Fluvoxin CR 50 (Fluvoxamine maleate 50mg) Tablets

Fluvoxin CR 50 general information

What is Fluvoxin CR 50 used for?

Fluvoxin CR 50 (also known as Fluvox) is an antidepressant medication that is used to treat depression and other mood disorders.  Depression is a very common mental health illness that affects many people and can range from mild to very severe.  There may be no obvious cause when depression strikes, but often it can be linked to a major event such as trauma, abuse, a chronic health condition, loss of a loved one, redundancy and many other life-changing events. 

Major Depressive Disorder, the correct medical name for severe depression, is caused by an imbalance of chemicals in the brain.  These chemicals are known as neurotransmitters and are produced by nerve cells (neurones) in the brain.  They act as chemical messengers allowing nerve cells to communicate with each other.  If these chemicals are out of balance this can cause feelings of sadness and feeling down all the time.  Other symptoms of major depression, so called because it is not a short term illness but can last months or even years, include loss of interest in usual activities, disturbed sleep, change in appetite, extreme tiredness and fatigue, feelings of self-loathing, worthlessness or guilt, difficulty thinking or concentrating, and if severe may cause recurrent thoughts of suicide.  This is a serious illness and needs medical attention. 

Fluvoxin CR 50 tablets are used for other mental health conditions that also are caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain.  Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder that is characterised by having unreasonable, unwanted, uncontrollable and recurring thoughts or fears.  These obsessions make you feel anxious and compelled by an irresistible urge to keep performing certain repetitive actions.  Common compulsive behaviours include constant handwashing to overcome an irrational fear of being dirty or contaminated by germs; constant counting or arranging of items into a symmetrical order for no reason; repeated checking that a door has been locked or the cooker turned off.  These compulsive rituals are performed to try and prevent some imagined dreaded event and relieve the anxiety these fears cause.  You are more vulnerable to OCD is you are stressed or suffering from fatigue, which is a feeling of being constantly tired.

Fluvoxin tablets 50mg help treat depression and OCD to relieve symptoms of these mental health disorders. 

How does Fluvoxin CR 50 work?

Fluvoxin tablets 50mg (also known as Fluvox) contain fluvoxamine, an antidepressant medication that is used to treat depression and other mood disorders.  Fluvoxamine in Fluvoxin CR 50 belongs to the class of drugs known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI).  Serotonin is an important chemical messenger found mainly in the brain, but also is also found in the intestines and blood platelets.  It controls many body functions including cognitive functions like memory and learning; it also plays an important role in regulating mood and helping you to feel good, provided there is enough serotonin in your brain.  if there is a lack of serotonin, the brain cells involved in nerve pathways that control mood changes, generate feelings of anxiety, low mood, sadness, despair and panic instead of well-being.   

Neurotransmitters like serotonin are released into the gap between nerve cells, called the synapse, and stimulate the next nerve cell to produce more serotonin.  The transmission of the nerve signal happens rapidly, and serotonin is reabsorbed by the first nerve cell (pre-synaptic) once it has done its job.  This is known as reuptake and means that the signal is no longer transmitted between the first nerve cell and the next one (post-synaptic or receiving cell).  If the nerve cells are not producing enough serotonin a week signal is transmitted and this is thought to be the cause of low mood and other symptoms of depression. 

A SSRI blocks the reuptake of serotonin by the pre-synaptic nerve cell so that there is more serotonin remaining in the synapse to strengthen the signal for the receiving nerve cell (post-synaptic).  This means that nerve cells can communicate with each other for longer, which increases the stimulation of nerve pathways that control mood to relieve symptoms of depression and OCD.

is Fluvoxin CR 50 is formulated for controlled release, which means that the active ingredient fluvoxamine is not released all at once as soon as you have swallowed your tablet.  Instead it is released from the tablet gradually throughout the day so that there is enough fluvoxamine in your blood to last for 24hours and you only need take your tablets once daily.  Steady state of the medication in your system is reached in 1-2 weeks, which is when you should begin to feel better.

Fluvoxin CR 50 helps relieve symptoms of depression and other mood disorders by increasing the amount of serotonin in the brain, which in turn increases stimulation of nerve pathways that control mood.

What does Fluvoxin CR 50 contain?

Fluvoxin tablets 50mg contain the active ingredient fluvoxamine, an antidepressant medication that is used to treat mental health illness including depression and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), to relieve symptoms.

What are the side effects of Fluvoxin CR 50?

The most commonly reported side effects when taking Fluvoxin CR 50 include gastrointestinal upset (abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhoea, dyspepsia, nausea, vomiting) dry mouth, headache, increased sweating, palpitations or rapid heartbeat, disturbed sleep patterns, dizziness, agitation.  

Serotonin syndrome is a more serious side effect of using serotonergic drugs like Fluvoxin CR 50 (drugs that work through serotonin) and is caused by having too much serotonin.  Symptoms can be mild and transient or severe needing medical attention.  These symptoms include fever, convulsion, muscle rigidity, tremor, extreme sweating, rapid breathing, shivering, dilated pupils and increased heart rate.

When should Fluvoxin CR 50 not be used?

These are some of the contraindications for using this medication.  You should not use Fluvoxin CR 50 if you:

• are allergic to fluvoxamine or any ingredients in Fluvoxin CR 50
• are pregnant or are breastfeeding
• have kidney or liver disease
• have a convulsive disorder like epilepsy
• are taking medication that affects blood clotting as these may increase risk of bleeding with Fluvoxin CR 50
• are taking medicines that interact with Fluvoxin CR 50 including monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) for depression, the anticoagulant warfarin, clopidogrel to prevent blood clots, the analgesic tramadol, migraine medicines like sumatriptan, the antipsychotic pimozide, herbal remedies containing St. John´s Wort for mood disorders

What medications interact with Fluvoxin CR 50?

Several medications interact with Fluvoxin CR 50 and should either not be taken while you are taking Fluvoxin CR 50 or only after discussion and instruction from your doctor:

• Drugs that cause a serious reaction with Fluvoxin CR 50: monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) for depression, the anticoagulant warfarin, serotonergic drugs like the analgesic tramadol and herbal remedies containing St. John´s Wort for mood disorders, as these may increase risk of serotonin syndrome
• Drugs that affect Fluvoxin CR 50: lithium for depression, migraine medication like sumatriptan
• Drugs that are affected by Fluvoxin CR 50: phenytoin for epilepsy; the antipsychotic pimozide, the anticoagulant warfarin, clopidogrel to prevent blood clots, clozapine for schizophrenia, sedatives like diazepam, tolbutamide for diabetes 

How should Fluvoxin CR 50 be taken and for how long?

You should take your Fluvoxin CR 50 swallowed whole with a glass of water, with or without food, once daily and in the evening.  Your dose may be increased by your doctor depending on how well you respond to your medication and whether you suffer from side effects.

It will take a few weeks before you begin to feel better, so it important to keep taking Fluvoxin CR 50 for as long as recommended by your doctor, which will be for at least 6 months but may be longer.

If you are advised to stop taking Fluvoxin CR 50 by your primary care physician, you should not stop abruptly but reduce your dose slowly over a several weeks or months, otherwise you may experience unpleasant withdrawal symptoms.

Missed dose of Fluvoxin CR 50

If you miss a dose of Fluvoxin CR 50 take it as soon as you remember, unless it is time to take the next dose, then skip the missed dose.  Do not take a double dose.

How should Fluvoxin CR 50 be stored?

You should store your Fluvoxin CR 50 below 25°C in a cool dry place.