Luvox

Generic Name: Fluvoxamine
Brand Names: Luvox

Luvox (Fluvoxamine) is used for:

Treating obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.

Luvox (Fluvoxamine) is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) type of antidepressant. It works by increasing the activity of a naturally occurring chemical in the brain called serotonin, which affects behavior.

Do NOT use Luvox (Fluvoxamine) if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Luvox (Fluvoxamine)
• you are taking alosetron, cisapride, cyproheptadine, dextromethorphan, fenfluramine and its derivatives, pimozide, astemizole, terfenadine, tramadol, l-tryptophan, a phenothiazine (eg, thioridazine), sibutramine, St. John's wort, or tizanidine
• you are taking or have taken a monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor (eg, phenelzine) within the last 14 days

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before using Luvox (Fluvoxamine) :

Some medical conditions may interact with Luvox (Fluvoxamine). Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
• if you have stomach bleeding, seizures, mania, or a history of suicidal thoughts or behaviors

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Luvox (Fluvoxamine). Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• Cyproheptadine or risperidone because the effectiveness of Luvox (Fluvoxamine) may be decreased
• Anorexiants (eg, phentermine), buspirone, butyrophenones (eg, haloperidol), dextromethorphan, fenfluramine and its derivatives, l-tryptophan, linezolid, lithium, metoclopramide, MAO inhibitors (eg, phenelzine), selegiline, sumatriptan, tetracyclic antidepressants (eg, trazodone), or tramadol because serotonin syndrome (unexpected irritability, increased muscle tone, altered consciousness) may be increased
• Alosetron, anticoagulants (eg, warfarin), aripiprazole, aspirin, atypical antipsychotics (eg, clozapine), benzodiazepines (eg, diazepam), beta-blockers (eg, propranolol), butyrophenones (eg, haloperidol), carbamazepine, cisapride, cyclosporine, galantamine, H₁ antagonists (eg, astemizole, terfenadine), hydantoins (eg, phenytoin), lithium, methadone, mexiletine, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (eg, ibuprofen), nefazodone, phenothiazines (eg, thioridazine), pimozide, propafenone, risperidone, serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (eg, atomoxetine), sibutramine, tacrine, tetracyclic antidepressants (eg, trazodone), theophylline, tizanidine, or tricyclic antidepressants (eg, amitriptyline) because the actions and side effects of these medicines may be increased
• Cisapride or sumatriptan because the effectiveness may be decreased by Luvox (Fluvoxamine)
• St. John's wort or trazodone because unexpected side effects may occur

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Luvox (Fluvoxamine) may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

How to use Luvox (Fluvoxamine) :

Use Luvox (Fluvoxamine) as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

• Luvox (Fluvoxamine) comes with an additional patient information sheet called a Medication Guide. Read it carefully and reread it each time you get Luvox (Fluvoxamine) refilled.
• Luvox (Fluvoxamine) may be taken with or without food.
• Avoid eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice while taking Luvox (Fluvoxamine).
• Continue to take Luvox (Fluvoxamine) even if you feel better.
• Do not miss any doses. If you miss a dose of Luvox (Fluvoxamine) and you are taking 1 dose daily, take the missed dose if you remember the same day. If you miss a dose of Luvox (Fluvoxamine) and you are taking more than 1 dose daily, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Luvox (Fluvoxamine).

Important safety information:

• Luvox (Fluvoxamine) may cause dizziness or lightheadedness. Do not drive, operate machinery, or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how you react to Luvox (Fluvoxamine). Using Luvox (Fluvoxamine) alone, with certain other medicines, or with alcohol may lessen your ability to drive or to perform other potentially dangerous tasks.
• Luvox (Fluvoxamine) will add to the effects of alcohol and other depressants. Ask your pharmacist if you have questions about which medicines are depressants.
• Antidepressants can increase suicidal thoughts and behaviors in some children and teenagers. This risk may be higher in individuals with bipolar illness (also called manic-depressive illness), a family history of bipolar illness, or a history of attempting suicide. Pay close attention to changes in moods or actions, especially if changes occur suddenly. Contact your health care provider right away if any of the following effects occur or worsen: depression, anxiety, restlessness or irritability, panic attacks, thoughts or attempts of suicide, or other unusual changes in behavior or mood.
• Several weeks (up to 8 weeks) may pass before you feel the full effect of Luvox (Fluvoxamine).
• If you drink more than 3 alcohol-containing drinks a day, do not take Luvox (Fluvoxamine) without first discussing it with your doctor.
• Luvox (Fluvoxamine) is not recommended for use in CHILDREN younger than 8 years of age. Safety and effectiveness in this age group have not been confirmed. Use Luvox (Fluvoxamine) with extreme caution in CHILDREN between 8 and 18 years of age.
• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you become pregnant, discuss with your doctor the benefits and risks of using Luvox (Fluvoxamine) , especially during the third trimester. Luvox (Fluvoxamine) is excreted in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while taking Luvox (Fluvoxamine).

Do not suddenly stop taking Luvox (Fluvoxamine) without your doctor's approval. Stopping Luvox (Fluvoxamine) suddenly may cause serious WITHDRAWAL symptoms, including a state of feeling unwell or unhappy, abnormal skin sensations, agitation, anxiety, confusion, dizziness, sudden emotional swings, headache, inability to sleep, irritability, lethargy, nausea, or sweating. If use of Luvox (Fluvoxamine) is to be stopped, your doctor will gradually decrease the dose.

Possible side effects of Luvox (Fluvoxamine) :

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

Change in taste; changes in sexual function; chills; constipation; delayed ejaculation; diarrhea; dizziness; drowsiness; dry mouth; fatigue; flu-like symptoms; flushing; frequent urination; gas; headache; impotence; inability to have an orgasm; indigestion; lightheadedness; loss of appetite; nausea; nervousness; sweating; tiredness; tooth disorder; vomiting; weakness.

Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); bizarre behavior; difficulty swallowing; fast heartbeat; fever; impulsive behavior or other unusual changes in behavior; mental or mood changes (eg, agitation, panic, hostility, irritability); pounding in the chest; seizures; severe nervousness or anxiety; severe restlessness; sleeplessness; suicidal thoughts or behaviors; tremor; vision problems; worsening of depression.

Where to find the shelf life of the medicines?

• The expiration date can be found on each blister. It is different for different batches. The usual shelf life is 2 years from the date of manufacture but it may differ from batch to batch depending on date they were manufactured.