Fluvoxamine and Headaches: What Users Say

• 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."

• Lem...
• March 30, 2014

Fluvoxamine for Anxiety and Stress "I was prescribed Luvox for anxiety and panic attacks. Initially, Luvox just made me tired. After about 2 weeks, it started making me feel depressive. Continued taking it for about 2 months, the depressive symptoms only got worse. I had to discontinue medication because it caused depression for me. Did not help for anxiety or panic at all. When tapering off, I suffered severe nausea and headaches. Didn't work and has bad side effects."

• Sue...
• April 15, 2012

Fluvoxamine for Anxiety and Stress "I tend to go on and off it when I am well. I hate the sexual side effects, but it works almost immediately for me. I get headaches and trouble sleeping, but when it works, I feel so normal, it is priceless and worth the grief."

• Ren...
• August 16, 2015

Fluvoxamine for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "I immediately noticed my anxiety went down, but I had to stop taking the medication because I would sleep up to 16 hours a day, which was not practical as a law student. I also experienced severe nausea and headaches. I felt extremely frustrated that I was prescribed this medication by my doctor."

• whi...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 15, 2014

Fluvoxamine for Anxiety and Stress "Started taking Luvox after I told my doctor that Effexor, which is very effective and a lifesaver for me, was a bit of a libido killer. Said to try Luvox. I had a bad reaction even after tapering off Effexor properly. I had very bad headaches, which codeine couldn't shift, and diarrhea, also stomach cramps and bad nausea. Not for me obviously, so I am starting back on the Effexor, which keeps me sane."

• Ren...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 9, 2022

For Anxiety and Stress "Honestly, I don’t think this is a good medicine for me. At first, I was on 50 mg twice a day. Then moved to around March 22 to 100 mg twice a day, and I feel worse. My depression and anxiety are still terrible. I low-key hallucinate, and it’s scary. I have a hard time eating, and I feel paranoid sometimes. I’m always tired and have no motivation. I barely sleep, my mouth is dry all the time, my head hurts, and I’m constantly overheating. I don’t feel like myself anymore. If you feel like a medicine isn’t working for you, it’s okay to say no on upping the dosage and to take a break or change to a different medicine! It didn’t work for me, and that’s okay. Now I’m weaning off of it, and I hope I feel normal again."

• Anonymous
• September 3, 2009

Fluvoxamine for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "I'm taking this for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. I've taken it for about 6 months. It has helped slightly. My pharmacy couldn't order it fast enough, so 3 days off of it, I had a headache and threw up at work. Overall, I have had help with this. I have to take it at night because it makes me very sleepy."

• Tir...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 16, 2020

For Depression "Started fluvoxamine not too long ago. It really messed me up, and I had to stop taking it after only 2 doses. Constant thoughts racing, my heart was beating out of my chest, I breathed out of my mouth, I couldn't sleep, and sometimes I'd start crying because I was so frustrated with the lack of sleep. Sometimes I'd lose myself, staring off into space and blink once every 30 seconds like a zombie... Stomach pains and headaches followed as well. Everyone's different, but for me, it was awful."

• Anonymous
• July 14, 2011

For Anxiety and Stress "This medicine has worked great for me so far. I have been on it for 2 weeks. I missed one dose and had an atrocious headache, but it went away as soon as I took the missed dose. I am taking 100 mg - 50 in the morning and 50 at night. I do not, nor have I ever, slept well, so I do not see or feel any difference. I am so much calmer, and I am able to find a bit of joy in the things that would really irritate me before. My nightmares are not as bad, but still happening. I have lost 2 pounds per week, which is not an issue with my being 60 pounds overweight. I also take Abilify. One of the two causes me to be extremely 'jumpy.' I am startled easily."

• ACK...
• January 6, 2017

For Anxiety and Stress "I've been taking 50 mg of fluvoxamine for 8 days. It works amazingly for getting the horrible thoughts I experience daily to leave my mind - I can just turn it off and feel normal and calm. If it didn't have so many negative side effects, it would be the perfect medication for me. I've been experiencing headaches, nausea, lack of motivation, trouble getting up in the morning, lack of concentration, it's completely killed my sex drive, and it makes me feel almost wired at bedtime, before I crash into a drug-induced sleep. It also makes me feel constantly hungry, even after a large meal. If I were to keep taking this, I think I'd become obese. I rated it a 3 because it worked for what I needed it for. Disappointed it wasn't for me."

• Loz...
• September 5, 2016

Fluvoxamine for Anxiety and Stress "My son was prescribed this for anxiety and racing thoughts. Helped initially with improved mood, but very tired. After a week or two, noticed an increase in impulsive behavior: lying, stealing, cheating, rudeness. Sleep remained reduced, and diarrhea and headaches. We have finally reduced it off, but still quite emotional."

