This article describes possible side effects of fluvoxamine oral tablet. You can explore this overview article to learn more about fluvoxamine, including the drug’s uses, side effects, ways to save on cost, and more.

Fluvoxamine oral tablet is a generic version of the brand-name drug Luvox. Fluvoxamine also comes as an oral extended-release capsule, but this form isn’t described in this article. To learn more about this form, talk with your doctor.

Boxed warning: Risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors

Fluvoxamine oral tablet has a boxed warning for the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

For details, see the “Side effects of fluvoxamine in detail” section below.

More common side effects of fluvoxamine

Fluvoxamine oral tablet may cause mild or serious side effects. Below are some of the more common side effects of this medication.

Commonly reported side effects of fluvoxamine oral tablet include:

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of fluvoxamine in detail” section below.

Mild side effects of fluvoxamine

Fluvoxamine may cause certain mild side effects. Usually, mild side effects are temporary and can be easily managed. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have side effects that don’t go away or become bothersome.

Mild side effects of fluvoxamine oral tablet that occurred in studies include:

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of fluvoxamine in detail” section below.
† An allergic reaction is possible with fluvoxamine oral tablet. But it wasn’t reported in the drug’s studies.

Fluvoxamine oral tablet may cause more mild side effects than those listed above. For details, see the drug’s prescribing information.

Serious side effects of fluvoxamine

Fluvoxamine may cause certain serious side effects. If you have any serious side effects from fluvoxamine oral tablet, call your doctor right away. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency or your side effects feel life threatening, take immediate action. Call 911 or a local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room.

After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Visit MedWatch’s website if you’d like to notify the FDA about a side effect you’ve had with fluvoxamine.

Serious side effects of fluvoxamine oral tablet that occurred in studies include:

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of fluvoxamine in detail” section below.
† Fluvoxamine oral tablet has a boxed warning for this side effect. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the FDA. To learn more, see the “Side effects of fluvoxamine in detail” section below.
‡ An allergic reaction is possible with fluvoxamine oral tablet. But it wasn’t reported in the drug’s studies.

Suicide prevention

If you or someone you know is in crisis and considering suicide or self-harm, please seek support:

If you’re calling on behalf of someone else, stay with them until help arrives. You may remove weapons or substances that can cause harm if you can do so safely.

If you are not in the same household, stay on the phone with them until help arrives.

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Side effects of fluvoxamine in children

For children, doctors prescribe fluvoxamine oral tablet to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The drug is used for this purpose in children ages 8 years and older.

In studies, children taking fluvoxamine had side effects similar to those seen in adults taking the drug. The following additional side effects were also seen more commonly in children taking fluvoxamine than in children taking a placebo (a treatment that contains no active ingredients):

* Fluvoxamine oral tablet has a boxed warning for the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). For details, see the “Side effects of fluvoxamine in detail” section below.

If you’d like to know more about side effects in children taking fluvoxamine oral tablet, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

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Common questions about side effects of fluvoxamine

Here are answers to some common questions about side effects of fluvoxamine oral tablet. If you have other questions, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Does fluvoxamine cause long-term side effects?

Long-term side effects aren’t expected with fluvoxamine oral tablet. In studies, specific side effects weren’t seen in people who had taken the drug for a long time. Long lasting side effects after treatment ended also weren’t reported.

Talk with your doctor if you have more questions about possible long-term side effects with fluvoxamine.

Do side effects of fluvoxamine go away?

Yes, but some may not go away until after you stop taking fluvoxamine.

Many of fluvoxamine’s mild side effects, such as nausea or indigestion, go away with time as your body gets used to the medication. But certain other side effects, such as sexual problems and an increased risk of bleeding, may continue for as long as you keep taking fluvoxamine. These side effects typically go away after you stop taking fluvoxamine.

Talk with your doctor if you have questions about how long fluvoxamine’s side effects may last.

Does missing doses or stopping fluvoxamine cause side effects?

Possibly. It is important not to abruptly stop taking fluvoxamine oral tablet. Doing this can lead to withdrawal symptoms such as dizziness, headache, and irritability. These symptoms may also occur if you miss doses of the drug. So be sure to take it according to your doctor’s directions.

If you and your doctor decide that fluvoxamine isn’t right for you, they’ll guide you on how to slowly reduce your dose before you stop it. They may also recommend a different medication to take instead of fluvoxamine.

Side effects of fluvoxamine in detail

Below you’ll find details on some of the side effects of fluvoxamine oral tablet.

Risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors

Fluvoxamine oral tablet has a boxed warning for the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In studies, children and adults under 24 years old had an increased risk of this side effect while taking an antidepressant such as fluvoxamine oral tablet.

Signs of suicidal thoughts and behaviors may include sudden or severe changes in your everyday thoughts, feelings, or behavior. These changes may include new or worsening:

  • depression
  • anxiety or panic attacks
  • irritability, anger, or aggression
  • agitation or restlessness
  • trouble sleeping
  • impulsive behavior
  • behavior that can lead to negative or harmful outcomes
  • self-harm
  • thoughts of dying or suicide

The risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors is highest in the first few months after starting treatment. There is also a higher risk when your doctor makes any changes to your dosage.

