Molecule

Drug Groups

approved; investigational

Description

Fluvoxamine is an antidepressant which functions pharmacologically as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor. Though it is in the same class as other SSRI drugs, it is most often used to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Fluvoxamine has been in use in clinical practice since 1983 and has a clinical trial database comprised of approximately 35,000 patients. It was launched in the US in December 1994 and in Japan in June 1999. As of the end of 1995, more than 10 million patients worldwide have been treated with fluvoxamine.

Indication

For management of depression and for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Has also been used in the management of bulimia nervosa.

Pharmacology

Fluvoxamine, an aralkylketone-derivative agent, is one of a class of antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) that differs structurally from other SSRIs. It is used to treat the depression associated with mood disorders. It is also used on occassion in the treatment of body dysmorphic disorder and anxiety. The antidepressant, antiobsessive-compulsive, and antibulimic actions of Fluvoxamine are presumed to be linked to its inhibition of CNS neuronal uptake of serotonin. In vitro studies show that Fluvoxamine is a potent and selective inhibitor of neuronal serotonin reuptake and has only very weak effects on norepinephrine and dopamine neuronal reuptake. Fluvoxamine has no significant affinity for adrenergic (alpha1, alpha2, beta), cholinergic, GABA, dopaminergic, histaminergic, serotonergic (5HT_1A, 5HT_1B, 5HT₂), or benzodiazepine receptors; antagonism of such receptors has been hypothesized to be associated with various anticholinergic, sedative, and cardiovascular effects for other psychotropic drugs. The chronic administration of Fluvoxamine was found to downregulate brain norepinephrine receptors, as has been observed with other drugs effective in the treatment of major depressive disorder. Fluvoxamine does not inhibit monoamine oxidase.

Toxicity

Side effects include anorexia, constipation, dry mouth, headache, nausea, nervousness, skin rash, sleep problems, somnolence, liver toxicity, mania, increase urination, seizures, sweating increase, tremors, or Tourette's syndrome.

Affected Organisms

Biotransformation

Hepatic

Absorption

Well absorbed, bioavailability of fluvoxamine maleate is 53%.

Half Life

15.6 hours

Protein Binding

~77-80% (plasma protein)

Elimination

The main human metabolite was fluvoxamine acid which, together with its N-acetylated analog, accounted for about 60% of the urinary excretion products. Approximately 2% of fluvoxamine was excreted in urine unchanged. Following a 14C-labelled oral dose of fluvoxamine maleate (5 mg), an average of 94% of drug-related products was recovered in the urine within 71 hours.

Distribution

* 25 L/kg

References

External Links