Prescription medication · Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI)
fluvoxamine
Also sold as Luvox. Fluvoxamine is used to treat obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).
Data updated 2026-05-15
- 2,289
- FDA reportsLightly reported
- 40
- InteractionsMany interactions
- $5.12
- Generic price (NADAC)
What the data shows
fluvoxamine (Luvox) is a prescription Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI), among the least-reported drugs the FDA tracks (2,289 FDA reports), with 40 documented drug interactions.
Reporting volume reflects how widely a drug is used and studied, not how dangerous it is, a FAERS report documents a temporal association, never proof of cause.
fluvoxamine (Luvox) is a prescription Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI). Fluvoxamine is used to treat obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).
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).
Verify with FDA → · CMS NADAC pricing →
Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Generic Price
$5.12/unit
Generic Available
Yes (9 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
Fluvoxamine is used to treat obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).
Common side effects
Abnormal ejaculation, Loss of appetite, Problems having an orgasm
Key warnings
Antidepressants may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or actions in children, teenagers, and young adults.
The sections below are summarized in plain English from fluvoxamine's FDA-approved prescribing information. They describe what the official label says, and are not personal medical advice.
How It Works
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.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 2,289 FDA adverse event reports.
Most-reported reactions
Adverse reactions in FAERS for fluvoxamine, by number of reports
- Drug Interaction
Drug Interaction
215 reports
- Nausea
Nausea
117 reports
- Somnolence
Somnolence
114 reports
- Anxiety
Anxiety
103 reports
- Suicidal Ideation
Suicidal Ideation
96 reports
- Depression
Depression
93 reports
- Dizziness
Dizziness
87 reports
- Fatigue
Fatigue
86 reports
- Headache
Headache
86 reports
- Insomnia 83
Insomnia
83 reports
What this shows Bars show how often each reaction was reported, not how likely it is to happen, a report records a temporal association, never proof that the drug caused it.
Reports over time
Adverse-event reports filed for fluvoxamine each year to the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).
Year-to-year volume tracks usage, prescribing, and scrutiny, not a change in per-patient risk. Source: FDA FAERS.
Where fluvoxamine sits
fluvoxamine has more FDA adverse-event reports than 15% of the drugs FAERS tracks. A high position reflects how widely a drug is used and watched, not how dangerous it is.
Percentile across all drugs PlainMeds tracks by FAERS report volume. The dot is fluvoxamine; the line is the median (50th percentile).
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 2,289 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2004–2025.
Total Reports
2,289
Reports Mentioning Death
254
11.1% of reports — not proof of cause
Hospitalization Reports
876
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | DRUG INTERACTION | 215 |
| 3 | NAUSEA | 117 |
| 4 | SOMNOLENCE | 114 |
| 5 | ANXIETY | 103 |
| 6 | SUICIDAL IDEATION | 96 |
| 7 | DEPRESSION | 93 |
| 8 | DIZZINESS | 87 |
| 9 | FATIGUE | 86 |
| 10 | HEADACHE | 86 |
| 11 | INSOMNIA | 83 |
| 12 | SEROTONIN SYNDROME | 81 |
| 13 | PYREXIA | 80 |
| 14 | CONDITION AGGRAVATED | 79 |
| 15 | SUICIDE ATTEMPT | 77 |
| 16 | TREMOR | 77 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
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.
Known Drug Interactions
( 7.2 , 12.3 ) 7.1 Strong CYP1A2 Inhibitors Concomitant use of tizanidine with strong cytochrome P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) inhibitors (e.g., fluvoxamine, ciprofloxacin) is contraindicated.
Mechanism: Fluvoxamine blocks the enzyme that normally clears tizanidine from your body. This leads to much higher amounts of tizanidine in your blood than intended.
Lithium: As with other serotonergic drugs, lithium may enhance the serotonergic effects of fluvoxamine and, therefore, the combination should be used with caution. Seizures have been reported with the coadministration of immediate-release fluvoxamine maleate tablets and lithium.
Mechanism: Both drugs affect a brain chemical called serotonin, and taking them together can cause too much serotonin activity or even seizures.
Drug Interactions In patients receiving nonselective monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors in combination with serotoninergic agents (e.g., dexfenfluramine, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, paroxetine, sertraline, citalopram, venlafaxine) there have been reports of serious, sometimes fatal, reactions.
Mechanism: Both drugs increase the amount of serotonin in your brain, which can cause a very dangerous and life-threatening reaction.
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...
Mechanism: 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.
Propranolol or Metoprolol: Reduce dose if coadministered with fluvoxamine and titrate more cautiously ( 7.3 ) . One case of bradycardia and hypotension and a second case of orthostatic hypotension have been reported with the coadministration of immediate-release fluvoxamine maleate tablets and metoprolol. If propranolol or metoprolol is coadministered with fluvoxamine maleate extended-release capsules, a reduction in the initial beta-blocker dose and more cautious dose titration are recommended.
Mechanism: Fluvoxamine slows down how your body processes metoprolol. This can cause the heart medicine to build up, leading to a dangerously slow heart rate or low blood pressure.
This is a plain-language summary of FDA-label interaction records and does not provide individual medication-combination directions.
Common Questions
Can I stop taking fluvoxamine suddenly?
Can I drink alcohol while taking fluvoxamine?
How long does it take for fluvoxamine to start working?
What should I do if I experience side effects?
Can I take other medications with fluvoxamine?
What if the lowest dose is still too strong for my child?
How often will my doctor check on me while I'm taking this?
What if I have liver problems?
Can smoking affect this medicine?
What if I'm over 65?
What are the common side effects of fluvoxamine?
Does fluvoxamine interact with other medications?
What drug class is fluvoxamine?
What pregnancy or breastfeeding source fields are listed for fluvoxamine?
Related Medications in Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI)
Other drugs grouped near fluvoxamine - same-class peers and common alternatives.
acamprosate
Campral
Acamprosate is a medicine that can help you stay away from alcohol if you are alcohol-dependent and have already stopped drinking.
Compare with fluvoxamine →
alprazolam
Xanax
Alprazolam (Xanax) is a medication that can help you with anxiety and panic disorders.
Compare with fluvoxamine →
amitriptyline
Elavil
Amitriptyline is a medicine used to treat depression.
Compare with fluvoxamine →
amphetamine/dextroamphetamine
Adderall, Adderall XR
Adderall XR is a stimulant medicine.
Compare with fluvoxamine →
aripiprazole
Abilify
Aripiprazole (Abilify) is a medicine used to treat certain mental disorders and mood problems.
Compare with fluvoxamine →
Compare beyond drug class
Nationwide peers by FAERS volume & death-report share
Two PlainMeds-derived comparison paths for fluvoxamine: nearest FDA FAERS report volume and nearest death-report share among drugs with at least 1,000 logged reports, excluding same-class neighbors listed above. Counts reflect reporting volume, not proven individual harm.
Similar FAERS report volume
Nearest drugs by total FAERS reports. This record: 2,289.
Similar death-report share
Nearest drugs by FAERS death-report share. This record: 11.10%.
- clopidogrel Δ 0.00 pts · 192,921 reports · Antiplatelet Agent 11.10%death share
- tamsulosin Δ 0.01 pts · 18,628 reports · Alpha-1 Adrenergic Blocker 11.09%death share
- ascorbic acid Δ 0.04 pts · 22,556 reports · Vitamin C Supplement 11.13%death share
- desvenlafaxine Δ 0.08 pts · 3,267 reports · Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor (SNRI) 11.02%death share
Medication Guides
Understanding Drug Interactions
How CYP450 enzymes, inhibitors, and inducers affect your medications
Generic vs Brand Name Drugs
FDA requirements, cost savings, and when the difference matters
Narrow Therapeutic Index Drugs
FDA bioequivalence and label-record context for narrow therapeutic index medicines
Common Drug Interactions
Dangerous medication combinations and how to protect yourself
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What the FDA Data Shows for fluvoxamine
The FDA label for fluvoxamine (sold under brand names such as Luvox) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) class. Fluvoxamine is used to treat obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Official labeling lists 9 commonly reported side effects, including Abnormal ejaculation, Loss of appetite, Problems having an orgasm.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 2,289 voluntary reports. The database also lists 40 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated major severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $5.12.
Report counts do not establish causation, a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history, and patent information are separate source-record fields. This page is a public FDA/CMS registry and does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC).
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. This registry does not provide medication decisions.
Last updated: November 4, 2025
PlainMeds is rendered directly from FDA openFDA/FAERS extracts, DailyMed labels, and CMS drug-pricing files, no number is typed in by an editor. FAERS counts, recalls, shortages, and price figures on this page are queried live from those federal extracts. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-05-15. Primary sources: openFDA / FAERS, DailyMed and CMS Part B ASP.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Data currency: FDA FAERS adverse-event reports through 2025, CMS NADAC acquisition-cost pricing effective December 2024, compiled from the source snapshot dated . See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a data issue.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book - approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed - NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) - post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm - standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files - federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database - current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages