Fluvoxamine User Reviews & Ratings

• Jef...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 26, 2019

Fluvoxamine for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "I have now been on 65-75 mg of Luvox for about 3 years for Obsessive Thoughts Disorder, which I had suffered from intensely since childhood. I was put on everything under the sun, mostly being treated with less specific, but more well-known medicines (mostly focusing on depression, anxiety - though it was always known to be OCD). This drug has changed my life. I went from constant ruminating to absolutely no worrying signs of OCD. I at first felt severe side effects of fatigue, tingly body, anxiety, and needing total silence. It was a weird 2 weeks. But as soon as that passed, it has been the miracle I prayed for. I hope it can do the same for you."

• Joh...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 29, 2020

Fluvoxamine for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "Medical student experiencing OCD since 9 years old. Luvox is life-changing for OCD. Begin with this for OCD. Should it not work, don't despair, everyone is different. You will find your solution eventually. For OCD, Luvox is the place to start. Life-changing. OCD dropped from 13 hours a day to 5 minutes. Life-changing."

• Raa...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• January 6, 2020

Fluvoxamine for Anxiety and Stress "Luvox has worked well for me. One issue is how it interacts with caffeine, it can be very unpleasant. I feel sped up and then hungover, sometimes for days. I don’t feel like this is mentioned enough when discussing this medicine, so I thought it was worth pointing out. As someone who loves coffee, this has been very frustrating."

• Anonymous
• September 30, 2015

Fluvoxamine for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "Absolutely amazing! I was in a terrible spot with my harm OCD... And then this miracle of a drug came along! It's almost like it's a physical volume knob that turns your thoughts down... To the point where they are still there, but so quiet they're insignificant. The ONLY reason I gave it a 9/10 is because it took a while to work... But that's different for everyone. If you're reading this and are wondering if it's going to even work... I have been on it for a solid 8 weeks, and I'm JUST now starting to feel the effects. I literally have trouble falling asleep now, only because I'm excited about tomorrow! :)"

• anx...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 14, 2018

Fluvoxamine for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "It's a miracle, is what it is. This med allows me to function. Tried so many things, and this is the only med to help with OCD. Took away a bunch of compulsions and anxiety associated with them. I find it easier to push away thoughts. Side effects - night sweats, sexual dysfunction, tiredness. Doesn't work on depression, it seems though it's an SSRI. Still, with these side effects, it's a miracle drug. Saved me. Been on 300mg for years. I should say going on it is hell, constant anxiety and panic, and then one day it just drops, and you feel better. It gets worse before it gets better. If you take this and feel terribly anxious, it's working. Push through."

• Kao...
• April 6, 2020

Fluvoxamine for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "Luvox changed my life. It took away the guilt I have felt my entire life. Remember, it is important to go to therapy prior to starting medications. I specifically went to exposure and response prevention therapy for 8 months prior to starting this drug. This medication is a miracle for those experiencing severe OCD and more specifically, intrusive thoughts. What this drug does is lessen the amount of intrusive thoughts you have and allows you to have a normal reaction to the thoughts. Please note that it does not take the thoughts away completely, it is not meant to. This drug also worked very quickly. I personally find it important to gradually increase the dose every few weeks to a month. I have had no side effects, except for some difficulty falling asleep. I am so grateful I found this, highly recommend!"

• Cou...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 31, 2015

Fluvoxamine for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "After 10 years of struggling with heightening anxiety, I came very close to breaking point, and checked myself into a wonderful private psych hospital - which at the time, I found absolutely terrifying. Little did I know, my timing was perfect, as I met my new doctor (an angel/psychiatrist) who made an OCD diagnosis straight away. With him, I started on 100mg of Luvox, which had a positive effect within 2 days. We increased my dose to 200mg per night, which has continued to work superbly ever since (and it's been 1.5 years). I can't speak highly enough of Luvox, which is the one and only medication I've tried. The biggest thing I've learnt about OCD, is that the 'cure' (aka, return to the healthy pool) = medication + psychology + lifestyle!"

• MPa...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• July 17, 2021

Fluvoxamine for Anxiety and Stress "I have been on Luvox for 21 years at varying levels. Yes, it has its issues getting on and off it, but I can't imagine life without it. To the people who have issues getting on it because of gastrointestinal issues, you have to go on it slowly. Yes, it makes you tired for 4 to 6 weeks, but when I went on this the 1st time, I was in a bad way and almost immediately I saw little improvements. Slowly over the 6 weeks, the doctor raised my levels and life returned to normal. After one year, I weaned myself off the medication only to go back on at a lower dose. I never come off it, but I now know from the way I feel when to up and down the level and have played with how much I take for 21 years. Never come off cold turkey and always raise the amount slowly. Hope this helps."

• Emi...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 21, 2019

For Anxiety and Stress "50mg fluvoxamine a day has led to me being without panic and obsessive thoughts for the first time in my life. I used to read these forums for hours and resist meds but I'm so glad I finally tried them. I feel relief."

