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Luvox
COMMENTS ON LUVOX
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Luvox is an SSRI similar to Prozac.
After 4 weeks of using this medication, initially 50mg per day in the evening for 1 week then 100mg each evening, I am not feeling any benefits. Although it is expected that full benefits may not establish until perhaps a few weeks, I am not going to continue with Luvox due to the bad side-effects and not feeling any benefits.
I read that around 15% of people discontinue Luvox due to unpleasant side-effects, which is about 1 person out of every 7. My Doctor is terrific and we are going to try another drug soon.
I think I'm susceptible to the common side-effects of this drug (fluvoxamine, similar to the drug fluoxetine in Prozac). For me, these bad side-effects have been: weird taste sensation constantly, mild tremor, agitation, muscle tension, occasional twitching, mild nausea, and mild headache constantly.
I have not found any beneficial sedative effect, although sedation is common with Luvox in most people. I am sleeping even less, and my poor appetite has even further declined, though I cannot be certain that Luvox is the sole cause of these.
From some reading I have done it is possible that I may have symptoms of mild serotonin-syndrome; if that is the case then it's a reminder of what many health professionals are warning about - that too much serotonin is not the answer and is in fact very dangerous.
Here's hoping another drug will produce better results for me.
(24/08/2005)
I have been taking luvox for over 18 months now. I was first prescribed Efexor, but after suffering badly for 6 months on this drug my GP thankfully changed my medication, starting with a dose of 50mg daily. This had been gradually increased to the 200mg daily i now take. I really feel that luvox has done very little for my depression. While I do not seem to suffer any serious side effects, as I did on Efexor, I have definately notice a strange lighheadedness and shakiness if I forget to take a dose or two. While I now feel calmer, and less likely to burst into tears or get angry I really don't feel any emotion of significance, except I still feel sad and desperate. I'm too scared to stop taking it as I don't want to feel they way I did before being medicated and I don't think my GP is really helping me deal with my condition as he seems to dismiss my concerns that I feel no real change and simply increases my dose.
(22/04/2005)
For 2 years now my depression has increased to a peek. I have had an anxiety disorder since I started going to kindergarten. In year for I was tested for heart problems due to my gastro-reflux in which acid would continuously throw up in my mouth. I have changed schools 4 times due to fighting and rages of aggression out bursts. In year eight and nine I was continuously getting chest pains but after all monitors and tests were done the doctors put it down to stress. Year ten came and the teenage pressure was on, I was bulimic for two years and a binge eater. I started to seek help in year 11 were my panic attacks began in march and increased to every two days at the end of this year. During which time I have decreased my bulimia and seeking help for my situation. My medication was changed to Zoloft to Luvox due to the build up of aggression, a side effect in which I became completely un-orgasmic and a situation were I was hallucinating, hitting the police and became hysterical due to a mixture of anti-depressants and alcohol, I was in hospital all night. I have been on Luvox for two days now so I hope this will help my condition and also stop my compulsive shopping disorder, were I have spend over 1300 in a month. due the process of 4 days while coming of Zoloft I had one panic attack but I hope all will clear up soon, for I fear year 12 will be the worst to come.
(20/12/2004)
I have been suffering from depression for a long time. I went un diagnosed for so many years that I didn’t know what was wrong with me until my long term friend and boyfriend nearly left me. I had a few family tragedies that pushed me over the edge, I had to get help. I got a list of psychologist’s and booked myself in for an appointment. With the help of my partner, my mum and my psychologist I got through the hard time’s. I was prescribed Luvox by my GP and now I am on the road to recovery.
I hope that if your feeling like any of the symptoms listed that you tell someone or seek help. I could not have lived my life like i have in the last six months had I not got some sort of help or support.
(26/08/2004)
Hi, I have suffered from uni polar (acute depression) on and off for 10 years. I finally decided to do something about it earlier this year after a really sad break up with my partner.
My GP placed me on citalopram (Cipramil) 20mg initially then increased to 40mg daily which really knocked me around, I couldn't stop sweating, yawning, shivering, shaking, my anxiety increased considerably, I was itching all over from head to toe and I could not achieve an orgasm no matter how hard I tried, but the strangest thing was that no matter how anxious I was, I slept like a baby on this drug.
I put up with these side affects for almost 4 months because it was pulling me out of a very very dark place. Finally my GP decided to try me on something different. He placed me on fluvoxamine (Luvox) 50mg for the 1st week and now I'm onto 100mg daily.
After 3 days literally every single side effect I was experiencing from the Cipramil completely vanished. I don't feel like I'm medicated AT ALL. My depression and social phobia are almost non existant after taking this medication for only 6 weeks. It has worked wonderfully for me. Good luck finding the right medication everybody, it can take time.
Paul
(24/08/2004)
Hi,
Just thought Id post some positive feedback.
I was diagnosed with Panic Disorder (without agoraphobia) back in January. I also had developed adjustment disorder with anxious and depressed mood, and I suffer from intrusive/obsessional thoughts.
