title: Fluvoxamine in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder and related conditions.
abstract: The mainstay of the pharmacologic treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a 10- to 12-week trial of a potent serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SRI) at an adequate dose. Double-blind, placebo-controlled trials have established the anti-obsessive-compulsive (OC) efficacy of five different SRIs. One of the most thoroughly studied of these SRIs is fluvoxamine, the focus of this article. Fluvoxamine's pharmacologic and pharmacokinetic properties, its efficacy, and guidelines for its clinical use in OCD and related disorders are briefly reviewed. Potential drug-drug interactions are discussed and placed in clinical perspective. The management of common SRI-induced side effects is also addressed. Recent comparative studies suggest that fluvoxamine may be equivalent in efficacy to clomipramine, yet better tolerated. Fluvoxamine shows promise in the treatment of several so-called OC-spectrum disorders, but additional controlled trials are needed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville 32608, USA.
authors.forename: W K
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Goodman
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ward
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kablinger
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Murphy
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D002997:Clomipramine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003192:Compulsive Behavior / Q000188:drug therapy; D007174:Disruptive, Impulse Control, and Conduct Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004347:Drug Interactions; D016666:Fluvoxamine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D009770:Obsessive Behavior / Q000188:drug therapy; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D012008:Recurrence; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy; D005879:Tourette Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D002997:Clomipramine; D016666:Fluvoxamine; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors