Fluvoxamine maleate (sold under the brand-names Luvox® and Faverin®) is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor. It is used primarily to treat depression, anxiety and OCD.

Although its effects are similar to other SSRIs it acts on the body's neurochemistry differently. For this reason, fluvoxamine can be of benefit to patients who experience unusual or limiting side-effects from other antidepressants. Fluvoxamine also appears to cause less side-effects than other SSRIs, in particular with relation to loss of sex-drive.

Fluvoxamine has the shortest half-life of all the SSRIs. Its mean serum half-life is 15 hours after a single dose, and 17 to 22 hours after repeated dosing.

Effective dosage

For depression and anxiety dosage normally starts at 50 milligrams per day, rising to 100 milligrams after a few days. It may be raised after evaluation of the effects by a doctor.

Fluvoxamine is generally only effective for OCD at 150 milligrams and above, and dosages can reach 300 milligrams or more for some patients.

An alleged side-effect of Fluvoxamine is a loss of empathy for other human beings. Eric Harris had been prescribed and was taking Luvox® at the time of the Columbine High School massacre.