Ways to manage

If you experience changes in your thoughts, feelings, or behavior while taking fluvoxamine oral tablet, tell your doctor. It’s helpful to have people who are close to you watch for these signs as well. Parents, guardians, and caregivers of children taking fluvoxamine oral tablet should watch for any changes in the child.

If you or a child experience suicidal thoughts or behaviors, your doctor will likely recommend stopping fluvoxamine oral tablet and switching to a different treatment.

Sexual problems

In studies, sexual problems were common in people taking fluvoxamine oral tablet. This side effect is usually mild, but the problems may continue for as long as you take fluvoxamine.

Sexual problems may include:

Ways to manage

If you have concerns about sexual problems with fluvoxamine, tell your doctor. If you have erectile dysfunction, they may recommend trying a medication, such as sildenafil (Viagra), to treat it. Or they may recommend switching to a different treatment for your condition.

Serotonin syndrome

In studies, serotonin syndrome was rare in people taking fluvoxamine oral tablet. This side effect may be serious.

Serotonin is a chemical messenger that your neurons (nerve cells) use to send and receive signals. These signals play a role in mood and many other body functions. SSRIs, including fluvoxamine, are thought to work by increasing the availability of serotonin.

However, if your serotonin levels become too high, serotonin syndrome can occur. Symptoms may include:

  • nausea and vomiting
  • diarrhea
  • tremor or twitching
  • muscle stiffness
  • coordination problems
  • fever
  • flushing
  • fast heartbeat
  • dizziness
  • agitation
  • hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that aren’t real)
  • seizures

Certain factors can increase your risk of serotonin syndrome. These include taking higher doses of fluvoxamine and taking fluvoxamine with certain other medications or supplements. Examples of these include triptans for migraine, opioid pain relievers, other antidepressants, amphetamines, the herb St. John’s wort, and tryptophan supplements.

Ways to manage

Before starting fluvoxamine, tell your doctor about any medications or supplements you take. And be sure to check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any new medications or supplements while you’re taking fluvoxamine.

If you experience symptoms of serotonin syndrome, call your doctor right away. You may need treatment in a hospital. Your doctor will likely recommend stopping fluvoxamine.

Allergic reaction

For some people, fluvoxamine oral tablet can cause an allergic reaction. But this side effect wasn’t reported in the drug’s studies.

Symptoms can be mild or serious, and they may include:

  • itchiness
  • skin rash
  • swelling under the skin, usually affecting eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
  • swelling of the mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe
  • flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)

Ways to manage

For mild allergic reaction symptoms, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may recommend treatments to help manage your symptoms. They’ll also let you know whether you should keep taking the medication.

For severe allergic reaction symptoms, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms require immediate medical care because they can become life threatening. If you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to fluvoxamine oral tablet, your doctor may recommend taking a different medication instead.

Warnings for fluvoxamine

Below are some factors you may want to discuss with your doctor before taking fluvoxamine oral tablet.

Boxed warning: Risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors

Fluvoxamine has a boxed warning for the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

For details, see the “Side effects of fluvoxamine in detail” section above.

Other warnings

It may not be safe for you to take fluvoxamine oral tablet if you have specific health conditions. These are sometimes called drug-condition interactions. Other things may also affect whether fluvoxamine oral tablet is a safe treatment option for you.

Before taking fluvoxamine oral tablet, tell your doctor about your health and medications you take. Things to consider include:

Fluvoxamine and pregnancy

It’s not known whether fluvoxamine oral tablet should be taken during pregnancy. If you’re planning a pregnancy or can become pregnant, talk with your doctor before taking this medication.

If you do take fluvoxamine during pregnancy, talk with your doctor about joining the National Pregnancy Registry for Antidepressants. This registry collects information about the safety of antidepressants in pregnancy.

Fluvoxamine and breastfeeding

Fluvoxamine can get into breast milk and could cause side effects for a child who’s breastfed. It’s not known whether fluvoxamine oral tablet should be taken while breastfeeding. If you’re currently breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor before taking this medication.

Fluvoxamine and alcohol

Fluvoxamine oral tablet is not known to interact with alcohol. But fluvoxamine and alcohol can cause some of the same side effects, such as sleepiness, dizziness, nausea, and diarrhea. So you may have an increased risk for these side effects if you drink alcohol with fluvoxamine oral tablet.

If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about whether it’s safe to consume it during your treatment with fluvoxamine oral tablet.

What to ask your doctor

This article describes common and serious side effects of fluvoxamine oral tablet. If your doctor prescribes this medication, they can discuss possible side effects with you. Let your doctor know if you have concerns or questions about treatment with this medication.

Here’s a list of some possible questions you may want to ask your doctor:

  • How likely am I to have side effects with fluvoxamine?
  • Do my other conditions or medications raise my risk of side effects?
  • Will I need any monitoring for side effects while taking fluvoxamine?

Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.

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