• mic...
• August 26, 2013

Fluvoxamine for Anxiety and Stress "A year ago I was prescribed Luvox in a psych ward where they took me off Prozac. I felt really okay! I had a follow-up visit 2 weeks later with my psychiatrist of 30 years. He immediately took me off it, saying in no way was Luvox right for me. He put me on Parnate. After one week, I felt like I had been poisoned. He then told me to go back to Prozac. Time for a new doctor, my new doctor put me back on Luvox. Now, at 4 months, I feel really well for the first time in many, many years. I rated this an 8 because 10 means perfection to me, and there is no such thing as that with any medicine."

• And...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• October 27, 2016

Fluvoxamine for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "This drug literally saved my life. When I was first diagnosed with OCD, I took other meds for it with often very bad side effects. FINALLY, I was put on Luvox. I have been taking it for over 18 years now. Like I said before, it saved my life."

• Pro...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• September 22, 2015

Fluvoxamine for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "Saved my life, plain and simple. Taking the drug for 18 years now, fluctuating between 100 and 400 mg over the years. The thoughts consumed my every waking moment, smothering me, making it impossible to live. In the times I've gone off the drug over the years, my symptoms resurfaced, only to be reined in by Luvox. Yes, there are side effects, but they are nothing that can't be tolerated when the alternative is death."

• Mar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 1, 2019

Fluvoxamine for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "12 weeks & a dosage of 150 mg on Luvox and my OCD is close to extinguished. After 8 years, my OCD relapsed. July through November 2018, I was ruminating 12-15 hours a day. I was scared to wake up and face the constant chatter and confusion in my head. Today I feel free from that mental anguish. I was lucky to experience only a short period of insomnia when starting, unlike the unbearable lengthy list of side effects that I experienced on Zoloft. I accredit this to a slow and steady increase in dosage. I didn't notice any difference until week 8 (and the right dosage) so don't be discouraged if the '4-6 weeks' suggestion doesn't match up with your recovery. I've seen many say that it can take a possible 12 weeks! I'm also going to begin CBT to control my anxious tendencies and learn skills for a possible OCD return, but I will say that this medication has done wonders for me."

• Anx...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 2, 2023

Fluvoxamine for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "I am blown away. I was really hesitant to go on medication as I had horrible experiences in the past. My OCD was so bad I wouldn't even shower or do my work. I was failing at my career and overly stressing about house chores to a point of physical impairment. My psychiatrist put me on 50mg of Luvox for OCD, anxiety, and depression. I am 3 weeks in and I finally did my skincare for the first time in 1 year. I also got excited about my work today and jammed out on the piano for an hour and my voice never sounded better. I am really happy I trusted her."

• Aus...
• August 2, 2013

Fluvoxamine for Anxiety and Stress "An excellent medicine for me for controlling thoughts and anxiety. I use 50mg at 8 pm. I can't describe what a difference it has made to my life. I'm happy to take it for the rest of my life. I tried going without it for about a year because I was feeling good, but I will never do that again because of how horrible it was without it. When I've gone on Luvox, I feel the effect almost overnight. It is really important that you take it at the same time every day and that you follow a good sleeping schedule and not go to bed very late (i.e., after 11 pm) for best results. There is only one downside for me and that is more difficult to reach orgasm and libido is reduced. If it was not for this I would give it a 10."

• ind...
• March 17, 2014

Fluvoxamine for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "So far, this is the best medication I've been on for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. I have obsessive thoughts and rumination as my compulsion, and it was totally debilitating before. I was on mirtazapine for a while but felt emotionless and still had a lot of OCD 'crashes'. Switched to Fluvox because mirtazapine made me gain a lot of weight. Finally losing weight now and have a normal appetite again! It obliterates obsessive thoughts and makes me feel really happy, plus, I have all my strong emotions back, feeling more 'me' again. Frustrating side effect in insomnia (most nights I wake up 2-3 times for 30 mins at least and sleep very restlessly) but the headaches and nausea have both passed, so hopefully this will also pass."

• TLB...
• May 25, 2017

Fluvoxamine for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "I was first put on this med in 1995 to deal with my OCD, which manifests itself in compulsive negative thoughts and an inability to overcome negativity, as well as occasional wishing I would die, and suicidal thoughts (never acted upon). Due to frequent professionally-caused moves around the world, periodically Luvox was unavailable to me, so I was placed on alternatives such as Zoloft and others, all of which had heavy side effects. The best thing for me about Luvox was my ability to cope, no sexual side effects, and also the ability to still feel, all of which other drugs (especially Zoloft) prevented, leaving me feeling like a zombie. Luvox let me be me without my OCD and generally with it, I am a happier, more positive, and creative person."

• lis...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 8, 2013

Fluvoxamine for Anxiety and Stress "I suffered from anxiety, excessive worrying, and ruminating to the point where it was obsessive and led to a bad depression. I have been this way off and on ever since I can remember. I have been referred to as a worrywart and possibly obsessive-compulsive. I tried Zoloft and Lexapro. Both helped with my depression symptoms, however, neither helped my anxiety at all and both killed my appetite and sex drive. I also tried Xanax occasionally and Buspar. However, although these relieved my anxiety, they made my depression worse. It was a catch-22. Finally, the doc put me on a low dose (25mg) of Luvox. What a relief! I have not noticed any side effects other than drowsiness at times. This medicine has worked well so far, even in a low dose two months now."

• Kub...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 17, 2025

For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "Fluvoxamine was great for me for the first few years. I've been taking it regularly for OCD every day since 2021 (it's 2025 as of the time of me writing this). And it's been working great, I felt my quality of life increase by over a hundred times. I still had some symptoms of OCD, but these were so toned down they didn't bother me anymore. All information on the internet I can find mentions no long-term effects, but I feel like that might not be the case, at least for me. For over half a year, I've been experiencing a lot of drowsiness. I can't realistically work on anything unless it's while lying down on the bed. Even then, I have to force myself to do it. This wasn't the case for over three years of taking this medicine, it started happening over half a year ago, and I experience it every day. I didn't change my diet, my lifestyle, or anything about other medication I'm taking, nor about fluvoxamine. I'm scared of trying something new. I really wish I could go back to how it was before."

• Joh...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 19, 2022

Fluvoxamine for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "I had to go off of a medication that was treating my OCD, and my OCD relapsed worse than it had ever been. I did not sleep, period. I spent 24 hours a day obsessing. Throughout the night, I paced around and around, obsessively worrying with my mind going in circles. I ended up in the ER. I stopped eating. I stopped going to work. I lost all joy in anything. I’ve had OCD my entire life, along with GAD and social phobia. I asked my doctor about it, and she said I would have to go off of my Zoloft in order to go on it. I was scared, as I had been on Zoloft for 20 years. I weaned off the Zoloft and on to the Luvox at the same time. I felt a difference in 2 days. I could feel it blocking the thoughts. Then I couldn’t feel a difference for a while. Four weeks later, my OCD was gone. The part I wasn’t expecting happened months later. Social phobia was gone. My anxiety has been treated and helped, but never the social part. My confidence is through the roof. I never knew I could feel this way."

• Lnd...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 17, 2019

Fluvoxamine for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "It's only been 2 weeks on Luvox (have OCD) but I'm definitely noticing a difference today. I started 12.5mg for two days, 25mg for 5 days, 37.5 mg for 4 days, and now 50mg. Our goal is to be at 100mg within the next 3 weeks with these intervals. I feel overall so much better in an unexplainable way. My stress isn't as overbearing as before, my anxiety is still present but not near what it was. Can't wait to see where this medicine takes me in the coming weeks."

• Mom...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 5, 2014

Fluvoxamine for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "Wow, finally a conversation with my son that is NOT about fishing. My 17-year-old son was dropped on his head when he was born by a nurse. He has seen the same neurologist since he was a baby. We've tried everything - cocktails of medicines, seizure meds, etc. Nothing helped. It got so bad that I was placed on medication for my nerves. His neurologist suggested we try Luvox. I am sitting next to my son, who is playing a game. He is calm yet very alert, not dragging like other meds did to him. He is able to hold conversations about so many topics, and that is a relief even to him."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 2, 2013

Fluvoxamine for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "I was diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder last year and tried Anafranil first but couldn't handle the side effects. My doctor started me on Luvox a little over a month ago, and I finally feel like I'm getting my life together. I see my counselor every 2 weeks now instead of once a week, and my obsessive thoughts are finally under control. I can enjoy books again, and I've been feeling a lot more social. At first, I had trouble sleeping; I was waking up every night around 4 AM, but that has almost stopped completely now. I was worried about weight gain, but I've actually lost weight due to my diminished appetite since starting the medication."

• Anonymous
• February 12, 2009

Fluvoxamine for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "This medicine saved my life. Racing thoughts almost non-existent. When they recur during times of stress, doctor ups dosage and immediately my mind quiets. OCD is the underlying cause of many compensatory disorders, including depression, alcoholism, and eating disorders. With the OCD controlled, I have been able to take charge over the others."

• PJK...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• July 8, 2017

Fluvoxamine for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "I am a life-long sufferer of OCD - started when I was 7-8 years old when OCD wasn't even a common word or diagnosis - am now 52. I tried many drugs in the 1990s - most had awful side effects. I found Luvox in 1994 (from a knowledgeable MD) and it helped. I managed to live a productive life. I stopped taking it 5 years ago - thinking I could use my life skills to cope with OCD and anxiety, but learned behavioral and coping skills can only work to a certain extent in a person whose brain chemistry and/or neurons are not functioning correctly. My doctor recommended I get back on it, so I am starting it up again. For what it's worth: therapy can greatly help an OCD victim - and IMO the best therapists are the ones that have or had OCD themselves."