Luvox (Fluvoxamine)

Generic name: Fluvoxamine

Brand name: Luvox

General Information

Fluvoxamine belongs to an antidepressant group of medicines called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). This remedy affects chemicals in the brain that may become unbalanced and cause obsessive-compulsive symptoms. It is prescribed to cure social anxiety disorder (social phobia), or obsessive-compulsive disorders including recurring actions or thoughts.

Your doctor may prescribe this remedy for other purposes. Contact your physician if you want to know more information about this drug.

Don’t stop treatment with Luvox earlier than it was recommended by your physician even if you feel improvements of your condition. Stopping the medication too early may worsen your condition. Be careful about doing dangerous tasks, driving, operating machinery or climbing until you are aware how this drug affects you. Don’t drink alcohol. Always contact a medic before giving Luvox to a child.

What symptoms or conditions should I report to a doctor before I take this drug?

It is important to report to a physician if you have or had the following conditions:

• allergy to fluvoxamine
• suicidal thoughts, a history of drug abuse
• epilepsy or seizures
• bipolar disorder (manic depression)
• liver disease
• you are taking thioridazine (Mellaril)
• you are taking alosetron (Lotronex)
• you are taking an MAO inhibitor such as tranylcypromine (Parnate), isocarboxazid (Marplan), rasagiline (Azilect), phenelzine (Nardil) or selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam)
• you are taking tizanidine (Zanaflex)
• you are taking pimozide (Orap)

This list of interactions may be not complete. Provide your medical practitioners entire list of medicines, dietary supplements, herbs, or non-prescription drugs you take. Moreover tell them whether you drink alcohol, use illegal drugs or smoke. Particular items may interact with your drug and can cause serious or life-threatening interactions if to take themtogether with this drug. You need to 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.

You may have suicidal thoughts while taking fluvoxamine for the first time, especially if you are under than 24 years of age. Tell your doctor if you have suicidal thoughts or symptoms of depression while first few weeks of treatment.

Your family and close people should also be aware about your mood changes. During at least first 3 months of treatment you need to visit your doctor regularly. FDA pregnancy category C.  Be aware: this medicine may cause serious or life-threatening lung problems in newborn babies, though you may have a relapse of symptoms if you stop taking fluvoxamine during pregnancy. Contact your physician if you become pregnant during treatment or if you are planning pregnancy or if you are breast-feeding, since Fluvoxamine may pass into breast milk and cause harm a nursing baby.

How do I take this medicine?

Note: This remedy was prescribed to you only. Don’t share this medicament with others.

Follow strictly your doctor’s prescription. Don’t take more or longer than your physician recommended. If your physician prescribes a dose larger than 100 mg, it is better to divide this dosage into two doses. If you take this drug twice daily and one dose is larger than the other, take the larger dose at before going to bed. The tablets must be swallowed whole. Don’t break, chew or crush them.

The dosage may vary among individuals. It is obviously to contact your doctor before taking this medicament.

What should you avoid while using Luvox (fluvoxamine)?

Don’t drink alcohol; otherwise it can increase the risk of some of the side effects of fluvoxamine. Allergy or cold medication, sleeping pills, narcotic pain medicine, muscle relaxers, and medication for depression, seizures, anxiety can add to sleepiness caused by fluvoxamine. Inform your physician if you take them regularly. Be careful about doing dangerous tasks, driving, operating machinery or climbing until you are aware how this drug affects you.

What should be done if I missed the dose?

In case you forgot to take the dose, take it at your earliest opportunity. Never double your dose if it is almost time for your next dose. Take only one dose at once.

Overdosage

Taking any medicine in large doses you can have serious consequences for your health. If you feel an overdose, contact your health care professional instantly.

In large doses, this remedy may cause the following conditions:  blurred vision, lack of coordination, fainting, coma, extreme drowsiness, trouble breathing, fast heart rate, vomiting and nausea.

Which side effects can I perceive from this remedy?

Get emergency medical help in case you experience any of the following symptoms of an allergy: difficulty breathing; hives or skin rash; swelling of your lips, face, throat, tongue.

Tell your physician immediately in case you have any worsening or new symptoms as following: mood or behavior changes, trouble sleeping, anxiety, panic attacks, or if you feel agitated, irritable,  impulsive, aggressive, hostile, hyperactive (mentally or physically), restless, depressed, or have thoughts about hurting yourself or suicide.

Contact your doctor immediately in case you have a

Serious side effect such as:

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

Less serious side effects may include:

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

This list of side effects may be not complete, others may occur. Inform your medical practitioners about all side effects you experience.

Interractions

Many medicines may interact with this remedy. Below you will find some of them. Inform your physician if you are taking:

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

Talk to your doctor before taking any drug for arthritis, pain, swelling, fever. This includes aspirin and NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as naproxen (Naprosyn, Aleve), ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), indomethacin, diclofenac (Voltaren), nabumetone (Relafen), piroxicam (Feldene), etodolac (Lodine), and others. Taking any of these remedies with fluvoxamine may cause you to bruise or bleed easily.

There may be other medicines not listed that can affect Luvox. Consult your medical assistant about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and medications prescribed by other medical assistants. Do not start using a new medication without telling your medical assistant.

Storage:

Luvox should be stored at room temperature, between 15 and 30 degrees C (59 and 86 degrees F), in a tightly closed container. Protect from moisture, direct heat, and light. Do not store in the bathroom or near a sink. Keep Luvox out of the reach of children and away from animals.

Warning: Before taking the drug you need to consult your doctor.

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