What
is this medicine for?
FAVERIN treats depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). It
works by boosting serotonin — a natural chemical in your brain that helps
regulate mood, anxiety, and repetitive thoughts. It is one of the most proven
medicines for OCD.
It may be prescribed for:
• Major depression — persistent low
mood, loss of interest, fatigue
• OCD — unwanted, repetitive thoughts
and compulsions, in adults and children aged 8 and above
How
do I take it?
For depression:
• Start with 50 mg once daily, in the
evening
• Your doctor may gradually increase
this every 4–7 days up to a maximum of 300 mg per day
• Doses above 150 mg should be split
into morning and evening
For OCD:
• Start with 50 mg once daily for 3–4
days, then increase as directed
• Most adults need 100–300 mg per day
• Children and teenagers: maximum 200
mg per day
General tips:
• Swallow the tablet whole with water —
do not crush or chew
• Can be taken with or without food
• Take it in the evening to reduce
daytime drowsiness
• Give the medicine at least 4–6 weeks
before deciding if it is working
|
⚠️ IMPORTANT |
Never stop this
medicine suddenly. Always reduce the dose slowly with your doctor's guidance
to avoid withdrawal effects like dizziness, nausea, and 'electric shock'
sensations. |
What
side effects might I notice?
Very common (affects more than 1 in 10 people):
• Nausea — usually improves after the
first 2 weeks. Try taking with food.
• Sleepiness — taking the tablet at
bedtime helps
• Headache, difficulty sleeping, or
feeling restless in the first few weeks
• Diarrhoea, dry mouth, or constipation
Common:
• Sexual side effects — reduced sex
drive, delayed orgasm
• Sweating, tremor, or palpitations
• Modest weight changes
|
🚨 SERIOUS — SEEK HELP
IMMEDIATELY |
Contact your doctor
right away if you notice: worsening depression or thoughts of self-harm
(especially in the first 4 weeks, particularly in people under 25);
confusion, muscle twitching, fast heartbeat, or high temperature (these could
be serotonin syndrome — a medical emergency); confusion or dizziness in
elderly patients (could mean low sodium). |
Who
should NOT take this medicine?
• Anyone taking MAOIs (phenelzine,
tranylcypromine, linezolid) — wait at least 14 days after stopping a MAOI
before starting FAVERIN
• Anyone taking tizanidine (a muscle
relaxant) — dangerous combination
• Anyone taking thioridazine, pimozide,
or alosetron
• Anyone allergic to fluvoxamine
Important
interactions
FAVERIN interacts with many common medicines. Always tell your doctor and
pharmacist ALL medicines you take, including:
• Blood thinners (warfarin) — FAVERIN
raises warfarin levels; regular INR blood tests needed
• Clozapine (for schizophrenia) —
FAVERIN can increase clozapine levels up to 10-fold; specialist monitoring is essential
• Theophylline (for asthma) — dose
reduction needed
• Tramadol, triptans, St John's Wort —
increased risk of serotonin syndrome
• Even caffeine levels rise — you may
want to cut back on coffee
Frequently
Asked Questions
❓ How long before I feel better?
Sleep, energy, and appetite often improve within 1–2 weeks. Mood
improvements usually take 4–6 weeks. For OCD, significant relief may take 8–12
weeks. Please give it an adequate trial before concluding it is not working.
❓ Why can't I stop suddenly?
Stopping abruptly commonly causes dizziness, nausea, flu-like feelings,
and electric shock sensations. These are not dangerous but are very unpleasant.
Always taper the dose gradually over several weeks under your doctor's
guidance.
❓ Can I drink alcohol?
It is best to avoid alcohol while taking FAVERIN. Alcohol can worsen
depression, enhance drowsiness, and reduce the medicine's effectiveness.
Occasional, moderate social drinking is unlikely to cause serious harm, but
regular drinking is strongly discouraged.
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