I have been taking Luvox for just over 3 months now.
I have found it to be excellent. It is the first time I have need to take any sort of psychiatric medication, but it seems to really be effective for my condition. Initially I experienced some side effects jittery syndrome - basically a "high" feeling where I was quite nervous and anxious), but this really settled after a couple of weeks.
I sleep extremely well on it, have no noticeable side effects as per the PI sheet, and am living a normal, happy, health life on the standard dose of 100mg/day. I have been diagnosed as being in early remission for Panic Disorder, and my other symptoms are under control. I do notice that I am on a drug at times, but it is a positive, comfortable experience and quite welcome compared to how I felt before.
I would recommend this ssri for people suffering from an anxiety disorder, and especially those who are on the obsessive side or have OCD. Anxiety disorders are always best treated in conjunction with therapy such as CBT, and always only take as directed.
The only feedback on the slightly negative side from me is that luvox has a really short half life. Its about 22 hrs with repeated dosing. This can mean that for 2-3 hrs prior to when your next dose is due you do notice that the effects have worn off a little. With most other ssris the half life is longer than 24hrs so this is not a real issue. The positive side of this is that the drug exits your system more quickly which means you can discontinue over a much shorter period (though still incrementally) than most other ssris.
This dose have the benefit that you get a little more experience learning to live without as much of the drug in your system each day. I choose to manage this by trying to have relaxation time during that period, and it works very well for me.
(08/06/2004)
I was on Avanza for two years which helped my depression more than any other drug I had ever taken but the side effects of fluic retention got so bad i had to stop. I have now been on Luvox for one month and don't know if it is helping much yet but I am having awful problems with nausea and reflux. I can eat very little without vomiting.
(07/01/2004)
I have taken anti-depressants off and on for the last 3 years for acute anxiety/ mild depression and am 39 years old .
I was first given Aropax (Paxil) which made me incredibly nauseous and sick even after persisting for over 4 weeks.
Next was Zoloft which was horrible. I persisted with it for 3 months but hated the way it made me feel, I felt like a robot, no highs, no lows, just a flatline existence. It also reduced my sex drive to zero.. the one positive thing in my life was taken away.
These two drugs seem to be the first two drugs prescribed for some reason, some people persist with them however I had been told if I had problems to try other medications, it's quite common for people to try two or three or even more different medications until they find one which is right.
Third drug was/is Faverin (Luvox) and is perfect, for me. I am on 100 mg daily and I feel "normal", like I'm not even on a drug. Thats the thing, with the first two drugs I FELT drugged but this one is just right for me, no nausea, no zombie like feeling.
I do notice that if I miss a dose or two I get a strange sensation every time I move my head suddenly or take a step... like the nerves under my skin are radiating throughout my body but I had this sensation from my anxiety before I started any drug so I assume it was more of a return of my initial symptoms rather than a withdrawal from the drug.
My advice would be to not persist with a drug that is not working well for you, there are many alternatives that may be far better.
(30/04/2003)
I had been taking Luvox 50mg for about 12 months due to depression, mild OCD, & panic attacks. Initially the side effects were dreadful, sweating hands and feet, dry mouth, tremors, paranoia, waking abruptly in the middle of the night for no apparent reason. I couldn't stand it. My GP convinced me to see it through 3 months before any real benefit could be seen.
How right she was - 3 months to the day & for the next 10 months life was good. Then it all came crashing down - my Luvox was increased slowly over the next month but still I felt no different. So many people have indicated that the medication sometimes just stops. Well for me it did. The doctor explained this as a "therapeutic window" - all goes along solidly and suddenly this window effect happens. So rather than stay in tears in bed, I was switched to Efexor XR 150 after withdrawing from the Luvox.
It was not fun coming off and starting all the side effects again with Efexor XR but at least I am functioning - be it all so sweaty and shaky.
Now I can get out of bed and NOT drown in a river of tears - so far anyway.
(14/03/2003)
I have been taking Luvox for 9 months and found it to be my saving grace. My depression ( now at least I know what I am suffering from) had gotten so bad that my husband of 12 years was ready to leave. I knew the things I was saying and doing were hurtful but seemed unable to control things at all.
Within a week of starting Luvox my moods were not as radical as they had been for the previous 2 - 3 years. I felt like a light had been turned on. Life didn't seem as horrid as it had.
I have found now that I am getting headaches and have gained over 6kgs so my doctor has switched me to another medication. I now realise that I may need help for a little longer but medication is better than living in the black hole I was in.
(12/02/2003)
I have been on Luvox 100mg for 12 months now since the birth of my 1st child after i was diagnosed with PND it has helped me overcome my illness and i feel better now than i ever have. I now being slowly weaned of by my doctor as we are in planning to have another baby.
