Fluvoxamine (Cont.)

Fluvoxamine: What Should I Tell My Healthcare Provider?

You should talk with your healthcare provider prior to taking fluvoxamine if you have:
 
Also let your healthcare provider know if you:
 
You should also make sure to tell your healthcare provider about all of the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
 
(Click Precautions and Warnings With Fluvoxamine for more information on this topic, including information on who should not take fluvoxamine.)
 

How Does Fluvoxamine Work?

Fluvoxamine is part of a class of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs for short. SSRIs, such as fluvoxamine, affect a specific chemical within the brain known as serotonin. Serotonin is one of several chemicals used to send messages from one nerve cell to another.
 
As a message travels down a nerve, it causes the end of the cell to release serotonin. The serotonin enters the gap between the first nerve cell and the one next to it. When enough serotonin reaches the second nerve cell, it activates receptors on the cell and the message continues on its way. The first cell then quickly absorbs any serotonin that remains in the gap between the cells. This is called "reuptake."
 
Normally, this process works without any problems. But when the levels of serotonin become unbalanced, it can cause a variety of conditions, including OCD. Fluvoxamine helps to block the reuptake of serotonin so that more serotonin remains in the space between the brain's nerve cells. This gives the serotonin a better chance of activating the receptors on the next nerve cell.
 
(Fluvoxamine Continued: Page 3)

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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;