Fluvoxamine
Prescription ·Exploratory record · not publication-reviewed ·Updated July 13, 2026
Prescription selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) primarily approved for the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in adults and children aged 8 and older. Also used off-label for social anxiety disorder and depression. Notable for its sigma-1 receptor agonism, which may contribute to anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects. Dosage must be determined by your prescribing physician.
Exploratory record, not a reviewed medical publication.
See the editorial and medical-review policies for the publication gate.
This generated database record has not completed a claim-level review by a qualified human medical reviewer. Bibliography links and evidence labels are not approval. The page remains available for reference and is excluded from search indexing.
What the research says.
A quick, data-only summary. The full evidence, dosing, and sources are below.
Prescription selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) primarily approved for the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in adults and children aged 8 and older. NutriStack rates the supporting evidence as strong. Common adult dosing is 50–300 mg daily (as prescribed by your physician), though a prescriber sets the actual dose. With long-term use it can deplete sodium, folate. This profile indexes 10 sources.
The bottom line
Evidence rating strong. Most-documented uses: ocd symptom reduction, anxiety reduction, compulsive behavior reduction. 10 sources indexed (1994–2025), with 0 interaction records on file.
How it works, mechanistically.
Core mechanism
Selectively inhibits the reuptake of serotonin (5-HT) by blocking SERT. Also acts as a sigma-1 receptor agonist, which may modulate glutamate signaling and inflammatory pathways. Potent CYP1A2 and CYP2C19 inhibitor, leading to clinically significant drug interactions.9
Dosing & protocol.
Can be taken with or without food. Higher doses are typically divided into two daily doses. Extended-release capsules should be swallowed whole.
What it depletes.
Nutrients this medication can lower over time, and what to replace.
Sodium
SignificantSSRI-induced SIADH can lower serum sodium, especially in older adults and during the first weeks of therapy.
Folate
MildLower folate status is associated with poorer SSRI response and may be reduced in some chronic users through altered one-carbon metabolism.
Full safety detail.
Sources, by evidence tier.
Numbered references. Citations throughout the page link here.
Meta-analyses & systematic reviews
6- 1An Overview of the Systematic Reviews About the Efficacy of Fluvoxamine on DepressionPMIDDieckmann LHJ, Haddad M, Wendt Viola T et al. · Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025
Dieckmann LHJ, Haddad M, Wendt Viola T et al.. An Overview of the Systematic Reviews About the Efficacy of Fluvoxamine on Depression. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland). 2025
- 2Evaluating fluvoxamine for the outpatient treatment of COVID-19: A systematic review and meta-analysisPMIDDeng J, Moskalyk M, Zuo QK et al. · Reviews in medical virology · 2024
Deng J, Moskalyk M, Zuo QK et al.. Evaluating fluvoxamine for the outpatient treatment of COVID-19: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Reviews in medical virology. 2024
- 3Fluvoxamine for Outpatient Management of COVID-19 to Prevent Hospitalization: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysisPMIDLee TC, Vigod S, Bortolussi-Courval É et al. · JAMA network open · 2022
Lee TC, Vigod S, Bortolussi-Courval É et al.. Fluvoxamine for Outpatient Management of COVID-19 to Prevent Hospitalization: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. JAMA network open. 2022
- 4Adjunctive Fluvoxamine for Schizophrenia: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled TrialsPMIDZheng W, Xiang YQ, Cai DB et al. · Journal of clinical psychopharmacology · 2020
Zheng W, Xiang YQ, Cai DB et al.. Adjunctive Fluvoxamine for Schizophrenia: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trials. Journal of clinical psychopharmacology. 2020
- 5Efficacy and tolerability of fluvoxamine in adults with social anxiety disorder: A meta-analysisPMIDLiu X, Li X, Zhang C et al. · Medicine · 2018
Liu X, Li X, Zhang C et al.. Efficacy and tolerability of fluvoxamine in adults with social anxiety disorder: A meta-analysis. Medicine. 2018
- 6The clinical potentials of adjunctive fluvoxamine to clozapine treatment: a systematic reviewPMIDPolcwiartek C, Nielsen J · Psychopharmacology · 2016
Polcwiartek C, Nielsen J. The clinical potentials of adjunctive fluvoxamine to clozapine treatment: a systematic review. Psychopharmacology. 2016
Reviews & position papers
1- 7Fluvoxamine. A review of its safety profile in world-wide studiesPMIDWagner W, Zaborny BA, Gray TE · International clinical psychopharmacology · 1994
Wagner W, Zaborny BA, Gray TE. Fluvoxamine. A review of its safety profile in world-wide studies. International clinical psychopharmacology. 1994
Reference material
3- 8Cipriani A et al. Comparative efficacy and acceptability of 21 antidepressant drugs for the acute treatment of adults with major depressive disorder: a systematic review and network meta-analysis. Lancet. 2018.Source linkedPMID
- 9Soomro GM et al. Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) versus placebo for obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2008.Source linkedPMID
- 10Gomez-Lumbreras A et al. Risk of gastrointestinal bleeding by specific SSRIs and SNRIs: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2026.Source linkedPMID
Common questions.
Quick answers about Fluvoxamine, drawn from the data on this page.
What is Fluvoxamine?
Prescription selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) primarily approved for the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in adults and children aged 8 and older. Also used off-label for social anxiety disorder and depression. Notable for its sigma-1 receptor agonism, which may contribute to anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects. Dosage must be determined by your prescribing physician.
What is Fluvoxamine used for?
Commonly cited benefits of Fluvoxamine include: OCD symptom reduction; Anxiety reduction; Compulsive behavior reduction; Social anxiety improvement. NutriStack rates the overall evidence as strong.
What is a typical dose of Fluvoxamine?
A typical adult dose of Fluvoxamine is 50–300 mg daily (as prescribed by your physician). The commonly recommended form is Tablet or extended-release capsule. These are general ranges, not personalized advice; confirm the right dose with a clinician.
What are the side effects of Fluvoxamine?
Reported side effects include nausea, insomnia, drowsiness, dizziness, headache, dry mouth. This is educational information; check with a healthcare professional before use.
How strong is the evidence for Fluvoxamine?
NutriStack rates this as Strong, meaning multiple high-quality meta-analyses or systematic reviews converge on the same finding. Full tier criteria are at https://nutristackapp.com/methodology/evidence-tiers.
Use this with your stack
Fluvoxamine in NutriStack.
Add it to your stack, see how it interacts with everything else you take, and get a Stack Score that updates the moment it does.