I Overdose With Fluvoxamine (Luvox)?
If an overdose occurs, call your doctor or 911. You may need urgent medical care. You may also contact the poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. A specific treatment to reverse the effects of fluvoxamine does not exist.
How Long Does It Take For Fluvoxamine (Luvox) To Work?
Sleep, energy, or appetite may show some improvement within the first 1-2 weeks. Improvement in these physical symptoms can be an important early signal that the medication is working. Depressed mood and lack of interest in activities may need up to 6-8 weeks to fully improve.
Can a pregnant woman take Fluvoxamine (Luvox)?
If you are planning on becoming pregnant, notify your health care provider to best manage your medications. People living with MDD who wish to become pregnant face important decisions. Untreated MDD has risks to the fetus, as well as the mother. It is important to discuss the risks and benefits of treatment with your doctor and caregivers. For women who take antidepressant medications during weeks 13 through the end of their pregnancy (second and third trimesters), there is a risk that the baby can be born before it is fully developed (before 37 weeks).
For mothers who have taken SSRIs during their pregnancy, there appears to be less than a 1% chance of infants developing persistent pulmonary hypertension. This is a potentially fatal condition that is associated with the use of the antidepressant in the second half of pregnancy. However, women who discontinued antidepressant therapy were five times more likely to have a depression relapse than those who continued their antidepressant. If you are pregnant, please discuss the risks and benefits of antidepressant use with your health care provider.
Can a breastfeeding woman take Fluvoxamine (Luvox)?
Caution is advised with breastfeeding while taking fluvoxamine (Luvox). Limited information from studies indicates that maternal fluvoxamine doses of up to 300 mg daily produce low levels in breastmilk and would not be expected to cause any adverse effects in breastfed infants, especially if the infant is older than 2 months.
What Are The Possible Side Effects Of Fluvoxamine (Luvox)?
Fluvoxamine (Luvox) may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:
• change in taste
• changes in sex drive or ability
• constipation
• decreased appetite
• diarrhea
• difficulty concentrating, memory problems, or confusion
• drowsiness
• dry mouth
• gas
• headache
• indigestion
• nausea
• nervousness
• stomach pain
• unsteadiness
• vomiting
• weakness
• weight loss
Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately or get emergency medical treatment:
• bloody nose
• chest pain
• dizziness
• fever, sweating, confusion, fast or irregular heartbeat, and severe muscle stiffness
• hallucination (seeing things or hearing voices that do not exist)
• hives
• loss of consciousness
• pain, burning, numbness, or tingling in the hands or feet
• problems with coordination
• rash
• red blood in the stool or black and tarry stools
• seizures
• shaking of a part of the body that you cannot control
• slowed or difficult breathing
• unusual bleeding or bruising
• vomiting blood or a material that looks like coffee grounds
Fluvoxamine may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while you are taking this medication.
Is fluvoxamine (Luvox) a safe medication?
Low sodium blood levels (symptoms of low sodium levels may include headache, weakness, difficulty concentrating and remembering), teeth grinding, angle-closure glaucoma (symptoms of angle-closure glaucoma may include eye pain, changes in vision, swelling, or redness in or around the eye), serotonin syndrome (symptoms may include shivering, diarrhea, confusion, severe muscle tightness, fever, seizures, and death), seizure
SSRI antidepressants including fluvoxamine may increase the risk of bleeding events. Combined use of aspirin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (e.g., ibuprofen, naproxen), warfarin, and other anti-coagulants may increase this risk. This may include symptoms such as gums that bleed more easily, nose bleed, or gastrointestinal bleeding. Some cases have been life-threatening.
Are There Any Risks For Taking Fluvoxamine (Luvox) For Long Periods Of Time?
To date, there are no known problems associated with the long-term use of fluvoxamine. It is a safe and effective medication when used as directed.
What Other Medications May Interact With Fluvoxamine (Luvox)?
Fluvoxamine (Luvox) should not be taken with or within 6 weeks of taking monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). These include phenelzine (Nardil®), tranylcypromine (Parnate®), isocarboxazid (Marplan®), rasagiline (Azilect®), and selegiline (Emsam®).
Although rare, there is an increased risk of serotonin syndrome when fluvoxamine is used with other medications that increase serotonin, such as other antidepressants, migraine medications called “triptans” (e.g., Imitrex®), some pain medications (e.g., tramadol (Ultram®), amphetamines, and the antibiotic linezolid (Zyvox®).
Fluvoxamine (Luvox) may increase the levels and effects of:
• Warfarin (Coumadin®)
• Theophylline (Theo-Dur®)
• Certain anticonvulsants: carbamazepine (Tegretol®, Equetro®), phenytoin (Dilantin®)
• Beta-blockers, such as propranolol (Inderal®), metoprolol (Lopressor®, Toprol XL®)
• Benzodizapines, such as alprazolam (Xanax®), diazepam (Valium®)
• Certain antipsychotics, such as olanzapine (Zyprexa®), clozapine (Clozaril®), aripiprazole (Abilify®), quetiapine (Seroquel®)
• Mexiletine (Mexitil®)
• Omeprazole (Prilosec®)
• Methadone (Dolophine®)
• Tricyclic antidepressants, such as amitriptyline (Elavil®)
• Warfarin (Coumadin®)
• Theophylline (Theo-Dur®)
• Certain anticonvulsants: carbamazepine (Tegretol®, Equetro®), phenytoin (Dilantin®)
• Beta-blockers, such as propranolol (Inderal®), metoprolol (Lopressor®, Toprol XL®)
• Benzodizapines, such as alprazolam (Xanax®), diazepam (Valium®)
Fluvoxamine (Luvox) may decrease the effects of clopidogrel (Plavix®).
Fluvoxamine (Luvox) may increase the effects of other medications that can cause bleeding (e.g., ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®), warfarin (Coumadin®), and aspirin).
Combining fluvoxamine with ramelteon (RozeremTM), tizanidine (Zanaflex®), thioridazine (Mellaril®), pimozide, or alosetron (Lotronex®) is not recommended.
