Luvox is prescribed to patients suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder. However, Luvox, like any selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), can cause injuries like serotonin syndrome and can be fatal. Luvox can also cause injury to unborn babies or nursing infants.
Luvox is for patients who suffer from obsessive-compulsive disorder, which is characterized by distress, anxiety, time-consuming repetitive actions, persistent repetitive thoughts, and inability to complete daily tasks easily or at all. Usually, patients are aware that obsessions and compulsions are excessive and unreasonable, but they feel unable to control them.
Luvox can cause serotonin syndrome. Serotonin syndrome occurs when the body receives too much seratonin, which is a chemical produced by nerve cells. Serotonin controls moods, emotions, sleep cycles and appetite. SSRI drugs and migraine headache drugs containing triptan both work to retain serotonin in the brain and to increase serotonin. The two drugs combined can lead to serotonin levels that are extremely dangerous and can cause serious injury.
Untreated serotonin syndrome can be fatal. The syndrome can occur within minutes or hours of taking the drugs. Symptoms include:
- restlessness
- hallucinations
- loss of coordination
- increased heart beat
- nausea
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- fever
- shivering
- tremor
- muscle spasms
Luvox is for patients who suffer from obsessive-compulsive disorder, which is characterized by distress, anxiety, time-consuming repetitive actions, persistent repetitive thoughts, and inability to complete daily tasks easily or at all. Usually, patients are aware that obsessions and compulsions are excessive and unreasonable, but they feel unable to control them.
Like depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder can be caused by an imbalance of serotonin in the brain, which is a chemical that allows nerve cells to communicate. When these nerve cells don’t communicate correctly, they can cause obsessive and compulsive tendencies. Luvox works by rebalancing seratonin.
Luvox can react with other drugs. Make sure to tell your doctor of any other medications you are taking before starting Luvox. Luvox can also:
- intensify some manic disorders
- cause seizures
- increase suicidal thoughts
- decrease cognitive and motor skills
- cause harm to unborn or nursing babies
- cause allergic reactions
- decreased appetite and weight loss
- decrease in sexual desire
Like other SSRIs, Luvox can cause persistent pulmonary hypertension in newborns. Persistent pulmonary hypertension in newborns causes breathing and lung function problems that are noticeable immediately after birth. Many infants can recover quickly, but some may require care throughout the rest of their lives. Medications like Luvox can cause injuries like problems in the fetal circulatory system, causing inadequate blood supply to the lungs and oxygen-depleted blood to return to the heart.
You should contact your doctor immediately if you experience any of the symptoms related to serotonin syndrome (listed above).
It is also very important to contact your doctor immediately if you have any suicidal thoughts; SSRIs are known for sometimes causing or adding to suicidal thoughts, actions and tendencies.
You should also contact your doctor if you notice mood changes, panic attacks, have trouble sleeping, become violent or agitated, hyperactive, or depressed.