Dr. Ogbru received his Doctorate in Pharmacy from the University of the Pacific School of Pharmacy in 1995. He completed a Pharmacy Practice Residency at the University of Arizona/University Medical Center in 1996. He was a Professor of Pharmacy Practice and a Regional Clerkship Coordinator for the University of the Pacific School of Pharmacy from 1996-99.
Jay W. Marks, MD, is a board-certified internist and gastroenterologist. He graduated from Yale University School of Medicine and trained in internal medicine and gastroenterology at UCLA/Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
DRUG CLASS AND MECHANISM: Fluvoxamine is a drug that is used for
treating several psychiatric disorders. It is a member of the class of drugs
called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), a class that also
includes fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft), and paroxetine (Paxil).
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors affect neurotransmitters, chemicals that
nerves in the brain use to communicate with each other. Neurotransmitters are
released by nerves, travel across the spaces between nerves and then attach to
receptors on other nerves. Many experts believe that an imbalance in
neurotransmitters is the cause of depression and other psychiatric disorders.
Fluvoxamine works by inhibiting the uptake of serotonin, a neurotransmitter,
from the spaces between nerve cells following its release. Therefore, there is
more serotonin available in the spaces to attach to other nerves and stimulate
them. Fluvoxamine was approved by the FDA for the treatment of
obsessive-compulsive disorder in December 1994.
PRESCRIPTION: Yes
GENERIC AVAILABLE: Yes
PREPARATIONS: Tablets: 25, 50 and 100 mg. Tablets (extended release):
100 and 150 mg.
STORAGE: Tablets should be kept at room temperature, 15- 30 C (59-86
F).
DOSING: The usual starting dose for adults is 50 mg daily given as a
single dose at bedtime. The dose may be increased in 50 mg increments every 4-7
days to achieve the desired response. The maximum dose is 300 mg/day. Doses
greater than 100 mg should be administered as a divided dose. When using
extended release tablets the starting dose is 100 mg at bedtime and the maximum
dose is 300 mg.
Children (8 to 17 years old) should start with 25 mg daily given
at bedtime, and the dose may be increased by 25 mg every 4-7 days up to a
maximum of 200 mg/day (8-11 years old) or 300 mg/day (12-17 years old). Doses
greater than 50 mg should be administered as a divided dose.
DRUG INTERACTIONS: All SSRIs, including fluvoxamine, should not be
taken with any of the mono-amine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) class of
antidepressants such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil),
tranylcypromine (Parnate), and procarbazine (Matulane). Such combinations may
lead to confusion, high blood pressure, tremor, and increased activity.
Fluvoxamine should not be administered within 14 days of discontinuing an MAO
inhibitor, and MAO inhibitors should not be administered within 14 days of
stopping fluvoxamine. Similar reactions occur if fluvoxamine is combined with
other drugs, for example, tryptophan, St. John's wort, meperidine (Demerol), and
tramadol (Ultram) that increase serotonin in the brain.
Depression is an illness that involves the body, mood, and thoughts and affects the way a person eats and sleeps, the way one feels about oneself, and the way one thinks about things. The principal types of depression are major depression, dysthymia, and bipolar disease (also called manic-depressive disease).
Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder that causes a person to suffer repeated obsessions and compulsions. Symptoms include irresistible impulses despite a person's realization that the thoughts are irrational, excessive hand washing, skin picking, lock checking, or repeatedly rearranging items. People with OCD are more likely to develop trichotillomania, muscle or vocal tics, or an eating disorder. Treatment for OCD includes psychotherapy, behavioral therapy, and medication.
Fragile X syndrome is the most common inherited form of mental retardation. It's caused by a mutation on the X chromosome. People with Fragile X syndrome suffer from physical, social, emotional, speech, language, sensory, intelligence, and learning impairments. There is no definitive treatment for Fragile X, though there are ways to minimize the symptoms.
Phobias are unrelenting fears of activities (social phobias), situations (agoraphobia), and specific items (arachnophobia). There is thought to be a hereditary component to phobias, though there may be a cultural influence or they may be triggered by life events. Symptoms and signs of phobias include having a panic attack, shaking, breathing troubles, rapid heart beat, and a strong desire to escape the situation. Treatment of phobias typically involves desensitization, cognitive behavioral therapy, and medications such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and beta blockers.
Separation anxiety disorder is a common childhood anxiety disorder that has many causes. Infants, children, older kids and adults can suffer from symptoms of separation anxiety disorder. Common treatment methods include therapy and medications.
Dysthymia is a less severe form of chronic depression. Symptoms and signs include insomnia, suicidal thoughts, guilt, empty feeling, loss of energy, helplessness, sluggishness, and persistent aches and pains. Treatment may involve psychotherapy, electroconvulsive therapy, and antidepressants.
Compulsive gambling is a disorder that affects millions in the U.S. Symptoms and signs include a preoccupation with gambling, lying to family or loved ones to hide gambling, committing crimes to finance gambling, and risking importance relationships and employment due to gambling. Treatment may incorporate participation in Gamblers' Anonymous, psychotherapy, and medications like carbamazepine, topiramate, lithium, naltrexone, antidepressants, clomipramine, and fluvoxamine.
Postpartum depression is a form of depression that occurs within a year after delivery. It is thought that rapid hormone changes after childbirth may lead to depression. Symptoms of postpartum depression include crying a lot, headaches, chest pains, eating too little or too much, sleeping too little or too much, withdrawal from friends and family, and feeling irritable, sad, hopeless, worthless, guilty, and overwhelmed. Treatment typically involves talk therapy and medication.
Panic attacks may be symptoms of an anxiety disorder. These attacks are a
serious health problem in the U.S. At least 20% of adult Americans, or about 60
million people, will suffer from panic attacks at some point in their lives.
About 1.7% of adult Americans, or about 3 million people, will have full-blown
panic disorder at some time in their lives, twice as often for women than men. The peak age at which people have their first panic attack (onset) is 15-19 years. Another fact about panic is that this symptom is strikingly different from other types of anxiety; panic attacks are so very sudden and often unexpected, appear to be unprovoked, and are often disabling.
Childhood panic disorder facts include that about 0.7% of children suffer from
panic disorder or generalized anxiety disorder and that although panic is found
to occur twice as often in women compared to men, boys and girls tend to
experience this disorder a...
Depression RSS
Healthy Living Tips
This site complies with the