In December 1994, Fluvoxamine was approved by the FDA for the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Basically, the Fluvoxamine is a drug which is used for treating several psychiatric disorders. The Fluvoxamine belongs to a class of drugs known as ‘Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors’ i.e. SSRIs. And the concept is that, the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are responsible of affecting the neurotransmitters chemicals that are used to communicate with each other. However, experts have the belief that an imbalance in these neurotransmitters is the main cause of depression and other psychiatric disorders.

However, before taking Fluvoxamine i.e. Luvox medication, ask your pharmacist or doctor for a copy of the manufacturer’s information for the patient and read it carefully. Talk to your doctor about all the possible risks of taking Luvox medication. However, Luvox may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide. Hence, for more information, consult your doctor and your medical pharmacist.

Follow the directions given by the doctor exactly for the usage of the Luvox i.e. Fluvoxamine medication and also read the prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part that you do not understand.

Usually, a single dose is taken in the morning and the usual starting dose for adults recommended is 50 mg. The dose may be increased by 50 mg increments every 4-7 days to achieve the desired response. The maximum dose is 300 mg/day. Doses greater than 100 mg should be administered as a divided dose. Children of age 8 to 17 years old should start with 25 mg daily and the dose may be increased by 25 mg every 4-7 days up to a maximum of 200 mg/day. However, doses greater than 50 mg should be administered as a divided dose.

If you notice any of the symptoms, which seem severe or persistent to you, please contact your doctor immediately. However, your doctor may need to monitor you carefully for side effects and alter the doses if necessary.

Side effects of all SSRIs include sweating, nausea, decreased appetite, anxiety, nervousness, constipation, diarrhea, dry mouth, somnolence, sleepiness, dizziness, insomnia and sexual dysfunction.

Withdrawal of an SSRI may result in withdrawal symptoms. The most common symptoms of withdrawal are irritability and poor mood, dizziness, tiredness, tingling of the extremities, nausea, vivid dreams. Other symptoms include visual disturbances and headaches. Withdrawal reactions have been reported after an average of 12 to 36 weeks of treatment but after as few as 5 weeks. Although most authorities recommend treatment discontinuation by gradually reducing the dose symptoms may still occur. Symptoms generally appear within a few days of discontinuing medication and persist for an average of 12 days up to 21 days. They are relieved within 24 hours by re-administering the medication that was discontinued.

Antidepressants may increase the risk of suicide in children and adolescents. There are concerns that antidepressants may also induce suicides in adults. Patients with major depression may experience worsening of depression or suicidal thoughts regardless of whether or not they are treated. Therefore, patients started on antidepressants should be closely observed for signs of worsening suicidal thinking or changes in behavior.

Inform your doctor if you experience any of these side effects or some new side effects occur which appear too bothersome to you.

Inform your doctor if you are allergic to the formulation of this medication or any other medication in any other form and also inform your doctor about any other medication you may be taking in any other form, as they may affect the way your medicine works.

However, Luvox may interact with – all SSRIs, including fluvoxamine, should not be taken with any of the mono-amine oxidase inhibitor MAOI class of antidepressants such as isocarboxazid Marplan, phenelzine Nardil, tranylcypromine Parnate, and procarbazine Matulane. Such combinations may lead to confusion, high blood pressure, tremor, and increased activity. Fluvoxamine should not be administered within 14 days of discontinuing an MAO inhibitor. This same type of interaction also may occur with selegiline Eldepryl, fenfluramine Pondimin, and dexfenfluramine Redux. Fluvoxamine can inhibit the elimination of clozapine Clozaril, necessitating dosage reductions of clozapine. Fluvoxamine may also inhibit the elimination and increase the blood levels of theophylline Theodur, Uniphyl, warfarin Coumadin, alprazolam Xanax, and triazolam Halcion.

Moreover, Luvox i.e. Fluvoxamine may also interact with some kind of foods, varied medications, herbal products, nutritional supplements, vitamins, other OTC medicines, some vaccinations etc. Acquire more information about the interactions of the Luvox medication from your doctor and the medical pharmacists.

In case of overdose call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222.
If the suffering patient has collapsed or is not breathing call local emergency services at 911. Canadian residents should call their local poison control center directly.

Do not allow any other person to use your medication without getting doctor’s prescription themselves and also avoid using this medicine for other health conditions on your own. Keep the medicine away from the children and pets.

