LuvoxCR withdrawal can be made many times more manageable using orthomolecular and evidence-based therapies to ease the process. Whether you were prescribed this drug to treat OCD or other symptoms, we have developed a set of protocols that can be individually tailored to your exact needs.
Finding root causes for symptoms is our focus. Thus, we do not spend time finding the “correct label” for your situation. However, we do spend time designing the program that will work for your unique profile and situation. For this purpose, we call on the very best of our expertise, our medical staff’s knowledge, and our compassion for your well-being and recovery.
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Many years have come and gone since Alternative to Meds Center first opened its doors to help its clients recover from mental health crises, drug injuries, medication dependence, and addiction recovery. Our long history of holistic therapy approaches has helped thousands to overcome their difficulties. Whether you are aiming to recover from LuvoxCR withdrawal or other issues, our dedication to our original mission remains true — your recovery. You are invited to review independent research on our historical success. Our world-class facility and treatment team are here to provide you with the very best in science-based care and recovery.
15 Years Experience by Professionals Who Understand Your Journey.
Luvox CR is an SSRI antidepressant drug. (CR means it is controlled-release, meant to be taken once daily.)
IImmediate-release Luvox (fluvoxamine) was the very first SSRI medication to be brought to market. Fluoxamine was originally marketed in Switzerland in 1983 and came to the US in 1994. At the time, Luvox (IR) was described as a medication to treat depression, anxiety, OCD, and other psychiatric symptoms.2,12-14
Common LuvoxCR Withdrawal Symptoms
About half the patients who stop taking antidepressants/SSRIs experience withdrawal symptoms. Several studies have documented the symptoms that most commonly arise within a period of days after abrupt withdrawal of LuvoxCR and other SSRIs. Controlled-release SSRI LuvoxCR has a half-life of about 16 hours. The half-life of a drug is somewhat predictive of when withdrawals may start to first emerge. To compare, Prozac has an extremely long half-life of 3-5 days so it can take 2-3 weeks for withdrawals to emerge.21
Withdrawals may pass in a few weeks, but can also linger for several months or longer, according to research published in the Journal of Addictive Behaviors.20 Gradual withdrawal is recommended over weeks or even months to reduce their severity.
Since withdrawals from SSRIs can be vague and variable, and often overlap original and drug-induced side effects, physicians are liable to misdiagnose them as relapse phenomena.14,5,8,19 To help clarify this diagnostic problem, the mnemonic “F I N I S H” has been used to isolate the most common withdrawal symptoms, as shown below.
Collaborate with your prescribing physician or medical team. Don’t try it on your own. Since LuvoxCR is an extended-release SSRI, your prescriber may suggest switching to an immediate-release SSRI, for easier calculations of dose reductions. Prozac is often utilized in this way, as it has a much longer half-life. Ask your doctor can establish workable equivalent dosages for you to avoid unnecessary complications that can occur when switching antidepressants.
Recruit assistance. Ask for trusted individuals around you to assist you with chores, cooking, and typical errands, and allow enough time to rest and recuperate without much distraction.
Take it slow. Gradual withdrawal has been found to be the most productive and the least traumatic way to come off antidepressant medication.14-16,20
Stabilize after each reduction. Even at a slow reduction pace, withdrawals may emerge that are uncomfortable. If withdrawals are more severe than are tolerable, work with your prescriber to go back up to a tolerable dose if necessary, and then allow enough time for these to subside before initiating the next reduction.22
Reduce dosage in smaller increments as you near the end of the taper process. has been shown to be highly workable for a manageable rate of withdrawal.16
Avoid alcohol, and recreational drugs, including cannabis. These agents can cause their own set of symptoms and can disrupt your LuvoxCR withdrawal process.3,23
Improving Sleep Can Assist LuvoxCR Withdrawal
Sleep disruptions are not uncommon during LuvoxCR withdrawal. Do what you can to help improve your sleeping environment. This may include a more ergonomic mattress and pillows, eliminating electronics from the bedroom, establishing regular sleep times, avoiding heavy meals just before retiring, and eliminating caffeine or other stimulants. Some find that light- and sound-blocking curtains and masks are also helpful in creating a good sleep environment.
OCD, Depression, and the Role of Nutrition in Recovery
In general, it has been found that OCD and other mental health sufferers have low levels of 12 specific nutrients in their diet. 6,7
These 12 specific nutrients act as natural antidepressants, and can be obtained as supplements or obtained through diet. Supplements include folate, long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, magnesium, iron, selenium, potassium, zinc, vitamin A, B1, B6, B12, and vitamin C.
Add foods to your daily diet to maximize these antidepressant nutrients, such as green leafy vegetables, cruciferous vegetables, peppers, organ meats, and seafood, especially mussels and oysters.
Why was Luvox Banned in Numerous Countries?
Luvox was banned in 2002 in the US, UK, and elsewhere. Public outcry and a massive overhaul of regulations of SSRIs followed the 1999 tragic Columbine school shooting. Records showed that the teenage shooter had been taking Luvox for a year prior to the school shooting incident. Consequently, Luvox was implicated in the student’s violent and erratic behavior. These concerns brought forth many international studies regarding the tendency of SSRI medications to provoke suicidal and violent behavior in youth.9-11,13,17,20
As time passed, by 2008 the drug manufacturer had modified the drug’s formula and changed it to a “CR” or controlled release version and resubmitted the request for approval not for treating depression or anxiety, but limited to treating OCD. Subsequently, the FDA did grant approval to prescribe Luvox CR to treat OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder). The label does not strictly prohibit prescribing to the pediatric population but only says the smallest dose of LuvoxCR “may not be appropriate” for children, without further explanation.
