Faverin

What is it?

An antidepressant drug of a type known as 5HT reuptake inhibitors, available as film-coated, scored, white tablets. Round tablets contain 50mg of fluvoxamine maleate, marked 291 and 5; oval ones contain 100mg of fluvoxamine maleate, marked 313 and S.

Medical Uses

Depression, obsessive compulsive disorder.

Dosage

Adults, 100mg taken at night in first instance with a normal maintenance dose in the order of 100-200mg each day in divided doses. The maximum dose is 300mg each day. Review treatment of obsessive compulsive disorder after 10 weeks if no improvement has occurred.

Special Care

Pregnancy, breast-feeding, diabetes, kidney or liver disease, history of epilepsy, bleeding disorders, mania, hypomania. Drug should be gradually withdrawn.

Avoid Use

Children, patients who have stopped taking MAOIs in last two weeks or those who finished moclobemide on the previous day.

Possible Drug and Food Interactions

Alcohol, benzodiazepines, tryptophan, MAOIs, lithium, carbamazepine, drugs affecting blood platelets, serotonergic (affecting secretion of serotonin) drugs, propanolol, phenytoin, tryptophan, theophylline, tricyclic antidepressants, aminophylline, St John's Wort, warfarin, clozapine.

Known Side Effects

Gastrointestinal upset, malaise, nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting, weakness, dry mouth, nervousness, sleepiness, anorexia, headaches, anxiety, convulsions, tremor, rapid heartbeat, palpitations.