Fluvoxamine for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder User Reviews (Page 2)

• Cor...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• December 16, 2017

Fluvoxamine "I started taking Luvox for my OCD in 2007. I was instructed to begin with 50 mg a day, then increase by 50 mg once a week until I reach a daily dose of 400 mg. At 350 mg per day, I began to feel like I could stop doing the repetitive behaviors, and at 400 mg, my obsessive-compulsive disorder ceased to exist! It literally disappeared from my brain, like I never even had it! I love Luvox, and I wouldn't give up the freedom I have without OCD for the world."

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

"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."

• Anonymous
• July 9, 2009

Fluvoxamine "Like one of the previous reviewers mentioned, OCD is the underlying cause of many other conditions. I went through several doctors, medicines, and diagnoses before finally discovering my OCD and treating that, versus the other problems and symptoms caused by the OCD. Luvox has been a wonderful help for me. It has virtually eliminated all of my symptoms of OCD. Also, what I like the best about Luvox is that it has completely eliminated my racing and intrusive thoughts. Though people laugh, when asked, I tell people the best effect of Luvox is that it quiets the voices in my head, and I honestly feel like me again. The only drawbacks of Luvox that I have seen are: some trouble sleeping, loss of appetite, and excessive bruising."

• MJa...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 22, 2020

Fluvoxamine "My son takes Luvox in a small dose to lessen OCD, but if we increase his dose, it makes his OCD worse. I do want to share that he had a sudden onset of OCD overnight! Turns out it is from Lyme disease and Bartonella co-infection, which causes PANS - Post-immune Neurological Syndrome! Strep, Lyme, and other bacteria can cause this. If OCD medicine doesn't really work, check with your doctor and ask about PANS, Lyme, or PANDAS from Strep..."

• Eli...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• February 16, 2014

Fluvoxamine "15 years ago, after suffering with severe panic attacks, I found a doctor who found the root of my troubles was my Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. I was on Luvox, brand name only, because when I tried the generics they did not work. During the time it was off the market, I suffered terribly until it came back. It keeps my OCD in check to the best it can be. Brand name only, I do not know why."

• lis...
• July 3, 2013

Fluvoxamine "I was prescribed Luvox for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder even though I don't think I have OCD. I think I have anxiety and panic disorder/depression. I have excessive worrying, panic attacks, sleeping problems, ruminations but no compulsions I can think of. However, my psychiatrist says I have OCD and put me on Luvox. Immediately, my sleep improved and my excessive worrying has been reduced by about 50%. I am so much more relaxed. However, I don't seem to really care about anything and it's hard to get out of bed and do much even on a low dose (25mg). I feel like I am in slow motion and I'm always tired. My body also feels like I have weights attached to it. I see a new psychiatrist in two weeks."

• tea...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 31, 2017

Fluvoxamine "Was switched to Luvox from Lexapro since we found out my anxiety and depression stemmed from my OCD. Ruminations and cleaning OCD tendencies. I cannot explain how INCREDIBLE that has completely flipped my mindset off (in a good way). I no longer need to take my high doses of Xanax to sleep, I do not need to take Xanax during the day, I also do not need to take my Adderall to concentrate anymore. I know this is an older drug, but I wish I would have known about this before the Lexapro!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 18, 2012

Fluvoxamine "Truly a lifesaver for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. My racing thoughts and compulsions have disappeared. I am on 300 mg. I tried Paxil before - Luvox is much better for OCD. Some minor symptoms such as apathy and fatigue."

• rah...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 14, 2013

Fluvoxamine "I have been attempting to use Luvox for my Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, but I have a weak stomach, so I haven't made it past the 25mg yet until my body adjusts. I could tell that I was getting better though. I stopped it for a week, and my compulsions came back worse than before. I've read some people think they don't have OCD because they don't have compulsions, compulsions are not needed for the diagnosis, just obsessions. I am a social worker, so it has been difficult to help others with their mental illness when I suffer from OCD and ADHD, which I didn't start medication for until recently (I am 28). I am hoping my picking will go away completely once I adjust to the medicine."

• rvr...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 13, 2012

Fluvoxamine "After trying Zoloft and Lexapro, without any success and made my symptoms worse. Luvox helped me get my life back, the best medicine. I feel MUCH more in control of my OCD. Excellent, even when I feel sleepy sometimes as a side effect, it's worth it!"

• JRa...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• November 2, 2018

Fluvoxamine "I have just started back on Luvox after 14 months of being off it. I was on Luvox for 9 years prior to this and felt good enough to slowly take myself off the drug. OCD anxiety issues have returned. I forgot how bad the symptoms made me feel, it’s great to read other people’s comments on their own experiences. I didn’t realize how effective Luvox was until the last few months: the anxiety, unwanted thoughts, and my mind constantly running away like a freight train. Only 3rd day back on Luvox and feel a lot better. Having a few head spins throughout the day but slowly adjusting to the medication."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 3, 2024

Fluvoxamine "I have had OCD and generalized anxiety disorder ever since I was a kid. I always would ruminate over thoughts every single day, which was basically my life. I thought everyone thought like me. As I’ve gotten older, it has only gotten worse. I never have taken medicine and stayed away from it up until college when I had a horrible OCD episode that lasted 5 weeks straight with just an unwanted thought. I wasn’t able to sleep. I would get 2 hours of sleep, before at the most. I was having anxiety attacks and panic attacks, it was so bad I could barely stay awake. The thoughts consumed my life every minute, I never got a break. It was distressing, and I thought multiple times about suicide, like there was no way out of this mess. I decided to go on medicine, which my doctor recommended Luvox, and I was nervous at first, but could feel like I was able to push through it. After a week and every week and dosage that has gone by, it’s only gotten better. I am now on 250 mg and 2 months in :)"

• O B...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 26, 2016

Fluvoxamine "To be clear, I am on Luvox for its entire spectrum of effects-OCD, anxiety and stress, and major depressive disorder. I have been on almost every single drug on the market, and Luvox is consistently the only one that has ever worked. The Luvox/Latuda (atypical antipsychotic) combination worked wonders for me in the past, and though I am only on Luvox now, it has definitely helped with curbing recurrent, insistent thoughts of hopelessness and despair. It has blunted my anxiety, and after years of depression, I am starting to feel a little better. Just tired as all get out, though!"

• Aus...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 18, 2014

Fluvoxamine "I finally got the courage to talk to my GP about Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and all the other issues it was creating. I was first OCD when 14 (Now 33). I was given some samples of Aropax back then and it seemed to eliminate the symptoms immediately, but over time and no planning for continued dosage, my condition worsened and led me to Luvox. I was really down and out. The Luvox initially made me very tired, diminished Sex Drive, and loss of appetite. The enhanced depression was getting to me. The initial 50mg dose was increased (I'm 6'5 115kgs) to 100mg. After 4-5 weeks, this started getting better. The sleepiness became the opposite (hard to sleep). Take them at the same time every day and keep a journal of your improvement."

• Obs...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 12, 2020

"I have to credit this medication with saving my life. Over the past 13 years, I’ve been on over 30 different medications. Every SSRI, SNRI, ketamine, even the antipsychotics. When those failed, I had ECT. My OCD was so severe that I was hospitalized twice for suicidal ideation. I was unable to work, unable to finish my degree because I couldn’t stop obsessing. I was miserable. Now I’ve been on Luvox for 2 years. I’ve gotten married. I have a job and a house. Things that I never thought I would be able to have. Yes, life is still a daily challenge, but it’s not unbearable. Luvox is the only drug that has calmed my OCD. 150 mg. The only side effects are nausea and complete loss of libido. Small prices to pay for sanity."

• KT9...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 12, 2018

Fluvoxamine "I had a great experience with Luvox, personally. I had very few side effects aside from being quite tired in the first few months (I was on a 300 mg dose w/2 mg risperidone). A big factor for me was that I hadn’t had OCD symptoms very long when I went on the medication, and I did a LOT of CBT therapy - so when I came off the medication, I had the tools to help myself. I was on Luvox for 3 years while doing the intensive therapy for my incredibly severe symptoms. I’m now off the medication and have (touch wood!) not had an OCD symptom in over a year. If I do relapse though, I will go straight back to Luvox."

• rea...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 11, 2018

Fluvoxamine "It works. I want to say, please keep taking your pills, even if you feel better. I did this mistake after taking it for two years, so I am trying to cure myself again. After a month back on them, I feel better but still need time. Without medicine, my brain is a monster, but this medicine cured my brain mostly."

• Anonymous
• February 11, 2011

Fluvoxamine "This medicine has been extremely effective for me. After the 1st dose, I could feel a difference. It has also helped with anxiety and depression. There are a few side effects such as night sweats, nausea, and vivid dreams. Hopefully, they will decrease with time, this is only my 3rd week on it."

