Luvox Withdrawal & Tapering Guide
fluvoxamine
Boxed Warning
Suicidality risk in children, adolescents, and young adults under 25 during initial treatment.
In short
Luvox (fluvoxamine) is an SSRI with a half-life of 15–22 hours. Short half-life. It is also sold as Faverin, Fevarin.
- Class
- SSRI
- Half-life
- 15–22 hours
- Common doses
- 25mg, 50mg, 100mg, 200mg
Educational reference only. Dose changes are decided with the prescriber who knows your history.
Overview
Fluvoxamine is an SSRI primarily approved for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). It is a potent inhibitor of CYP1A2 and CYP2C19 and also has sigma-1 receptor agonist activity, which may contribute to its anxiolytic properties.
25mg, 50mg, 100mg, 200mg
Tablets: 25mg, 50mg, 100mg; Extended-release capsules (CR): 100mg, 150mg
Category C (risk cannot be ruled out)
Mechanism of Action
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) that potently inhibits the serotonin transporter (SERT). Also acts as a sigma-1 receptor agonist, which may provide additional anti-anxiety and neuroprotective effects.
Taper Notes
Short half-life. CR formulation available. Tablets can be split for gradual reduction.
Hyperbolic Tapering Guidance
Shorter half-life than most SSRIs; slower taper pace recommended. Tablets can be dissolved in water for precise dosing.
Summary written by TaperCommunity, informed by the Maudsley Deprescribing Guidelines (Horowitz & Taylor) and related literature — see Sources & References below. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the Maudsley.
Common Withdrawal Symptoms
Interactions & Safety
Drug Interactions
- MAOIs — contraindicated (serotonin syndrome risk)
- Thioridazine — contraindicated
- Alosetron — contraindicated (CYP1A2 inhibition)
Food Interactions
- No significant food effect on absorption
- Caffeine levels may increase significantly due to CYP1A2 inhibition
- Avoid alcohol during treatment
Contraindications
- MAOIs within 14 days
- Thioridazine
- Alosetron
Toxicity
Serotonin syndrome with serotonergic combinations. Significant drug interactions due to CYP1A2 inhibition (e.g., with theophylline, clozapine, tizanidine).
Pharmacokinetics
ADME Profile
Completely absorbed after oral administration. Bioavailability ~53% due to first-pass metabolism. Tmax 3–8 hours. Food does not significantly affect absorption.
~25 L/kg
Extensively metabolized hepatically via CYP2D6 and CYP1A2. Potent inhibitor of CYP1A2 and CYP2C19, moderate inhibitor of CYP2C9 and CYP3A4. No active metabolites.
Renal (~94% as metabolites, ~2% unchanged).
~77–80%
~1400 mL/min (apparent oral clearance)
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Other Drug Profiles
The arithmetic of a proportional reduction
The Maudsley Deprescribing Guidelines and NICE NG222 describe reducing SSRI medications by a proportion of the previous dose rather than by a fixed amount, so each cut is smaller than the last. The table shows what that arithmetic produces at 10% per step, using 50 mg only as a worked example. How large each step is, how long it is held, and whether this pattern applies at all are decisions for the person and their prescriber.
| Step | % of starting dose | Worked example (50 mg start) |
|---|---|---|
| Start | 100% | 50 mg |
| Step 1 | 90% | 45 mg |
| Step 2 | 81% | 40.5 mg |
| Step 3 | 73% | 36.5 mg |
| Step 4 | 66% | 32.8 mg |
| Step 5 | 59% | 29.5 mg |
| Step 6 | 53% | 26.6 mg |
| Step 7 | 48% | 23.9 mg |
| Step 8 | 43% | 21.5 mg |
This is an illustration of a published method, not a schedule for anyone. It does not account for how long you have taken Luvox, your current dose, formulation, or history. TaperCommunity does not recommend doses or dose changes; those are agreed with your prescriber.
Frequently asked questions about Luvox
What are the withdrawal symptoms of Luvox (fluvoxamine)?
Common withdrawal symptoms of Luvox (fluvoxamine) include: brain zaps, dizziness, nausea, insomnia, irritability. Symptom severity varies by individual, dose, and duration of use.
How should I taper off Luvox (fluvoxamine)?
Short half-life. CR formulation available. Tablets can be split for gradual reduction. Shorter half-life than most SSRIs; slower taper pace recommended. Tablets can be dissolved in water for precise dosing.
Can I stop Luvox cold turkey?
Stopping Luvox abruptly is not recommended. Its half-life is 15–22 hours, and the receptor adaptations built up during treatment do not reverse at that speed, so a sudden stop tends to produce the sharpest withdrawal. Prescribing guidance favours gradual, proportional reductions agreed with your prescriber.
How long does Luvox stay in your system?
Luvox (fluvoxamine) has a half-life of 15–22 hours. A drug is mostly cleared after about five half-lives, so Luvox is largely out of the body roughly 3 to 5 days after the last dose, longer in older adults or with liver or kidney impairment. Withdrawal symptoms often begin before the drug has fully cleared and continue after it has, because the adaptations the brain made during treatment reverse more slowly than the drug leaves the blood.
Recent discussions about Luvox
What members tapering Luvox are asking and reporting right now. Personal experience, not medical advice.
- Luvox Tapering ThreadThis is the forum for everyone tapering Luvox. When you log a check-in in My Taper, it will appear here. That way you can see how others on the same medication are…Based · 8 months ago
- I don't know what to do anymore - Tapering after long timeHi everybody, I'm new here so sorry if I'm not posting on the right place but I am a little in despair, I have beek taking Fluvoxamine 200mg for about 3-4 years, I'm…Gustavo · yesterday · 4 replies
- Tapering fluvoxamine at 37.5 mg was holding the dose at 43.75 mgI am tapering fluvoxamine at 37.5 mg reduced from 43.75 mg was holding on to these dose for around 35 days and again started taper from October 3rd 2026 facing so much…senthilnathan subramanian · 5 days ago · 1 reply
- Researching taperingI’ve been on 100 ER Luvox for about 10 years, and have pooped out on it (I guess that’s the term? It’s not helping anymore) I’m super sensitive to it and will get…Crabbyabby · 10 days ago · 2 replies
- HelpI don’t know what is happening with my body. It is buzzing. It’s everywhere and almost constant. I think my muscles are rigid from the twitching but I don’t think the…Jessica A · 5 months ago · 16 replies
Sources & References
Luvox (fluvoxamine) information on this page is sourced from peer-reviewed research, regulatory bodies, clinical guidelines, and patient-advocacy organizations.
Encyclopedic & chemical databases
Neutral, high-authority entity references.
Peer-reviewed research
Primary literature cited in this taper guide.
- Horowitz MA, Taylor D 2019 — Tapering of SSRI treatment to mitigate withdrawal symptoms (hyperbolic taper) (The Lancet Psychiatry)
- Davies J, Read J 2019 — A systematic review into the incidence, severity and duration of antidepressant withdrawal effects (Addictive Behaviors)
- Framer A 2021 — The patient voice: an exploration of the experience of withdrawal from antidepressants (Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology)
Clinical guidelines
Evidence-based deprescribing and prescribing standards.
Deprescribing-specific resources
Clinician-facing references on tapering protocols.
- Deprescribing.org — Evidence-based deprescribing algorithms from the Bruyère Research Institute
- Royal College of Psychiatrists — Stopping antidepressants — UK clinical guidance on safely discontinuing antidepressants
Patient-advocacy & lived-experience
Long-running communities documenting withdrawal experience.
- Surviving Antidepressants — tapering forum — Long-running community archive of antidepressant taper experiences
- Inner Compass Initiative — Withdrawal Project — Peer-led resources for psychiatric drug withdrawal
- Mad in America — antidepressant withdrawal archive — Journalism and personal narratives on SSRI/SNRI discontinuation
- RxISK — adverse drug reaction reporting — Independent database of patient-reported adverse effects
TaperCommunity does not provide medical advice. Always consult a qualified prescriber before adjusting psychiatric medication.