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FLUVOXAMINE (FLV) or Fluoxetine 50mg for COVID-19

Fluvoxamine and fluoxetine are an older anti-depressant medicines (SSRI’s) that affect serotonin levels and activates the anti-inflammatory Sigma 1 receptor.

Multiple trials now show that FLV prevents severe disease and reverses COVID symptoms within 3 days if started early. Watch the 60 minutes report.

For a review of the current controlled trials of fluvoxamine, please visit https://c19fluvoxamine.com/meta.html.

ALERT: US Boxed Warning
Suicidality and antidepressant drugs:

Antidepressants increased the risk compared with placebo of suicidal thinking and behavior (suicidality) in short-term studies in children, adolescents, and young adults with major depressive disorder (MDD) and other psychiatric disorders. Anyone considering the use of fluvoxamine in a child, adolescent, or young adult must balance this risk with the clinical need. Short-term studies did not show an increase in the risk of suicidality with antidepressants compared with placebo in adults older than 24 years; there was a reduction in risk with antidepressants compared with placebo in adults 65 years and older.

Contraindications

Concurrent use with alosetron, pimozide, thioridazine, or tizanidine; use of MAO inhibitors intended to treat psychiatric disorders (concurrently or within 14 days of discontinuing either fluvoxamine or the MAO inhibitor); initiation of fluvoxamine in a patient receiving linezolid or intravenous methylene blue.

Administration: Adult

Oral: May be administered with or without food. Do not crush, open, or chew ER capsules.

Drug Interactions of fluvoxamine can be checked here: https://www.webmd.com/interaction-checker/default.htm

Adverse Reactions

The following adverse drug reactions and incidences are derived from product labeling unless otherwise specified. Frequency varies by dosage form and indication. Adverse reactions reported as a composite of all indications.

>10%:

Central nervous system: Headache (22% to 35%), insomnia (21% to 35%), drowsiness (22% to 27%), dizziness (11% to 15%), nervousness (10% to 12%)

Gastrointestinal: Nausea (34% to 40%), diarrhea (11% to 18%), xerostomia (10% to 14%), anorexia (6% to 14%)

Genitourinary: Ejaculatory disorder (8% to 11%)

Neuromuscular & skeletal: Weakness (14% to 26%)

1% to 10%:

Cardiovascular: Chest pain (3%), palpitations (3%), vasodilation (2% to 3%), hypertension (1% to 2%), edema (≥1%), hypotension (≥1%), syncope (≥1%)

Central nervous system: Pain (10%), anxiety (5% to 8%), anorgasmia (2% to 5%), yawning (2% to 5%), abnormal dreams (3%), abnormality in thinking (3%), paresthesia (3%), agitation (2% to 3%), apathy (≥1% to 3%), central nervous system stimulation (2%), chills (2%), depression (2%), hypertonia (2%), psychoneurosis (2%), twitching (2%), amnesia (≥1%), manic reaction (≥1%), myoclonus (≥1%), psychotic reaction (≥1%), malaise (≤1%)

Dermatologic: Diaphoresis (6% to 7%), ecchymoses (4%), acne vulgaris (2%)

Endocrine & metabolic: Decreased libido (2% to 10%; incidence higher in males), hypermenorrhea (3%), weight loss (≥1% to 2%), weight gain (≥1%)

Gastrointestinal: Dyspepsia (8% to 10%), constipation (4% to 10%), vomiting (5% to 6%), abdominal pain (5%), flatulence (4%), dental caries (≤3%), tooth loss (≤3%), toothache (≤3%), dysgeusia (2% to 3%), dysphagia (2%), gingivitis (2%)

Genitourinary: Urinary frequency (3%), sexual disorder (2% to 3%), impotence (2%), urinary tract infection (2%), urinary retention (1%)

Hepatic: Abnormal hepatic function tests (2%)

Infection: Tooth abscess (≤3%), viral infection (2%)

Neuromuscular & skeletal: Tremor (5% to 8%), myalgia (5%), hyperkinesia (≥1%), hypokinesia (≥1%)

Ophthalmic: Amblyopia (2% to 3%)

Renal: Polyuria (2%)

Respiratory: Upper respiratory tract infection (9%), pharyngitis (6%), flu-like symptoms (3%), laryngitis (3%), bronchitis (2%), dyspnea (2%), epistaxis (2%), increased cough (≥1%), sinusitis (≥1%)