(19/07/2002)
I have been taking luvox for almost a year now. I am just 19 and through my childhood years I was anxious, obsessive compulsive and worried frequently. I began to feel constant pain in parts of my body which I found was diagnosed as a major depressive disorder and mild obsessive compulsive disorder. When I began the medication I instantly felt better. I started off on half a tablet a day and felt like my life was just beginning. All my fear and worry dissipated however after a year its effectiveness is as great. I have been up to 300mg per day and with stress from unforseen circumstances during the year I have fallen back to an extent. However with the medication and cognitive therapy I have been able to limit the amount of depression I feel. The drug has been wonderful for me but in the long term I believe that I will have to look to other medication to maintain my serotonin level and sense of wellbeing. However in depression being on the medication significantly reduces the level I have felt from my illness ever before. It has given me a feeling that eventually I will beat this terrible disease and that I am not crazy. I have heard that a lack of serotonin can be a trigger for more aggressive behaviour and I certainly do have an anger problem. I believe that I can one day beat this because my tantrums, anxieties, nervousness and any other symptoms are much better than when I was younger. My sexual function has been slightly affected, I also find it hard to sleep and I have experienced increased urination.
(Jack)
(04/02/2002)
I have been on Luvox for one week now, and I feel like I am living in a totally different world than the one I was in. To start with you take half a tablet for 2 nights, and even the morning after that first dose I felt much much better. I had been wondering if it was my imagination, but after a week I just feel like I am getting better every day. I had some nausea and headaches this past week, but nowhere near what I was expecting, except that the nausea was a real 'sick' type of sick feeling, but its bearable. This feeling of having my mind back, my life back, and a future is amazing. It will be interesting to see how I feel after a few months, as the last medication I was on was making me feel sick after being on it for about 8 months.
Thanks
(Australangel - (Melbourne))
(29/08/2001)
Just a bit of feedback on Luvox. I have been on it for a year now. Started gradually from 50mg a day and got to 150mg a day.
I had no side effects initially which surprised many as it can make many patients too sedated. I had a rather agitated sort of
major depression with increase in weight, irritability, inability to make decisions or even think clearly and suicidal ideation
(relentlessly). The dose was raised to 200mg a day (divided ) when my improvement seemed to begin to unwind after
several months. I experienced vertigo over a period of a few weeks whenever I moved my head too quickly or got out of bed
too quickly . This vertigo would have been catastrophic had I been driving a car at the time but it passed. I don't advise anyone
to take it just before going to bed....I find it a little nauseating and I suspect it aggravates a mild oesophagitis which I have. It
has dulled my thoughts in a way but for now, that is infinitely better than the 'black dog of depression'.
cheers
(20/08/2001)
I'm on Luvox (i started 4 weeks ago) and i am also in Eutirox (hypothyroidism).I supposed my hypothyroidism symptoms would be gone by now, but instead some of them have been increased, specially my fog brain.I'm getting desperated and more and more depresed, I can´t cope with my work. I'm crying all the time (no matter the "originating cause")!!
In forums i read some luvox side effects like dizziness,agitation, anxiety and nervousness.
Do you think i'm getting the right treatment? Can the symptoms i've got be caused by the medication?
(21/07/2001)
I have been taking Fluvoxamine 50mg. for a little over 3 months and I went to my doctor for my yearly bloodwork. My glucose level was 198 which went up from 115 a year ago. I never had an abnormal glucose reading. Is one of the possible side effetcs hyperglycemia?
(09/06/2001)
I suffer from congenital depression which made it impossible for me to concentrate or function. After putting myself on imipramin some 20 years ago, I found that windows opened to the world for me. I later improved with prozac and am now on luvox which makes me anxious, but my concentration and memory have improved; I also suffered from panic attacks which the latter drug has practically eliminated. I suspect that depression is caused by a microbiological organism that will eventually be found and conquered and thereby depression should become a thing of the past.
Sent in By: Joe Lake
(13/01/2001)
I am currently on Fluvoxamine (Luvox), and have been since May 1999. The
dosage only went to 100 mg per day before I experienced a significant
improvement in mood, energy and concentration. I thought I had found THE
drug for me. And I still think that way, except I feel a little more
cautious as regards the bigger picture. The main side effects for me
were gastrointestinal (mainly abdominal discomfort and constipation) and
sexual dysfunction.
The depression lowered my libido (and general energy levels) anyway, but
the medication seemed to take away any sexual feeling altogether. This I
found to be too much to bear, particularly with respect to the effects
it had on my relationship. My partner has been very patient, much more
patient than me in fact.
I now take only 50 mg per day, which a doctor would probably say is not
going to make any difference. But I find it sufficient to keep my mood
reasonably balanced, without taking away my capacity for sexual
enjoyment.
Let me say, of course, that when depression has me by the neck, a
therapeutic dosage of medication is absolutely essential, as is talking
therapy and rest and time off from the world. But now that I am not in a
depressive phase, the low maintenance dose (as I like to call it) seems
to be enough.
You have to make adjustments according to what you deem to be most
important in life. I have juggled my medication (and other things like
work) in order to balance mental health, sexual health, physical comfort
and so forth. The longer I live, and the longer I reflect on my illness,
the more I learn about this equilibrium.
Sent in by: Sue.
(18/11/2000)
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