Luvox (Fluvoxamine)

What is Generic Luvox?

Luvox is an antidepressant that is taken only after doctor's prescription. It consists of Fluvoxamine which is absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. The mechanism of action of the drug is associated with serotonin reuptake (neurotransmitter) of the brain neurons.

Luvox has no sedative or a stimulant effect; it has no effect on histamine, muskarin, cholinergic, adrenergic processes. After 1-4 weeks after the start taking of the medicine develops its therapeutic effect. Positive reviews about Luvox by many psychotherapists indicate a high effectiveness of this medication. Its first passage is performed through the liver. The bioavailability of the drug is 53%.

The drug has a property of metabolizing in the liver. If you have impaired liver function or if there are deviations then drug metabolism can be slowed down significantly. The half-life of the drug from the body is 13-18 hours.

In what kind of disease treatment Luvox is helpful?

Doctors recommend taking medication Luvox for patients who have found such a diagnosis as:

• Obsessive-compulsive disorders;
• Mood disorders;
• Depressions of different genesis;
• Depression prevention.

What should I tell my health care provider before I take Generic Luvox?

Before starting the treatment your doctor will definitely give you all the necessary instructions on the specific application and the dosage for the particular case of the disease. As you know everybody is unique and his treatment requires an individual approach.

It is necessary to be especially careful following patient groups with taking this medication:

• Alcoholism;
• Children under 8 years old are advised not to take the drug;
• With complex pathologies of the kidneys and liver;
• Epilepsy, convulsions in history;
• Elderly patients;
• When the patient has tendency to bleedings;
• Patients with individual intolerance to the drug components;
• During the period of carrying of the child;
• During breastfeeding;
• It is impossible to carry out a comprehensive Luvox therapy and drugs that contain Tizanidine;
• Also it is forbidden to take the medication simultaneously with MAO inhibitors.

But in any case it is better to consult with a doctor and he will decide whether to use this drug.

There is no clinical experience with the drug in order to treat childhood depression. It does not recommended for use for breast-feeding women because Luvox enters breast milk.

How should I take Luvox?

Assigning the required amount and duration of therapy with this medication should be individualized. For the treatment of depression and obsessive-compulsive disorders it should be taken orally, one tablet recommended by the reception in the evening but if necessary the number can be divided and taken in the morning and evening.

At that time when you use the drug Luvox remember that food intake in any case does not affect the rate of absorption of the drug and its bioavailability. Maximum effective action of the drug is noted 3-8 hours after taking. Most often the daily dose is calculated for one time.

The tablet is not subject to crushing, you need to swallow it whole and wash down it with the water.

Dosage information

The drug is released in the form of tablets (50 mg and 100 mg). On average the daily dose for an adult is 50-100 mg. If the assigned dose effect on the patient is not very effective it can be gradually increased. If during the period of treatment required clinical effect occurs then do not stop taking the drug. Doctors advise to continue the treatment for about half a year.

If you use Luvox for prophylaxis to prevent relapses then the doctor appoints dose of approximately 100 mg. In the case of the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorders it is 50mg, the doctor may prescribe increasing with ineffective treatment but only after 2-3 days of starting taking pills. The maximum dose can be 300 mg per day.

If children 8 to 18 years use this drug then their dose is 25mg. If observed the ineffectiveness of the drug the doctors allow raising the dose but not bigger than 200 mg.

If you do not notice improvement after 10 weeks it is necessary to stop the course of drug treatment. If you have liver problems the doctor prescribes Luvox in extreme cases and with minimal dosage. Such patients should be observed by a doctor the first few days of treatment.

What may interact with Luvox?

Luvox can be taken with hypoglycemic drugs but only if their dosage will be adjusted. It is strongly contraindicated intake of Luvox and its analogues with MAO inhibitors. When taking medication remember that it changes the pharmacokinetics of Terfenadine, Cisapride, Theophylline, Mexiletine, Methadone and Phenytoin. Due to taking the drug Luvox in the blood increases Warfarin, Caffeine, Midazolam and Diazepam. It is strictly forbidden to intake in combination with ethanol.

What should I watch for while taking Luvox?

Patients that take Luvox should drink a lot of water and avoid drinking alcohol.

Unfortunately strong knowledge in the area of drug harm to the fetus is not available. The doctor may prescribe it for a pregnant woman only if the positive effect for the mother is much larger than negative impact on the child. In other words the drug can be assigned in case if it is extremely necessary. If the doctor prescribed it during the third trimester of pregnancy then a patient should be strictly controlled by the attending physician.

What side effects may I notice from Generic Luvox?

• Severe nausea (sometimes accompanied by vomiting but usually goes away after 2 weeks);
• Headache, malaise, asthenia;
• Tachycardia, palpitations (1-10% of patients);
• Postural hypotension (less than 1%);
• Anorexia, constipation, abdominal pain, dry mouth, diarrhea, dispersion (1-10% of patients);
• Abnormal liver function (less than 1%);
• Nervousness, agitation, anxiety, dizziness, drowsiness or insomnia, tremor (1-10% of patients);
• Confusion, ataxia, hallucinations, extrapyramidal disorders (less than 1%);
• Mania, convulsions (less than 0.1%);
• Sweating (1-10%);
• Itching, angioedema, rash (less than 1%);
• Myalgia, arthralgia (less than 1%);
• Delayed ejaculation (less than 1%);
• Galactorrhea (less than 0.1%);
• Changes in weight, paresthesia, distortion of taste, anorgasmia (less than 0.1%).

Upon termination of Luvox consumption are possible:

• Dizziness;
• Nausea;
• Anxiety;
• Headache;
• Paresthesia;
• Anxiety.

That is why you should gradually reduce the dose.

Symptoms of overdose: dizziness and gastrointestinal disorders. There are also reports about of tachycardia, hypotension, cramps, abnormal liver function and coma. There are more than 300 cases of intentional drug overdose.

Treatment of overdose: to perform as soon as possible gastric lavage and symptomatic therapy, multiple reception of activated carbon. There is no specific antidote.

To avoid symptoms of side effects and achieve maximum effectiveness in the treatment of drug, it is necessary to adhere strictly to the dosage and course of treatment prescribed by the attending specialist.

Where can I keep Luvox?

Place where you keep Luvox should be dry and dark with the room temperature and do not use it after the expiration date.