Fluvoxamine, sold under the brand name Luvox among others, is an antidepressant of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor(SSRI) class which is used primarily for the treatment of obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD),[4] and is also used to treat depression and anxiety disorders, such as panic disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.[5] Fluvoxamine is used to treat social anxiety disorder (SAD).
Medical uses
Fluvoxamine is approved in the United States for OCD,[6] and social anxiety disorder.[7] In other countries (e.g. Australia,[8][9] the UK,[10] and Russia[11]) it also has indications for major depressive disorder. In Japan it is currently approved to treat OCD, SAD and MDD.[12][13] Fluvoxamine is indicated for children and adolescents with OCD.[14] The drug works long-term, and retains its therapeutic efficacy for at least one year.[15] It has also been found to possess some analgesic properties in line with other SSRIs and tricyclic antidepressants.[16][17][18]
Fluvoxamine is also effective for GAD, SAD, panic disorder and separation anxiety disorder in childrens and adolescents.[19]
There is tentative evidence that fluvoxamine may help some people with negative symptoms of chronic schizophrenia.[20][21]
Adverse effects
Gastrointestinal side effects are more common in those receiving fluvoxamine than with other SSRIs.[22] Otherwise, fluvoxamine's side-effect profile is very similar to other SSRIs.[1][6][8][10][23][24]
Common (1–10% incidence) adverse effects
Nausea
Vomiting
Weight loss
Yawning
Loss of appetite
Agitation
Nervousness
Anxiety
Insomnia
Somnolence
Tremor
Headache
Dizziness
Palpitations
Tachycardia (high heart rate)
Abdominal pain
Dyspepsia (indigestion)
Diarrhea
Constipation
Dry mouth
Hyperhidrosis (excess sweating)
Asthenia (weakness)
Malaise
Sexual dysfunction (including delayed ejaculation, erectile dysfunction, decreased libido, etc.)
Uncommon (0.1–1% incidence) adverse effects
Arthralgia
Hallucination
Confusional state
Extrapyramidal side effects (e.g. dystonia, parkinsonism, tremor, etc.)
Orthostatic hypotension
Cutaneous hypersensitivity reactions (e.g. oedema [buildup of fluid in the tissues], rash, pruritus)
Rare (0.01–0.1% incidence) adverse effects
Mania
Seizures
Abnormal hepatic (liver) function
Photosensitivity (being abnormally sensitive to light)
Galactorrhoea (expulsion of breast milk unrelated to pregnancy or breastfeeding)
Unknown frequency adverse effects
Hyperprolactinaemia (elevated plasma prolactin levels leading to galactorrhoea, amenorrhoea [cessation of menstrual cycles], etc.)
Bone fractures
Glaucoma
Mydriasis
Urinary incontinence
Urinary retention
Bed-wetting
Serotonin syndrome — a potentially fatal condition characterised by abrupt onset muscle rigidity, hyperthermia (elevated body temperature), rhabdomyolysis,
mental status changes (e.g. coma, hallucinations, agitation), etc.
Neuroleptic malignant syndrome — practically identical presentation to serotonin syndrome except with a more prolonged onset
Akathisia — a sense of inner restlessness that presents itself with the inability to stay still
Paraesthesia
Dysgeusia
Haemorrhage
Withdrawal symptoms
Weight changes
Suicidal ideation and behaviour
Violence towards others[25]
Hyponatraemia
Syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion
