Fluvoxamine
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(floo vox’ a meen)
IMPORTANT WARNING:
| Studies have shown that children and teenagers who take antidepressants (’mood elevators’) such as fluvoxamine may be more likely to think about harming or killing themselves or to plan or try to do so than children who do not take antidepressants.If your child’s doctor has prescribed fluvoxamine for your child, you should watch his or her behavior very carefully, especially at the beginning of treatment and any time his or her dose is increased or decreased. Your child may develop serious symptoms very suddenly, so it is important to pay attention to his or her behavior every day. Call your child’s doctor right away if he or she experiences any of these symptoms: new or worsening depression; thinking about harming or killing him- or herself or planning or trying to do so; extreme worry; agitation; panic attacks; difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep; irritability; aggressive behavior; acting without thinking; severe restlessness; frenzied, abnormal excitement; or any other sudden or unusual changes in behavior.Your child’s doctor will want to see your child often while he or she is taking fluvoxamine, especially at the beginning of his or her treatment. Your child’s doctor may also want to speak with you or your child by telephone from time to time. Be sure that your child keeps all appointments for office visits or telephone conversations with his or her doctor.Your child’s doctor or pharmacist will give you the manufacturer’s patient information sheet (Medication Guide) when your child begins treatment with fluvoxamine. Read the information carefully and ask your child’s doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions. You also can obtain the Medication Guide from the FDA website: http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/antidepressants/MG_template.pdf.Talk to your child’s doctor about the risks of giving fluvoxamine to your child. |
Why is this medication prescribed?
Fluvoxamine is used to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder (bothersome thoughts that won’t go away and the need to perform certain actions over and over). Fluvoxamine is in a class of medications called serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
How should this medicine be used?
Fluvoxamine comes as a tablet to take by mouth. It usually is taken either once daily at bedtime or twice daily, once in the morning and once at bedtime. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take fluvoxamine exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.
Continue to take fluvoxamine even if you feel well. Do not stop taking fluvoxamine without talking to your doctor, especially if you have taken large doses for a long time. Your doctor probably will decrease your dose gradually. This drug must be taken regularly for a few weeks before its full effect is felt.
Other uses for this medicine
Fluvoxamine is also used sometimes to treat depression. Talk with your doctor about the possible risks of using this drug for your condition.
This medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
What special precautions should I follow?
Before taking fluvoxamine,
- tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to fluvoxamine or any other drugs.
- tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention any of the following: alprazolam (Xanax); anticoagulants (’blood thinners’) such as warfarin (Coumadin); astemizole (Hismanal) (not available in the U.S.); buspirone (Buspar); carbamazepine (Tegretol); cisapride (Propulsid) (not available in the U.S.); clozapine (Clozaril); cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune); dextromethorphan (in cough medications); diazepam (Valium); diltiazem (Cardizem); diuretics (’water pills’); haloperidol (Haldol); heart medications; lithium; medications for depression; medications for migraine headaches such as almotriptan (Axert), eletriptan (Relpax), frovatriptan (Frova), naratriptan (Amerge), rizatriptan (Maxalt), sumatriptan (Imitrex), and zolmitriptan (Zomig); methadone; midazolam (Versed); phenytoin (Dilantin); pimozide (Orap); terfenadine (Seldane) (not available in the U.S.); theophylline (TheoDur); thioridazine (Mellaril); triazolam (Halcion); and L-tryptophan. Also tell your doctor if you are taking the following medications or if you have stopped taking them within the past two weeks: monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAO inhibitors) such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), and tranylcypromine (Parnate). Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
- tell your doctor if you or anyone in your family has or has ever had depression, bipolar disorder (mood that changes from depressed to abnormally excited), or mania (frenzied, abnormally excited mood), or if you or anyone in your family has thought about or attempted suicide. Also tell your doctor if you have or have ever had heart, kidney, adrenal, or liver disease; seizures; or a history of drug or alcohol abuse.
- tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking fluvoxamine, call your doctor.
- if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking fluvoxamine.
- you should know that this drug may make you drowsy. Do not drive a car or operate machinery until you know how this drug affects you.
- remember that alcohol can add to the drowsiness caused by this drug.
- tell your doctor if you use tobacco products. Cigarette smoking may decrease the effectiveness of this drug.
- plan to avoid unnecessary or prolonged exposure to sunlight and to wear protective clothing, sunglasses, and sunscreen. Fluvoxamine may make your skin sensitive to sunlight.
- you should know that your mental health may change in unexpected ways, especially at the beginning of your treatment and at any time your dose is increased or decreased. These changes may occur at any time if you have depression or other mental illness, whether or not you are taking fluvoxamine or any other medication. You, your family, or your caregiver should call your doctor right away if you experience any of the following symptoms: new or worsening depression; thinking about harming or killing yourself, or planning or trying to do so; extreme worry; agitation; panic attacks; difficulty falling or staying asleep; irritability; aggressive behavior; acting without thinking; severe restlessness; and frenzied abnormal excitement. Be sure that your family or caregiver knows which symptoms may be serious so they can call the doctor when you are unable to seek treatment on your own.
What should I do if I forget a dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember it and take any remaining doses for that day at evenly spaced intervals. However, if you remember a missed dose when it is almost time for your next scheduled dose, skip the missed dose. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.
If you take fluvoxamine once a day at bedtime and do not remember it until the next morning, omit the missed dose. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.
What side effects can this medication cause?
Side effects from fluvoxamine are common. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:
- drowsiness
- dry mouth
- upset stomach
- headache
- diarrhea
- constipation
- indigestion
- nervousness
- tremor
- weakness
- abnormal ejaculation
- difficulty sleeping
If you experience any of the following symptoms or those listed in the IMPORTANT WARNING section, call your doctor immediately:
- rapid heartbeat
- sweating
- skin rash
- hives
- seizures or convulsions
What storage conditions are needed for this medicine?
Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom). Throw away any medication that is outdated or no longer needed. Talk to your pharmacist about the proper disposal of your medication.
In case of emergency/overdose
In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911.
What other information should I know?
It is important to keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor will order certain lab tests to check your response to fluvoxamine.
Do not let anyone else take your medication. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription.
Last Revised - 01/01/2007