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fluvoxamine vs tasimelteon

Side-by-side comparison of fluvoxamine and tasimelteon. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.

moderate Known Drug Interaction

7 DRUG INTERACTIONS Strong CYP1A2 inhibitors (e.g., fluvoxamine): Avoid use of tasimelteon in combination with strong CYP1A2 inhibitors because of increased exposure ( 7.1 , 12.3 ) Strong CYP3A4 inducers (e.g., rifampin): Avoid use of tasimelteon in combination with rifampin or other CYP3A4 inducers, because of decreased exposure ( 7.2 , 12.3 ) 7.1 Strong CYP1A2 Inhibitors (e.g., fluvoxamine) Avoid use of tasimelteon in combination with fluvoxamine or other strong CYP1A2 inhibitors because of a potentially large increase in tasimelteon exposure and greater risk of adverse reactions [see...

Recommendation: Do not take these two medications at the same time. Your doctor should find an alternative treatment to avoid high drug levels.

Drug Class
fluvoxamine Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI)
tasimelteon Melatonin Receptor Agonist
Type
fluvoxamine Prescription
tasimelteon Prescription
Summary
fluvoxamine

Fluvoxamine is a medicine that can help treat obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). It belongs to a class of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).

tasimelteon

Tasimelteon (Hetlioz) is a medicine that helps people with Non-24-Hour Sleep-Wake Disorder (Non-24) sleep better. It works by acting like melatonin in your body.

What It Treats
fluvoxamine

Fluvoxamine is used to treat obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). OCD involves having constant, unwanted thoughts or behaviors that you feel the need to repeat. These thoughts or actions can cause you distress and interfere with your daily life.

tasimelteon

Tasimelteon is used to treat Non-24-Hour Sleep-Wake Disorder (Non-24) in adults. Non-24 is a condition where your body's natural sleep-wake cycle is longer than 24 hours. This medicine can help you sleep better at night.

How It Works
fluvoxamine

Fluvoxamine works by increasing the amount of serotonin in your brain. Serotonin is a chemical that helps regulate mood. By increasing serotonin, fluvoxamine can help reduce the symptoms of OCD.

tasimelteon

Tasimelteon is a melatonin receptor agonist. This means it works like melatonin, a natural hormone in your body that helps regulate sleep. By acting like melatonin, tasimelteon helps to adjust your body's sleep-wake cycle.

Common Side Effects
fluvoxamine
  • Abnormal ejaculation
  • Loss of appetite
  • Problems having an orgasm
  • Weakness
  • Diarrhea
tasimelteon
  • Headache
  • Increased liver enzyme (alanine aminotransferase)
  • Nightmares or unusual dreams
  • Upper respiratory tract infection
  • Urinary tract infection
FAERS Reports
fluvoxamine
  • This medicine is interacting with another medicine 215
  • Feeling sick to your stomach 117
  • Sleepiness 114
  • Feeling worried or nervous 103
  • Thinking about suicide 96
tasimelteon
  • Trouble falling asleep or staying asleep 727
  • Waking up in the middle of the night 412
  • Sleepiness 408
  • Headache 384
  • Nightmare 268
Serious Warnings
fluvoxamine

Antidepressants may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or actions in children, teenagers, and young adults. Tell your doctor right away if you have any sudden changes in mood, behavior, thoughts, or feelings, especially if they are new, get worse, or worry you. Watch for suicidal thoughts or actions. Families and caregivers should also be aware of these risks.

tasimelteon

After taking tasimelteon, limit your activities to getting ready for bed. This medicine can make you sleepy and affect your ability to think clearly.

Pregnancy
fluvoxamine

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Fluvoxamine may cause problems for the baby if taken during pregnancy. Fluvoxamine can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby.

tasimelteon

There isn't enough information about using tasimelteon during pregnancy to know if it's safe. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if tasimelteon passes into breast milk, so discuss breastfeeding with your doctor.

Also Compare, Nearby Drugs

How to Read This fluvoxamine vs tasimelteon Comparison

fluvoxamine is classified in the Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) drug class, while tasimelteon sits within the Melatonin Receptor Agonist class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.

Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, fluvoxamine has 645 submissions while tasimelteon has 2,199. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known moderate interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to fluvoxamine blocks the enzyme that normally breaks down tasimelteon. this causes tasimelteon to build up in your body, which increases the risk of side effects.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.

A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between fluvoxamine and tasimelteon - always consult your physician or pharmacist first.

Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.