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Fluvoxamine
Maleate
Brand Name: Luvox
Overview
Luvox
is the brand name for Fluvoxamine, an antidepressant and
antiobsessional drug. Luvox is a Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor
(SSRI). It is often prescribed for Obsessive Compulsive
Disorder (OCD). This drug is used to relieve anxiety and
unpleasant thoughts that cause a person to repeat certain
tasks.
Why
is this drug prescribed?
Luvox
is used primarily to treat Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
(OCD.) The obsessions or compulsions must cause marked distress,
are time-consuming, or significantly interfere with social
or occupational functioning.
Luvox
is also used to treat:
- depression
- panic
disorder
- eating
disorders
- chronic
tension headaches
Warnings
and Precautions
Luvox
has been tested in children with obsessive-compulsive disorder
(although there is less dosage information available for
children under eight years old) and it has not been shown
to cause different side effects or problems than it does
in adults. Because Luvox can cause decreased appetite, children
taking Luvox long-term should have their growth and body
weight measured regularly.
Luvox
does not cause dependency, however withdrawal symptoms may
occur if a patient stops taking Luvox suddenly. To avoid
withdrawal, the dosage should be tapered gradually.
Luvox
may interfere with judgment, thinking, or motor skills.
Patients should not drive or operate heavy machinery until
the effects of Luvox on that patient are known.
For
Nursing Mothers: Luvox is secreted in human breast milk.
The decision of whether to discontinue nursing or to discontinue
the drug should take into account the potential for serious
adverse effects to the nursing infant as well as the potential
benefits of Luvox to the mother.
Contraindications
In
patients with liver disease or dysfunction, Luvox should
be slowly titrated in patients during the initiation of
treatment. The dosage may need to be lowered in patients
with liver or kidney disease.
Adverse
Reactions
Luvox
may cause the following reactions:
- dry
mouth
- constipation
- decreased
appetite
- nausea
- insomnia
- drowsiness
- dizziness
- headache
- agitation
- sleep
disorders
- diarrhea
- weakness/loss
of strength
- hypomania
- liver
toxicity
- nervousness
- sexual
problems (delayed or absent orgasm)
Interactions
with Drugs and Other Substances
Drugs
or substances that may interact with Luvox are:
- MAO
Inhibitors when taking Luvox - serious, possibly fatal,
interactions can occur when taking these medications together.
- Seldane
(terfenadine) or Hismanal (astemizole) serious heart arrhythmias
that may occur when these medications are taken with Luvox.
- Elavil
(amitriptyline), benzodiazepines, Tegretol (carbamazepine),
Tagamet (cimetidine), Anafranil (clomipramine), Clozaril
(clozapine), Tofranil (imipramine), Lithium, maprotiline,
Dilantin (phenytoin), and theophylline may lead to drug
toxicity when taken with Luvox.
- Ultram
(tramadol) can add to the risk of seizures.
- Tryptophan
may cause severe vomiting.
- Coumadin
(warfarin) may lead to bleeding.
- Marijuana
smoking may add to the drowsiness effect of Luvox.
Sources
http://www.health-center.com/db/PageReq?SessionID=3280&TopicID=424&PageID=2242&Action=view
http://www.rxlist.com/scripts/patient/piumore.pl?mononum=854&dc_category=&order=0&type=&item=
http://www.fairlite.com/ocd/medications/luvox.shtml
http://www.psyweb.com/Drughtm/luvox.html
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