• Ano...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 8, 2025

Fluvoxamine "This medication really does help OCD, and you feel like you can push through the thoughts. I have pretty moderate, close to severe OCD. I have ruminating mental thoughts that do not go away, so basically just obsessions. The only thing I will say is do not drink alcohol if you’re planning on being on this medicine long term because it can make the medicine less effective. I was on 200 milligrams and perfectly fine, but the problem is I drank alcohol once in a while, and one day the medicine wasn’t as effective as it was normally. I gave it a week and still felt weird, on edge, and bothered by my thoughts more than I normally would be, so I went up to 250 then 300 milligrams. I had to go up a whole 100 milligrams for the same effect as previously being on 200 because of the alcohol. So I’m never drinking again, literally ever. I’d rather be mentally stable and give up alcohol."

• OKC...
• July 8, 2010

Fluvoxamine "I have used Luvox for over a year now. Before I was taking Effexor, and it made me angry, so I had to switch. I started at 100mg then gradually went to 200mg. At 200mg, I found the most relief for my OCD, but I didn't want to do anything. I had no motivation to clean my house, do the laundry, or even take a shower. I just didn't care. As a mother of 4, that was a huge problem. I gradually decreased my dosage back down to 100mg and have motivation back. I still have the rituals and things that completely drive me up the wall and did have those still at 200mg. I'm thinking about trying a new medication because this one works for a bit but doesn't give me the relief I need. I have to take Klonopin to calm my brain down at night so I can sleep."

• Han...
• May 19, 2015

Fluvoxamine "This medication has helped me tremendously. I'm not sure how I lived without it. It took about a week of me taking the medication for my symptoms of OCD to improve, and ever since I have felt 99%. Once every few months I have my 'alright days,' but then again, I do have my consecutive couple of days that I forget to take them before I fall asleep.... :S :)"

• Jon...
• March 30, 2017

Fluvoxamine "I had attempted suicide and was convinced my life was over prior to being on this, it saved my life, plain and simple. I take Risperdal to augment the effect of Luvox. If you find the Luvox isn't working entirely, try adding an antipsychotic, it did wonders for me. I have schizophrenia and OCD, so having an antipsychotic is absolutely essential. But yeah, Luvox has done wonders for me. It may take a few months before you feel the full effects, though. I just got raised to 200 mg, and so far, so good. Thank you, Luvox."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 2, 2013

Fluvoxamine "The day that I'm writing this review, I was switched to Prozac by my doctor. Luvox for around 8 months worked wonders for my OCD. I was basically symptom-free during that time with very little anxiety and worry. After the 8-month mark, it slowly started losing its effectiveness. My doctor bumped it from 150 mg to 200 mg, but that made everything worse. I wasn't falling asleep until 7 am, I had no energy during the day, and my OCD symptoms were basically completely back. I was also on Zoloft for around a year, and the same thing happened there. Everybody is different, though. If you have OCD and haven't tried Luvox, give it a try. When everything was going well, I still experienced sexual side effects like low libido and delayed ejaculation."

• ocd...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 27, 2024

Fluvoxamine "I absolutely love this medication. I was diagnosed with generalized anxiety at 15 and tried multiple antidepressants, but none worked. I went to a different psychiatrist at 23 who diagnosed me with OCD and put me on fluvoxamine. Now it doesn't stop the obsessions or intrusive thoughts, but it's almost like I can feel my brain putting an end to it so I don't always have to do my compulsion. I no longer have to triple-check that I didn't leave harmful chemicals out in the open. The only unfortunate side effects are sometimes it makes me feel a bit hyperactive and shaky, and the first week felt like I was sedated and couldn't form a straight thought. But it works amazingly! I love fluvoxamine. NOTE: Please don't skip a pill. Sometimes if I forget to take it, I end up going crazy the next day. This is one of those medicines you have to be super diligent with."

• npo...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• August 18, 2018

Fluvoxamine "Works very quickly for OCD. Was on Luvox for almost fifteen years. Went off it for four years. OCD symptoms returned, so I went back on my previous dose and got chronic insomnia. The severe OCD thoughts went away within days, though, so I continued use. I lowered the dose, and the insomnia dissipated after about 3 weeks. Have been back on it about six weeks and feeling much better. Am currently on 100mg."