Has anyone taken Fluvoxamine aka Luvox or Faverin?

[yenool]

Has anyone taken Fluvoxamine, also known as Luvox or Faverin? It is an antidepressant and is often used for anxiety and OCD as well.

What was your experience with it?

thanks

[Emphyrio]

I tried it for around 10 weeks a year ago. It seemed to help my intrusive thoughts, even at just 50mg, but I felt 'wired' in a very nasty sense. I think it was probably a form of akathisia. It didn't do much for mood and motivation either really. Plus points - fewer cognitive problems than other antidepressants, and less sexual dysfunction too.

Fluoxetine at 20mg is the 'least worst' of all the drugs I've tried...also the one I'd taken for longest. Maybe my brain has just rebuilt itself around the drug, who knows?

[yenool]

I tried it for around 10 weeks a year ago. It seemed to help my intrusive thoughts, even at just 50mg, but I felt 'wired' in a very nasty sense. I think it was probably a form of akathisia. It didn't do much for mood and motivation either really. Plus points - fewer cognitive problems than other antidepressants, and less sexual dysfunction too.

Fluoxetine at 20mg is the 'least worst' of all the drugs I've tried...also the one I'd taken for longest. Maybe my brain has just rebuilt itself around the drug, who knows?

Yes, this 'wired', restless and agitated feeling is quite common I think. I have experienced it on nearly all the SSRI antidepressant medications I have tried.

I'm reluctant to try fluvoxamine for the same reason.... the doctor pushed the potential benefits quite hard but I'm not convinced. I know they help millions of other people but I wish the doctors would listen when I say this type of medication is unhelpful for me.

[Emphyrio]

Have you tried any of the tricyclic antidepressants? They come with a lot of side effects but are supposed to be more sedating. Also there are things like pregabalin and lamotrigine which can help with agitation.

I was quite interested in trying out clonidine so see if it worked more effectively than propranolol for restlessness, but the doctor was reluctant to prescribe it off-label, despite being non-abusable and dirt cheap.

[yenool]

Have you tried any of the tricyclic antidepressants? They come with a lot of side effects but are supposed to be more sedating. Also there are things like pregabalin and lamotrigine which can help with agitation.

I was quite interested in trying out clonidine so see if it worked more effectively than propranolol for restlessness, but the doctor was reluctant to prescribe it off-label, despite being non-abusable and dirt cheap.

Yeah I tried a couple of tricyclics without much luck either.

I really don't understand why the consultant recommended another SSRI when my GP already tried me on most of them. The more I think about it the more annoyed I am really, I waited months to see a 'specialist' who then recommended something my GP already agreed is pointless; it is like all my past history has been ignored. I feel it is time to try something completely different and maybe off label as you suggest.

[Emphyrio]

Hmmm...some natural suggestions could be high dose Omega 3, several grammes of L-tyrosine, Rhodiola Rosea or Ginseng. Though I think these all work more on depression rather than anxiety. Another extremely effective antidepressant is one of the psychostimulant 'research chemicals' such as ethylphenidate, which functions as a potent dopamine reuptake inhibitor with weak NRI action in comparison.

Bupropion could work if you found a doc that was willing to prescribe it but because it has high affinity for noradrenalin could be overly stimulating.

[yenool]

Hmmm...some natural suggestions could be high dose Omega 3, several grammes of L-tyrosine, Rhodiola Rosea or Ginseng. Though I think these all work more on depression rather than anxiety. Another extremely effective antidepressant is one of the psychostimulant 'research chemicals' such as ethylphenidate, which functions as a potent dopamine reuptake inhibitor with weak NRI action in comparison.

Bupropion could work if you found a doc that was willing to prescribe it but because it has high affinity for noradrenalin could be overly stimulating.

I already take some supplements like vitamin D, omega 3, B vitamins and so on. I would not consider any 'research chemicals', that is far too risky for my tastes.

I would consider Wellbutrin/Bupropion but as you suggest, not easy to get prescribed here in the UK as it isn't licensed for depression. Also my understanding is that it is a weak antidepressant anyway, but I would consider it regardless.

[irp74]

I have just switched to Fluvoxamine after finding Clomipramine didn't work for my OCD anymore. Initial starting dose is 50mg and I go up to 100mg this evening. I am pleased with how well they work for the OCD and my mood has lifted also in the last 2 days. I still feel a bit anxious but understand it can take a while to get used too. Having read up a lot on these, common practice is to start at 50mg and increase in 50mg doses until the person feels they are ok. I will post back and let you know how I get on with the double dose soon. I am also finding so far that the side effects are less