Surprisingly, “fluvoxamine,” the immediate-release formula, remains on the WHO’s “essential medications” list for 2023, which recommends the drug for the treatment of depression, anxiety, and OCD.8
LuvoxCR — the Black Box Label
It was after the Columbine disaster and related publicity and numerous clinical studies reporting about SSRIs being linked to suicides and violence, that the FDA ordered a “black box warning” on all SSRI antidepressants.9,10,11,17
Here is the current black box warning1 that shows on LuvoxCR‘s label:
WARNING: SUICIDALITY and ANTIDEPRESSANTS See full prescribing information for complete boxed warning. Increased risk of suicidal thinking and behavior in children, adolescents, and young adults taking antidepressants for major depressive disorder and other psychiatric disorders (5.1) ~FDA label LuvoxCR
Clinical Trials on LuvoxCR
Also of interest, NO clinical trials on LuvoxCR on children were ever reported according to the drug label.
However, two 10-week trials (no date given) were done on children aged 8-17 for up to 200mg daily of immediate-release Luvox. These trials reported “no treatment effect” for ages 8-12.
Regarding adult trials, 3 short trials on immediate-release Luvox were done on an adult population but do not indicate the trial dates. And, some adult patients from the short trials remained on IR Luvox for a longer period, but the results were not controlled or documented, as stated on the drug’s label information.
It is puzzling how the FDA could have been sufficiently informed about such a controversial drug, before granting its approval in 2008 with such little information to go on.
About LuvoxCR Withdrawal at Alternative to Meds Center
At Alternative to Meds Center, we’ve been helping people resolve over-medication, medication injury, and comfortable withdrawal management for LuvoxCR and other medications for just about two decades now. The methods we use allow our clients to attain and maintain natural mental wellness without relying on prescription medication for relief.
These are the methods we use to isolate root causes for unwanted symptoms. Then, with medically supervised treatments, including holistic detox and deep cleansing methods to free the body of neurotoxic elements, a unique program is designed to promote rebalancing and true recovery.
Our program is like no other on the planet, delivered in a beautiful, pristine residential setting. Please call us for more information and guidance, as well as how to find out about insurance coverage for you or your loved one. We welcome your call and look forward to speaking with you about the best ways forward for your particular situation and needs.
4. Edinoff AN, Akuly HA, Hanna TA, Ochoa CO, Patti SJ, Ghaffar YA, Kaye AD, Viswanath O, Urits I, Boyer AG, Cornett EM, Kaye AM. Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors and Adverse Effects: A Narrative Review. Neurol Int. 2021 Aug 5;13(3):387-401. doi: 10.3390/neurolint13030038. PMID: 34449705; PMCID: PMC8395812. [cited 2023 Sept 1]
7. Nguyen, T. P., Cribb, L., Ng, C. H., Byrne, G. J., Castle, D., Brakoulias, V., Blair-West, S., Oliver, G., Ee, C., Dean, O. M., Camfield, D. A., Bousman, C., Dowling, N., Roy, R., Berk, M., & Sarris, J. (2021). Dietary quality and nutrient intake in adults with obsessive–compulsive disorder.BJPsych Open, 7(6), e218. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjo.2021.1039 [cited 2023 Sept 1]
15. Mourad I, Lejoyeux M, Adès J. Evaluation prospective du sevrage des antidépresseurs [Prospective evaluation of antidepressant discontinuation]. Encephale. 1998 May-Jun;24(3):215-22. French. PMID: 9696914. [cited 2023 Sept 1]
18. Gabriel, M., & Sharma, V. (2017). Antidepressant discontinuation syndrome. CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association journal = journal de l’Association medicale canadienne, 189(21), E747. https://doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.160991 [cited 2023 Sept 1]
Originally Published September 1, 2023 by Diane Ridaeus
This content has been reviewed and approved by a licensed physician.
Dr. Samuel Lee
Dr. Samuel Lee is a board-certified psychiatrist, specializing in a spiritually-based mental health discipline and integrative approaches. He graduated with an MD at Loma Linda University School of Medicine and did a residency in psychiatry at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle. He has also been an inpatient adult psychiatrist at Kaweah Delta Mental Health Hospital and the primary attending geriatric psychiatrist at the Auerbach Inpatient Psychiatric Jewish Home Hospital. In addition, he served as the general adult outpatient psychiatrist at Kaiser Permanente. He is board-certified in psychiatry and neurology and has a B.A. Magna Cum Laude in Religion from Pacific Union College. His specialty is in natural healing techniques that promote the body’s innate ability to heal itself.
Diane is an avid supporter and researcher of natural mental health strategies. Diane received her medical writing and science communication certification through Stanford University and has published over 3 million words on the topics of holistic health, addiction, recovery, and alternative medicine. She has proudly worked with the Alternative to Meds Center since its inception and is grateful for the opportunity to help the founding members develop this world-class center that has helped so many thousands regain natural mental health.
Medical Disclaimer: Nothing on this Website is intended to be taken as medical advice. The information provided on the website is intended to encourage, not replace, direct patient-health professional relationships. Always consult with your doctor before altering your medications. Adding nutritional supplements may alter the effect of medication. Any medication changes should be done only after proper evaluation and under medical supervision.
Our Success Stories
Medication Withdrawal Success Stories
Can you imagine being free from medications, addictive drugs, and alcohol? This is our goal and we are proving it is possible every day!
It was after the Columbine disaster and related publicity and numerous clinical studies reporting about SSRIs being linked to suicides and violence, that the FDA ordered a “black box warning” on all SSRI antidepressants.9,10,11,17
At Alternative to Meds Center, we’ve been helping people resolve over-medication, medication injury, and comfortable withdrawal management for LuvoxCR and other medications for just about two decades now. The methods we use allow our clients to attain and maintain natural mental wellness without relying on prescription medication for relief.
