Fluvoxamine Maleate


DNX0547.HTM

Fluvoxamine (By mouth)
Fluvoxamine (floo-VOX-a-meen)

Treats symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

Brand Name(s):
There may be other brand names for this medicine.

When This Medicine Should Not Be Used:
You should not use this medicine if you have had an allergic reaction to fluvoxamine. You should not use fluvoxamine if you are also using alosetron (Lotronex®), thioridazine (Mellaril®), terfenadine (Seldane®), astemizole (Hismanal®), cisapride (Propulsid®), pimozide (Orap®), or tizanidine (Zanaflex®). Make sure your doctor knows if you have taken an MAO inhibitor (such as Eldepryl®, Nardil®, Marplan®, Parnate®) within the past 2 weeks.

How to Use This Medicine:
Tablet

  • Your doctor will tell you how much of this medicine to use and how often. Your dose may need to be changed several times in order to find out what works best for you. Do not use more medicine or use it more often than your doctor tells you to.
  • Take this medicine at bedtime, unless your doctor tells you otherwise.
  • Do not use this medicine for longer than 10 weeks unless your doctor tells you otherwise.
  • This medicine should come with a Medication Guide. Read and follow these instructions carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions. Ask your pharmacist for the Medication Guide if you do not have one. Your doctor might ask you to sign some forms to show that you understand this information.

If a dose is missed:

  • If you miss a dose or forget to use your medicine, use it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then to use the medicine and skip the missed dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.

How to Store and Dispose of This Medicine:

  • Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light.
  • Ask your pharmacist, doctor, or health caregiver about the best way to dispose of any outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.
  • Keep all medicine away from children and never share your medicine with anyone.

Drugs and Foods to Avoid:
Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

  • There are many other drugs that can interact with fluvoxamine. Make sure your doctor knows about ALL other medicines you are using, especially medicines to treat depression or mental illness.
  • Tell your your doctor if you are using blood thinners (Coumadin®) diuretics (water pills), or pain or arthritis medicine (sometimes called "NSAIDs") such as aspirin, ibuprofen, Aleve®, or Motrin®. Tell your doctor if you use a tranquilizer or sedative such as alprazolam (Xanax®), diazepam (Valium®), midazolam (Versed®), or triazolam (Halcion®).
  • Your doctor should know if you use blood pressure medicine such as atenolol, metoprolol, propranolol, Corgard®, Inderal®, Lopressor®, Toprol®, or Tenormin®.
  • Tell your doctor if you also use carbamazepine (Tegretol®), clozapine (Clozaril®), lithium, mexiletine (Mexitil®), omeprazole (Prilosec®), or theophylline.
  • Do not drink alcohol while you are using this medicine.

Warnings While Using This Medicine:

  • Make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have diabetes, liver disease, heart disease, epilepsy or seizures, or any other medical problems. Tell your doctor if you smoke.
  • For some children and teenagers, this medicine can increase thoughts of suicide. All of the warnings in this leaflet are true for a child or teenager who is using this medicine. Tell your doctor right away if you start to feel more depressed. Also tell your doctor right away if you have thoughts about hurting yourself. Report any unusual thoughts or behaviors that trouble you, especially if they are new or get worse quickly. Make sure your caregiver knows if you have trouble sleeping, get upset easily, have a big increase in energy, or start to act reckless. Also tell your doctor if you have sudden or strong feelings, such as feeling nervous, angry, restless, violent, or scared. Let your doctor know if you or anyone in your family has bipolar disorder (manic-depressive) or has tried to commit suicide.
  • While you are using this medicine, be sure to keep all appointments with your caregiver or mental health counselor. It is very important that your caregivers observe you for changes in your mental status or behavior.
  • Fluvoxamine should not be used to treat depression. It should not be given to a child unless that child has been diagnosed with OCD.
  • This medicine may make you dizzy or drowsy. Avoid driving, using machines, or doing anything else that could be dangerous if you are not alert.
  • Do not stop using this medicine suddenly without asking your doctor. You may need to slowly decrease your dose before stopping it completely.

Possible Side Effects While Using This Medicine:
Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:

  • Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing.
  • Anxiety, agitation, aggression, or panic attack.
  • Blurred vision, shallow breathing, trouble standing or walking.
  • Confusion, extreme weakness, muscle twitching.
  • Fast or slow heartbeat.
  • Lightheadedness or fainting.
  • Seizures.
  • Swelling in your hands, feet, or ankles.
  • Unusual behavior, thoughts of hurting yourself.

If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:

  • Feeling irritable, nervous, or shaky.
  • Headache.
  • Mood or behavior changes after you stop using the medicine.
  • Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach upset, loss of appetite.
  • Problems having sex.
  • Sleepiness, or trouble sleeping.
  • Sweating more than usual.
  • Weakness.

If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor.