Fluvoxamine Maleate
= Prescription Required 
= Generic Equvalent
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Fluvoxamine Maleate 50mg Tablets
Manufactured by Teva Pharmaceuticals
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Fluvoxamine Maleate 100mg Tablets
Manufactured by Sun Pharma
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Fluvoxamine Maleate Prescription Drug Information
Fluvoxamine (By mouth)
Fluvoxamine (floo-VOX-a-meen)
Treats symptoms of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and social anxiety disorder (social phobia).
Brand Name(s):Luvox CR
There may be other brand names for Fluvoxamine Maleate.
When Fluvoxamine Maleate Should Not Be Used:
You should not use Fluvoxamine Maleate 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 isocarboxazid, phenelzine, selegiline, tranylcypromine, Eldepryl®, Nardil®, Marplan®, or Parnate®) within the past 2 weeks.
How to Use Fluvoxamine Maleate:
Long Acting Capsule, Tablet
- Your doctor will tell you how much of Fluvoxamine Maleate 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.
- You may take Fluvoxamine Maleate with or without food.
- Take Fluvoxamine Maleate at bedtime, unless your doctor tells you otherwise.
- Do not use Fluvoxamine Maleate for longer than 10 weeks unless your doctor tells you otherwise.
- Swallow the extended-release capsule whole. Do not crush, break, or chew it.
- Fluvoxamine Maleate 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 of Fluvoxamine Maleate 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 Fluvoxamine Maleate:
- 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 While Taking Fluvoxamine Maleate:
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 (warfarin or 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®), ramelteon (Rozerem®), or triazolam (Halcion®).
- Your doctor should know if you use blood pressure medicine (such as atenolol, metoprolol, propranolol, Corgard®, Inderal®, Lopressor®, Toprol®, or Tenormin®) or medicine to treat headaches (such as eletriptan, sumatriptan, Imitrex®, or Relpax®).
- Tell your doctor if you also use carbamazepine (Tegretol®), clozapine (Clozaril®), diltiazem (Cardizem®), linezolid (Zyvox®), lithium (Eskalith®), methadone (Dolophine®), mexiletine (Mexitil®), quinidine, omeprazole (Prilosec®), phenytoin (Dilantin®), St. John's wort, Tacrine (Cognex®), theophylline (Theo-Dur®), tramadol (Ultram®), or tryptophan supplements.
- Do not drink alcohol while you are using Fluvoxamine Maleate.
Warnings While Using Fluvoxamine Maleate:
- Make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have diabetes, liver disease, heart disease or a recent heart attack, epilepsy or seizures, bleeding problems, or a history of mania. Tell your doctor if you smoke.
- For some children, teenagers, and young adults, Fluvoxamine Maleate can increase thoughts of suicide. Tell your doctor or your child's doctor right away if you or your child start to feel more depressed and have thoughts about hurting yourselves. Report any unusual thoughts or behaviors that trouble you or your child, especially if they are new or are getting worse quickly. Make sure the doctor knows if you or your child have trouble sleeping, get upset easily, have a big increase in energy, or start to act reckless. Also tell the doctor if you or your child have sudden or strong feelings, such as feeling nervous, angry, restless, violent, or scared. Let the doctor know if you, your child, or anyone in your family has bipolar disorder (manic-depressive) or has tried to commit suicide.
- While you are using Fluvoxamine Maleate, 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.
- Fluvoxamine Maleate 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 Fluvoxamine Maleate suddenly without asking your doctor. You may need to slowly decrease your dose before stopping it completely.
Possible Side Effects While Using Fluvoxamine Maleate:
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, trouble sleeping, or panic attack.
- Blurred vision, shallow breathing, trouble standing or walking.
- Change in how much or how often you urinate.
- Chest pain.
- Confusion, extreme weakness, muscle twitching.
- Fast, slow, or uneven heartbeat.
- Feeling irritable, nervous, or shaky.
- Fever, chills, cough, sore throat, and body aches.
- Lightheadedness or fainting.
- Numbness, tingling, or burning pain in your hands, arms, legs, or feet.
- Seizures or tremors.
- Sudden and severe stomach pain, nausea, or vomiting.
- Swelling in your hands, feet, or ankles.
- Unusual behavior, thoughts of hurting yourself or others.
- Unusual bleeding or bruising.
- Yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes.
If you notice these less serious side effects while taking Fluvoxamine Maleate, talk with your doctor:
- Diarrhea, constipation, stomach upset, or loss of appetite.
- Dry mouth.
- Headache or dizziness.
- Mood or behavior changes after you stop using the medicine.
- Muscle pain.
- Pain during monthly periods.
- Problems having sex.
- Prolonged erection of the penis.
- Skin rash.
- Sleepiness.
- Sweating more than usual.
- Weakness.
If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by Fluvoxamine Maleate, tell your doctor.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088
