Drug trade name- Luvox, Luvox CR

Generic name- Fluvoxamine

Group- Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)

Luvox Short Profile Description:

Introduction and Quick Information About Luvox:

Luvox is a medication used for the treatment of social phobia (social anxiety disorder), or obsessive-compulsive disorders including recurring actions or thoughts. Luvox is an antidepressant and it is included in a class of medications known as SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors). Fluvoxamine has the potential to affect the chemicals inside the brain which may become unbalanced and lead to obsessive-compulsive symptoms.

At times, the healthcare providers may recommend this drug to treat something other than obsessive-compulsive disorders or social phobia. This is called off-label use and at present, Luvox can be used off-label to treat eating disorder including Anorexia and Bulimia.

Is Luvox Approved By FDA?

Yes, U.S FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has given its approval to Luvox to treat social anxiety disorder or obsessive-compulsive disorders.

Usage And Benefits Of Luvox:

Some of the licensed uses of Luvox may include:

• Luvox for OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder) - People suffering from OCD experience unwanted, recurrent rituals (compulsions) or thoughts (obsessions) which they feel they can’t control. Rituals like checking something, hand washing, cleaning, or counting, are usually performed with a hope of preventing the obsessive thoughts. The exact causes or cause of obsessive-compulsive disorder is not known completely at this time. However, Luvox is licensed for the treatment of OCD in children, adults, and teens. Although antidepressants like Luvox are quite effectual in treating the OCD symptoms, behavior therapy to treat OCD is usually used along together with the effective medications.
• Luvox Off-Label Uses - Occasionally, your doctor may suggest you using Luvox for the treatment of something other than the said conditions. This is termed as an “off-label” use. Currently, there are various off-label uses associated with Luvox.

Some of them include the treatment of:

• Anxiety
• Alcoholism
• Depression (also called clinical depression or major depression)
• Diabetic neuropathy
• Eating disorders (including bulimia and anorexia)
• Personality disorders
• Panic disorder
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Social anxiety disorder
• Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)

Luvox Side Effects:

Although most of the people tolerate Luvox very well, there are a few potential side effects which can be occurred. In most of the cases, Luvox side effects are minor and one can treat them very well alone or with the help of a doctor. However, there are some side effects which you should report to your doctor immediately while observing. Some of them may include:

• seizure (convulsions)
• anxiety
• unusual behavior or thoughts
• memory problems
• restlessness
• feeling like you may pass out
• hallucinations
• chills
• trouble concentrating
• high fever
• overactive reflexes
• goose bumps
• confusion
• loss of coordination
• stiff muscles
• sweating
• weight loss
• loss of appetite
• rapid breathing
• uneven or fast heartbeats
• mild nausea
• upset stomach
• dry mouth
• diarrhea
• drowsiness
• dizziness
• constipation
• impotence
• difficulty in having orgasm
• sleep problems (insomnia)
• decreased sex drive
• unusual dreams

Call your doctor immediately if you find any of the above-discussed side effects.

General Recommended Dosages of Luvox:

You have to take Luvox exactly in the same quantity as it is prescribed by your general practitioner for you. Do not take it in larger amounts, or for more than the prescribed amounts.

You need to follow all the directions mentioned on the prescription label carefully.

Do not open, chew, or crush the extended-release Luvox capsule. You have to swallow the tablet as a whole because opening or breaking the pill may lead you consume too much of this drug.

You can take fluvoxamine without or with your meals.

Store this medication away from heat and moisture and keep it at room temperature.

In case I Miss my Dose?

Folks generally get alarmed and frightened whenever they forget taking their medication on the prescribed time. However, you don’t need to feel concerned since you can take the missed Luvox dose the instant you remember about that. In case the time has appeared to take the next scheduled dose, then simply skip taking the earlier skipped one. Also, never try to have any additional Luvox dose to compensate for the missed dosage.

In case I Take Overdose?

Symptoms of  Luvox overdose may include lack of coordination, blurred vision, extreme drowsiness, vomiting and nausea, trouble in breathing, fast heart rate, coma, and fainting. Ask for emergency medical help or rush to your doctor’s clinic if you think you have taken excess of this drug.

Drug Interactions of Luvox:

Some possible drugs which have greater chances of interacting with Luvox, thereby reducing the affectivity of this specific drug may include:

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

In addition of the aforementioned drugs, tell your healthcare provider about all sorts of medications, health supplements such as mineral, herbal and vitamin supplements and products you take.

Life style and Food Habits you must Follow when on Luvox:

You must not use this drug in case you find yourself allergic to fluvoxamine, or if you take:

• thioridazine (Mellaril)
• tizanidine (Zanaflex)
• pimozide (Orap);
• alosetron (Lotronex)
• MAO inhibitor like tranylcypromine (Parnate), isocarboxazid (Marplan), rasagiline (Azilect), phenelzine (Nardil), or selegiline (Emsam, Eldepryl)

Some of these medications can cause serious or life-threatening drug interactions when taken together with fluvoxamine. You must 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.

Before taking fluvoxamine, tell your doctor if you have:

• liver disease
• epilepsy or seizures
• manic depression (bipolar disorder)
• history of suicidal thoughts or drug abuse

You might have thoughts regarding suicide whenever you first begin to use Luvox, especially in case you are younger than 24 years of age. Inform your physician in case you have symptoms of depression suicidal or thoughts during the first weeks of the complete treatment.

Your family members or others close ones should also be aware about the changes in your symptoms or mood. Your medical practitioner will ask you to come for proper checkups.

How Safe is Luvox for Pregnant Women or Nursing mothers?

This drug may result in life-threatening or serious lung complications in the newborn babies whose mothers take Fluvoxamine during the stage of pregnancy. However, you may experience a relapse of symptoms if you stop taking it during the pregnancy. In case you are planning to get pregnancy, or if you become pregnant while taking Luvox, don’t quit using the medicine without first consulting your physician.

Luvox can pass in to breast milk and may cause harm to the nursed babies. Don’t use this medicine without telling your general practitioner in case you breast-feed.

Complications and Conditions Possible due to Prolonged use of Luvox:

Don’t stop taking Luvox without asking your medical advisor. You may experience some unpleasant side effects or withdrawal symptoms in case you stop using this drug all of a sudden. Thus, if you think you condition is improved now or if you want to quit its use because of any other reason, just take approval from your doctor first.

Availability of the Luvox:

Luvox is available in almost every drug store, either online offline, which is government or FDA sanctioned. In case you wish to obtain this drug at quite affordable prices, consider buying it from certified online medicine shops.