Faverin (fluvoxamine)

How does it work?

Faverin tablets contain the active ingredient fluvoxamine maleate, which is a type of antidepressant known as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). (NB. Fluvoxamine is also available without a brand name, ie as the generic medicine.)

Antidepressant medicines act on nerve cells in the brain. In the brain there are numerous different chemical compounds called neurotransmitters. These act as chemical messengers between the nerve cells. Serotonin is one such neurotransmitter and has various functions that we know of.

When serotonin is released from nerve cells in the brain it acts to lighten mood. When it is reabsorbed into the nerve cells, it no longer has an effect on mood. It is thought that when depression occurs, there may be a decreased amount of serotonin released from nerve cells in the brain.

SSRIs work by preventing serotonin from being reabsorbed back into the nerve cells in the brain. This helps prolong the mood lightening effect of any released serotonin. In this way, fluvoxamine helps relieve depression.

Fluvoxamine may also be used in the treatment of obsessive compulsive disorder. It is not fully understood how it works in this illness.

It may take between two to four weeks for the benefits of this medicine to appear, so it is very important that you keep taking it, even if it doesn't seem to make much difference at first. If you feel your depression has got worse, or if you have any distressing thoughts or feelings in these first few weeks, then you should talk to your doctor.

What is it used for?

Depressive illness.

A psychiatric disorder in which tasks are excessively repeated (obsessive-compulsive disorder).

Warning!

Depression and other pschiatric illnesses are associated with an increased risk of suicidal thoughts, self-harm, and suicide. You should be aware that this medicine may not start to make you feel better for at least two to four weeks. However, it is important that you keep taking it in order for it to work properly and for you to feel better. If you feel your depression or anxiety has got worse, or if you have any distressing thoughts, or feelings about suicide or harming yourself in these first few weeks, or indeed at any point during treatment or after stopping treatment, then it is very important to talk to your doctor.

This medicine should not be used for the treatment of depression in children and adolescents under 18 years of age. It may be used to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder in children aged over eight years, however, long-term safety data in children and adolescents, especially related to growth, sexual function, and cognitive and behavioural development, are lacking. Children and adolescents may also be more susceptible to hostility and suicidal thoughts or behaviour when starting treatment with antidepressants. Their growth and devlopement should be carefully monitored and they should be encouraged to report any distressing feelings, thoughts about suicide or self-harm, irritability, mood changes or other unusual change in behaviour that they may experience while taking the medicine. If you are worried about your child at any point it is important to talk to your doctor immediately.

This medicine may reduce your ability to drive or operate machinery safely. Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how this medicine affects you and you are sure it won't affect your performance.

It is recommended that you avoid drinking alcohol while taking this medicine.

Fluvoxamine can prevent the breakdown of caffeine consumed in, for example, coffee, tea and cola drinks. This may cause symptoms such as tremor, palpitations, nausea, restlessness or insomnia. For this reason you should avoid consuming large amounts of caffeine while taking this medicine.

SSRI antidepressants have been associated with the development of unpleasant or distressing restlessness and the need to move, often accompanied by an inability to sit or stand still. This is most likely to occur within the first few weeks of treatment. If you experience these symptoms you should consult your doctor.

Antidepressants may cause the amount of sodium in the blood to drop - a condition called hyponatraemia. This can cause symptoms such as drowsiness, confusion, muscle twitching or convulsions. Elderly people may be particularly susceptible to this effect. You should consult your doctor if you develop any of these symptoms while taking this medicine, so that your blood sodium level can be checked if necessary.

If you experience seizures (convulsions or fits) while taking this medicine, consult your doctor immediately, as you will need to stop treatment with this medicine. This also applies if you suffer from epilepsy and experience more seizures than normal after starting this medicine.

You should not suddenly stop taking this medicine, as this can cause withdrawal symptoms such as dizziness, sleep disturbances (including intense dreams), nausea, headache, a feeling of weakness, pins and needles and anxiety. Withdrawal symptoms are temporary and are not due to addiction or dependence on the medicine. They can usually be avoided by stopping the medicine gradually, usually over a period of weeks or months, depending on your individual situation. Follow the instructions given by your doctor when it is time to stop treatment with this medicine. On very rare occasions some people have experienced withdrawal symptoms after accidentally missing a dose of this medicine.

Use with caution in

Elderly people

Young adults

History of suicidal behaviour or thoughts

History of mania or hypomania

People also receiving electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)

Decreased kidney function

Decreased liver function

Heart disease

People who have recently had a heart attack

Diabetes

Epilepsy

History of seizures

History of bleeding disorders

Glaucoma

People taking medicine that affects blood clotting (eg anticoagulants such as warfarin - see end of factsheet for more details).

Not to be used in

Children and adolescents under 18 years of age for the treatment of depressive illness

People who have taken a monoamine-oxidase inhibitor antidepressant (MAOI) in the last 14 days

Manic episodes of manic depression

Uncontrolled epilepsy.

This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy. If you feel you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using this medicine and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Certain medicines should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, other medicines may be safely used in pregnancy or breastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn baby. Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, before using any medicine.

The safety of this medicine in pregnancy has not been established. It should therefore be used with caution during pregnancy, and only if the benefits to the mother outweigh any risks to the foetus. There have been isolated cases of withdrawal symptoms in newborn babies of women who took fluvoxamine at the end of their pregnancies. Seek medical advice from your doctor if you get pregnant or plan to have a baby while taking this medicine.

This medicine passes into breast milk. Mothers who need to take this medicine should discuss the risks and benefits of breastfeeding with their doctor. Seek medical advice from your doctor.

Side effects

Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.

Disturbances of the gut such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation or abdominal pain

Headache

Weakness or loss of strength (asthenia)

A general feeling of being unwell (malaise)

Awareness of your heart beat (palpitations)

Faster than normal heart beat (tachycardia)

Loss of appetite

Dry mouth

Anxiety and agitation

Dizziness

Difficulty in sleeping (insomnia)

Sleepiness (somnolence)

Sweating

Shaking, usually of the hands (tremor)

Confusion

Sexual problems

Seizures (convulsions)

Abnormal liver function

The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the drug's manufacturer. For more information about any other possible risks associated with this medicine, please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor or pharmacist.

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