• Jia...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 27, 2019

For Anorexia/Feeding Problems "Started 50 mg for restrictive ED, occasional binges, anxiety, obsessions. I had mild nausea and sweating and didn't gain weight. A little less obsessive/anxious. Then went to 100. Headache day one only. Was on it a month and gained a few lbs not because of increased appetite/meds, but I was following my meal plan. Inability to orgasm. Went to 200 mg since a lot of crying/somatic symptoms. Depression got worse as did restlessness. I got scared and thought this med may be decreasing symptoms and making others worse, so upped to 300. Depression/restlessness almost immediately relieved. Somatic symptoms decreased. On ER, had nausea at each release, but it's faded. I believe it's causing constipation and nighttime sweating, but that's nothing considering the improvement to quality of life. I've gained what has been appropriate for ED recovery from conscious increased intake. I can still cry with big stressors and feel emotion, but the small stuff or for no reason sadness/anxiety and obsessions are gone."

• CIa...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 26, 2022

Fluvoxamine for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "Makes my OCD manageable. Has given me headaches and/or insomnia when I start taking it for the first time in a long time, but they usually go away. And it sure beats staying up because I’m too anxious to fall asleep. (Have been taking it on and off for about 4 years.) Just remember everyone’s bodies respond to different drugs differently."

• Tha...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 28, 2021

Fluvoxamine for Anxiety and Stress "So I loved this at first - did wonders for my depression and anxiety, but then as soon as I increased the dosage, I had insane constipation and stomach issues. Talking 3-4 days and intense bloating, hard to concentrate or be at work, etc. When I would skip a dose to fix my stomach, I’d have a bad headache for half the day. Just a lose-lose on everything but my anxiety and depression. Now, will be going off, sadly. Watch out for stomach issues!"

• Rya...
• December 3, 2015

For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "Well, I take 150 mg daily every morning, generic brand aka fluvoxamine for over 10 years. Alongside 0.5 mg of Xanax 2 times a day for anxiety/panic attacks. We recently increased from 150 to 200 mg after 10 years due to anxiety, depression, hopeless feelings, medicine phobia, general fear, and religious OCD creeping back in my mind. Day 3, I had a headache and felt confused. I felt like nothing mattered, even doing regular house chores like dishes. By day 5, I was numb to all. Felt like crying but couldn't. My doctor has decreased me back to 150 mg."

• Zac...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 14, 2022

For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "OCD/PTSD/DEPRESSION I've tried a few different types of medication, and this one actually works for me. 300 mg at night, 2 years now. I don't really get stuck on intrusive thoughts like I used to. I still get sad sometimes, but it's still a normal emotion. I've been able to learn the difference from a depressive sadness to a normal sadness, if that makes sense, haha. - Personal side effects: I sweat a heap more in any physical activity. Sex drive is ehh. Insomnia. - Please save yourself and do not abruptly stop unless you want to be incredibly irritable, brain zaps nearly all the time, headaches, no sleep... The list goes on."

• Anonymous
• October 25, 2013

For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "I was diagnosed with OCD a little more than 2 months ago. My doctor started me on 50 mg of fluvoxamine for the first month. I had no noticeable benefits from the medication and four side effects. The side effects included the following: weight gain, fatigue/disrupted sleep pattern, headaches, and sexual dysfunction. The second month, my doctor increased the dosage to 100 mg. The results were the same as the first month. He has since switched me to another SSRI."

• Nic...
• December 19, 2017

For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "My 18-year-old daughter was put on Luvox about 8 months ago. It definitely is working for her OCD. She is still very depressed, though. She recently had an increase in her dose and is now taking 300 mg daily, 150 mg in the morning and 150 mg at night. It takes a good 4 to 6 weeks to feel the benefits, she has told me. She rarely needs her Xanax anymore but takes Clonazepam once a day for anxiety. She is only 117 lbs, and I do worry about that high of a dose. She is tired all the time. Headaches occasionally too. Those are the main side effects for her. She has tried dozens of medications, and Luvox has been the only one to help with her OCD. Her therapist was the one to discover she had it, as we were both unaware."

• LAC...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 6, 2023

For Depression "I've been on at least two dozen antidepressants with various dosage combos for approximately 11 years straight before being switched to this dose and titrated up to 150 mg. Works perfectly. After such a long journey, I finally found an antidepressant that works completely. The problem is... you cannot miss even one day of this medicine or else you have to start at the bottom and work up due to the insanely bad side effects of withdrawal from just one day: headaches, migraines, insomnia, etc. So if I miss one day, I have to go way down to 25 mg a night and very slowly raise myself over a couple weeks' time back to 150. It's a very picky drug, but if you don't miss a dose, it'll work wonders for you!"

• Ano...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 6, 2025

For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "I couldn't get through with this medication, I got massive headaches and couldn't stop yawning. The side effects weren't worth it for me."