Also inform your doctor, if you are pregnant or are breast feeding. If you conceive during the course, inform your doctor immediately. Do not share your medicines with anyone, even if they have the same symptoms, for it may harm them. Do not begin, increase, decrease, or stop using this medicine on your own. In short discuss your complete medical history with your doctor, before taking the medicine.

Remember, it is very important to keep regular appointments with your doctor to study the way your body is responding to the course. And if you are going to have a surgery, tell your health care professional that you are using Luvox medication.

Carry with you at all times an ID card mentioning your name, the medicine you are taking, the dosage, the name of the person and your health care professional they should call in case of an emergency. Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory and keep regular checks ups.

Also avoid alcohol and alcohol containing beverages whilst on a course with this medication.

And in case, if you wish to use the medicine in children, please contact your pediatrician for sure before its use.

If you missed the Luvox i.e. Fluvoxamine medication dose, do take the medicine immediately provided that there is ample of time in between the next dose. However, if it is almost time for the next dose skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Never double your doses to cope up with the missed. And in case, if you miss your one or two consecutive doses consult to your doctor or physician for guidance and continue further.

Generic Luvox i.e. Fluvoxamine is used for treating obsessive-compulsive disorder i.e. OCD. However like other SSRIs, it is also used in the treatment of major depression, management of obesity, bulimia, schizophrenia and panic disorder.

However, it may also be used to treat some other medical conditions which may be determined by your doctor accordingly and consult a pediatrician for the use of this medication in children.

The generic Luvox i.e. Fluvoxamine medication may be prescribed for other uses also and hence ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information about the Luvox i.e. Fluvoxamine medication.

Store generic Luvox i.e. Fluvoxamine, at room temperature in between 59-86°F and 15-30°C, in a cool and dry place. Keep the medicine in the container, it came in and always keep it tightly closed. Check Expiry date without fail. Keep all medicines away from women, newborns, children and pets. Do not freeze in any case. Also, keep it away from heat, dampness and direct light. Heat or moisture may cause the medicine to break down. When the medicine is not in use or outdated it should be discarded. Take help of your pharmacist in disposing this medicine properly. In any case, do not store the Luvox medication in the bathroom.

Following precautions must be taken during consuming generic Luvox i.e. Fluvoxamine:

1. Inform your doctor if you have or have ever had: kidney disease, lung disease, liver disease, heart disease, diabetes, low or high blood pressure, asthma, heart attack, seizures, strokes, suicidal thoughts, trouble in urinating, dehydration,
glaucoma, irregular heartbeats, mania/bipolar disorder, other cardiac disease,
prostate enlargement, recent weight loss, serious injury/infection or any other severe disease etc. Also inform, if you drink alcoholic beverages or are a tobacco smoker etc.

2. Also acknowledge your doctor if you need to undergo any kind of surgery, including dental surgery or need an x-ray procedure that uses contrast agents. So, inform your doctors immediately about it, so that the doctor can decide whether to continue taking Luvox medication or stop it during the surgery.

3. Let the doctor also know, if you are in-taking or are planning to take any prescribed or non prescribed medicines, health supplements or any other OTC medications, vitamins etc.

4. Do not use the Luvox i.e. Fluvoxamine medication, if you have any kind of allergy to it or to any ingredients of it and tell your doctor or pharmacist about the allergy and get treated accordingly.

5. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breast feeding before taking Luvox medication. Hence also, inform your doctor immediately when you plan to conceive, or become pregnant during the course.

6. Do not share the drug with others unless they are prescribed by the doctor themselves. And if your symptoms of side effects do not improve in few weeks or if they become worse and bothersome, check these conditions immediately with your doctor.

7. Please, use the Luvox medicine in the prescribed amount and do not overdose it or use it for the longer period of time. Do not discontinue on your own and consult your doctor before doing so to avoid further problems.

8. Regularly, keep your appointments with your doctor and keep an eye on the progress or side effects that has been noticed during the complete course.

9. Also, avoid smoking and consuming alcohol and alcohol containing beverages during the complete course to achieve good results.

10. For more information, contact your doctor and your pharmacists and also discuss the risks and benefits of the generic Luvox.

11. Remember: It is important that your doctor check your progress at regular intervals.