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Luvox vs. Effexor

Are Luvox and Effexor the Same Thing?

Luvox (fluvoxamine) and Effexor (venlafaxine) are antidepressants used to treat depression.

Luvox is also used to treat social anxiety disorder (social phobia), and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

Luvox and Effexor are different types of antidepressants. Luvox is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) and Effexor is a selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI).

Side effects of Luvox and Effexor that are similar include changes in appetite, nausea, dry mouth, dizziness, drowsiness, anxiety, sleep problems (insomnia or unusual dreams), increased sweating, decreased sex drive, and trouble having an orgasm.

Side effects of Luvox that are different from Effexor include diarrhea, gas, sore throat, weakness, yawning, skin rash, heavy menstrual periods, muscle pain, and abnormal ejaculation.

Side effects of Effexor that are different from Luvox include nervousness, constipation, headaches, blurred vision, changes in weight, impotence, increased blood pressure, and seizures.

Both Luvox and Effexor may interact with alcohol, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), other drugs that make you sleepy or slow your breathing (sleeping pills, narcotics, muscle relaxers, sedatives, or medicines for anxiety, depression, or seizures), lithium, tramadol, L-tryptophan, warfarin, or migraine headache medications.

Luvox may also interact with clopidogrel, diuretics (water pills), methadone, omeprazole, St. John's wort, tacrine, theophylline, heart or blood pressure medication, or medicines to treat psychiatric disorders.

Effexor may also interact with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), cimetidine, ketoconazole, linezolid, haloperidol, or risperidone.

Abrupt discontinuation of Effexor may cause withdrawal symptoms such as dizziness, headache, nausea, changes in mood, or changes in the sense of smell, and taste.

What Are Possible Side Effects of Luvox?

Common side effects of Luvox include:

  • loss of appetite,
  • nausea,
  • diarrhea,
  • gas,
  • dry mouth,
  • sore throat,
  • dizziness,
  • drowsiness,
  • weakness,
  • yawning,
  • anxiety,
  • sleep problems (insomnia or unusual dreams),
  • increased sweating,
  • skin rash,
  • heavy menstrual periods,
  • muscle pain,
  • decreased sex drive,
  • abnormal ejaculation, or
  • trouble having an orgasm.

What Are Possible Side Effects of Effexor?

Common side effects of Effexor include:

  • dizziness,
  • nervousness,
  • nausea,
  • constipation,
  • headaches,
  • anxiety,
  • insomnia,
  • strange dreams,
  • drowsiness,
  • increased sweating,
  • blurred vision,
  • dry mouth,
  • changes in appetite or weight,
  • decreased sex drive,
  • impotence,
  • difficulty having an orgasm,
  • increased blood pressure, and
  • seizures.

Abrupt discontinuation of Effexor may cause dizziness, headache, nausea, changes in mood, or changes in the sense of smell, and taste.

What Is Luvox?

Luvox (fluvoxamine) is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant used to treat social anxiety disorder (social phobia) or obsessive-compulsive disorders.

What Is Effexor?

Effexor (venlafaxine) is an antidepressant used for treatment of major depression.

 

What Drugs Interact With Luvox?

Luvox may interact with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), other drugs that make you sleepy or slow your breathing (sleeping pills, narcotic pain medicines, muscle relaxers, or medicines for anxiety, depression, or seizures), clopidogrel, diuretics (water pills), lithium, methadone, omeprazole, St. John's wort, tacrine, tramadol, L-tryptophan, theophylline, warfarin, antidepressants, heart or blood pressure medication, migraine headache medications, medicines to treat psychiatric disorders, sedatives, or seizure medications. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use.

What Drugs Interact With Effexor?

Effexor may interact with cold or allergy medicines, sedatives, narcotics, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, medicines for seizures or anxiety, other antidepressants, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), blood thinners, cimetidine, tramadol, L-tryptophan, or medicines to treat migraines.

Effexor may also interact with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), ketoconazole, linezolid, lithium, haloperidol, or risperidone.

 

How Should Luvox Be Taken?

The recommended starting dose for Luvox tablets in adult patients is 50 mg, administered as a single daily dose at bedtime. The recommended starting dose for Luvox tablets in pediatric populations (ages 8-17 years) is 25 mg, administered as a single daily dose at bedtime.

How Should Effexor Be Taken?

The usual dose of Effexor is 37.5-375 mg daily.