Medical uses

of
Fluvoxamine
In many countries (e.g., Australia,[20][21] the UK,[22] and Russia[23]) it is commonly used for major
depressive disorder. Fluvoxamine is also approved in the United States for obsessive–compulsive
disorder (OCD),[24][7] and social anxiety disorder.[25] In Japan, it is also approved to treat OCD, social
anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder.[26][27] Fluvoxamine is indicated for children and
adolescents with OCD.[28] The NICE guidelines in the United Kingdom have, as of 2005, authorised
its use for obsessive-compulsive disorder in adults and adolescents of any age and children over the
age of 7.
There is some evidence that fluvoxamine is effective for generalised social anxiety in adults, though
the results may be compromised by having been funded by pharmaceutical companies. [29][30]
There is tentative evidence that fluvoxamine may reduce the overall morbidity of COVID-19 and
complications thereof.[31]
Fluvoxamine is also effective for treating a range of anxiety disorders in children and adolescents,
including generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder and separation anxiety
disorder.[32][33][34]
The drug works long-term, and retains its therapeutic efficacy for at least one year. [35] It has also
been found to possess some analgesic properties in line with other SSRIs and tricyclic
antidepressants.[36][37][38]
The average therapeutic dose for fluvoxamine is 100 to 300 mg/day, with 300 mg being the upper
daily limit normally recommended. Obsessive-compulsive disorder, however, often requires higher
doses; doses of up to 450 mg/day may be prescribed in this case.[39][40][41] In any case with
fluvoxamine, treatment is generally begun at 25 or 50 mg and increased in 50 mg increments every
4 to 7 days until a therapeutic optimum is reached.[42]

Adverse effects[edit]
Fluvoxamine's side-effect profile is very similar to other SSRIs, with gastrointestinal side effects
more characteristic of those receiving treatment with fluvoxamine.[3][24][20][22][43][44]
Common[edit]
Common side effects occurring with 1–10% incidence:

 Abdominal pain
 Agitation
 Anxiety
 Asthenia (weakness)
 Constipation
 Diarrhea
 Dizziness
 Dyspepsia (indigestion)
 Headache
 Hyperhidrosis (excess sweating)
 Insomnia
 Loss of appetite
 Malaise
 Nausea
 Nervousness
 Palpitations
 Restlessness
 Sexual dysfunction (including delayed ejaculation, erectile dysfunction, decreased libido,
etc.)
 Somnolence (drowsiness)
 Tachycardia (high heart rate)
 Tremor
 Vomiting
 Weight loss
 Xerostomia (dry mouth)
 Yawning
Uncommon[edit]
Uncommon side effects occurring with 0.1–1% incidence:

 Arthralgia
 Confusional state
 Cutaneous hypersensitivity reactions (e.g. oedema [buildup of fluid in the tissues], rash,
pruritus)
 Extrapyramidal side effects (e.g. dystonia, parkinsonism, tremor, etc.)
 Hallucination
 Orthostatic hypotension
Rare[edit]
Rare side effecs occurring with 0.01–0.1% incidence:

 Abnormal hepatic (liver) function

 Galactorrhoea (expulsion of breast milk unrelated to pregnancy or breastfeeding)
 Mania
 Photosensitivity (being abnormally sensitive to light)
 Seizures
Unknown frequency[edit]
 Akathisia – a sense of inner restlessness that presents itself with the inability to stay still
 Bed-wetting
 Bone fractures
 Dysgeusia
 Ecchymoses
 Glaucoma
 Haemorrhage
 Hyperprolactinaemia (elevated plasma prolactin levels leading to galactorrhoea,
amenorrhoea [cessation of menstrual cycles], etc.)
 Hyponatraemia
 Mydriasis