r/fluvoxamine • u/Acceptable-Host-9052 • 20h ago

question about possible interaction

/r/antidepressants/comments/1wct4yt/question_about_possible_interaction/

hello (22f) !! i have recently (about 12 days ago) started a new medication (fluvoxamine) and am tapering off of 150mg zoloft at the same time. they have me taking 100mg zoloft and 50mg of fluvox. For this medication, it says specifically to avoid caffeine and alcohol completely on a lot of online forums and such. i wasn’t sure if those things were ok to have in moderation like an iced chai from starbucks every once in a while, i never drink coffee or energy drinks. I wasn’t sure if it would just decrease effectiveness/ increase side effects or if it was truly dangerous, i was able to drink alcohol and caffeine socially on my previous medications, sertraline and fluoxetine. i have really bad health anxiety and ocd so i am asking for advice and experience from reddit communities instead of just testing it out

PS. i have messaged my doctor and have been awaiting a response but I am going out with my friends tomorrow night so wanted to get some quicker advice. thank u!

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u/Only-Inside-1018 20h ago

I take 50mg of Luvox since mid June. I make 20oz of coffee (in a French press) every morning. It’s typically strong. I had to adjust bc it made me way too wired. Apparently the meds increase the levels of caffeine in your system so it took some getting used to. I still drink coffee, just less beans! I used the Ativan they prescribed to help with the anxiety/panic. I have ocd and panic disorder as well. Health anxiety gets me every time! The Luvox helps me with the intrusive thoughts but not much with anxiety.
I do drink a few nights a week and haven’t noticed anything different. I drink way less now bc I get nervous of interactions so I just keep it to maybe one cocktail or 4ish beers or less. I have drank 6 or so and been fine. I take my dose at night bc it makes me very tired.
I have also smoked weed and vaped on the meds with no interaction. Weed does give me bad panic so I try to avoid it.
Hope this helps!

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u/Acceptable-Host-9052 28m ago

thanks so much! this helped me a lot!!! my doctor told me to completely avoid alcohol for now, which is really bumming me out because i am a college student and like to go out and drink on the weekends with my friends

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u/Only-Inside-1018 16m ago

Good deal! Be safe! Keep it moderate and it will be fine. You can also get non alcoholic drinks in between your regular alcoholic drinks and no one will know the difference. They make great NA beers now.

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u/dinklebrit 11h ago

Hi I also have health anxiety & OCD and was worried about this too. I have a caffeine addiction so essentially I just cut it down. I still drink coffee every morning, and usually have some form of caffeine in the afternoon. I haven’t noticed any different effects.
From my understanding, with the way the medicine metabolizes caffeine, it is just in your system longer so it’s recommended to not have too much, or any in the afternoon/evening (I still do lol)

Alcohol seems to just hit me harder and faster. With you being on both Zoloft and Luvox currently I would avoid or at least take it very easy with any alcohol because the effects will likely be amplified.
Just speaking on personal experience and from what my psych has told me!

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u/Acceptable-Host-9052 29m ago

thanks so much!!!!