Canadian pharmacy buying guide: drug characteristics, uses and benefits, side effects and interactions, and links for further information about buying discount drugs online from Canada.

Luvox Consumer Information

LUVOX

Generic Name: fluvoxamine (flew VOCK sah meen)

Brand Names: Luvox

What is the most important information I should know about fluvoxamine?

• Do not stop taking fluvoxamine without first talking to your doctor. It may take 4 weeks or more for you to start feeling better and you may experience unpleasant side effects if you stop taking fluvoxamine suddenly.

What is fluvoxamine?

• Fluvoxamine is in a class of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Fluvoxamine affects chemicals in the brain that may become unbalanced and cause obsessive-compulsive symptoms.
• Fluvoxamine is used to treat obsessive-compulsive disorders involving recurring thoughts or actions.
• Fluvoxamine may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking fluvoxamine?

• Do not take fluvoxamine if you have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), or tranylcypromine (Parnate) during the last 2 weeks. Serious, and sometimes fatal, reactions have occurred when these medicines have been used together.
• Do not take fluvoxamine without first talking to your doctor if you are taking thioridazine (Mellaril), cisapride (Propulsid), or pimozide (Orap). A dangerous interaction may occur if these medicines are used together. You must wait 5 weeks after stopping fluvoxamine before taking thioridazine (Mellaril).
• Before taking fluvoxamine, tell your doctor if you
• have liver disease;
• suffer from seizures; or
• suffer from mania or have suicidal thoughts.
• You may not be able to take fluvoxamine, or you may need a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above.
• Fluvoxamine is in the FDA pregnancy category C. This means that it is not known whether it will be harmful to an unborn baby. Do not take fluvoxamine without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment.
• Fluvoxamine passes into breast milk and may affect a nursing baby. Do not take fluvoxamine without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How should I take fluvoxamine?

• Take fluvoxamine exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.
• Take each dose with water.
• Fluvoxamine may be taken with or without food.
• Try to take fluvoxamine at the same time each day.
• Do not stop taking fluvoxamine without first talking to your doctor. It may take 4 weeks or more for you to start feeling better and you may experience unpleasant side effects if you stop taking fluvoxamine suddenly.
• Store fluvoxamine at room temperature away from heat and moisture.

What happens if I miss a dose?

• Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for the next regularly scheduled dose, skip the missed dose and take the next one as directed. Do not take a double dose of this medication unless otherwise directed by your doctor.

What happens if I overdose?

• Seek emergency medical attention.
• Symptoms of a fluvoxamine overdose include nausea, vomiting, tremor, seizures, agitation, drowsiness, hyperactivity, and enlarged pupils.

What should I avoid while taking fluvoxamine?

• Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardous activities. Fluvoxamine may cause dizziness or drowsiness. If you experience dizziness or drowsiness, avoid these activities.
• Use alcohol cautiously. Alcohol may increase drowsiness or dizziness while taking fluvoxamine.

What are the possible side effects of fluvoxamine?

• If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking fluvoxamine and contact your doctor immediately or seek emergency medical treatment:
• an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives);
• an irregular heartbeat or pulse;
• low blood pressure (dizziness, weakness);
• high blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision); or
• chills or fever.
• If you experience any of the following less serious side effects, continue taking fluvoxamine and talk to your doctor:
• headache;
• tremor, nervousness, or anxiety;
• nausea, diarrhea, dry mouth, or changes in appetite or weight;
• sleepiness or insomnia; or
• decreased sex drive, impotence, or difficulty having an orgasm.
• Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What other drugs will affect fluvoxamine?

• Do not take fluvoxamine if you have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), or tranylcypromine (Parnate) during the last 2 weeks. Serious, and sometimes fatal, reactions have occurred when these medicines have been used together.
• Do not take fluvoxamine without first talking to your doctor if you are taking thioridazine (Mellaril), cisapride (Propulsid), or pimozide (Orap). A dangerous interaction may occur if these medicines are used together. You must wait 5 weeks after stopping fluvoxamine before taking thioridazine (Mellaril).
• Before taking fluvoxamine, tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:
• a benzodiazepine such as diazepam (Valium), alprazolam (Xanax), chlordiazepoxide (Librium), clorazepate (Tranxene), temazepam (Restoril), triazolam (Halcion), and others;
• a tricyclic antidepressant such as amitriptyline (Elavil), imipramine (Tofranil), doxepin (Sinequan), nortriptyline (Pamelor), and others;
• a phenothiazine such as chlorpromazine (Thorazine), fluphenazine (Prolixin), mesoridazine (Serentil), perphenazine (Trilafon), prochlorperazine (Compazine), and others;
• lithium (Lithobid, Eskalith, others) or clozapine (Clozaril);
• almotriptan (Axert), frovatriptan (Frova), sumatriptan (Imitrex), naratriptan (Amerge), rizatriptan (Maxalt), or zolmitriptan (Zomig);
• propranolol (Inderal, Inderal LA) or metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL);
• carbamazepine (Tegretol) or phenytoin (Dilantin);
• warfarin (Coumadin);
• methadone (Dolophine, Methadose) or
• tacrine (Cognex).
• You may not be able to take fluvoxamine, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you are taking any of the medicines listed above.
• Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with fluvoxamine. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines, including herbal products.

Where can I get more information?

• Your pharmacist has additional information about fluvoxamine written for health professionals that you may read.
• Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

Limitations of This Canadian Pharmacy Information

Efforts have been made to ensure that the information provided here is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. This information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. This is an educational resource only intended to supplement but not to replace the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, please check with your doctor, nurse or local pharmacist. This site does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information provided here.

Full public license and copyright information is available separately from Cerner Multum, Inc.

Version: 7.02. Revision Date: 2/14/03.