Regular Article: Suitable dose and duration of fluvoxamine administration to treat depression

• Published in: Psychiatry and clinical neurosciences 2003-04, Vol.57 (2), p.177-181
• Main Authors: Morishita, Shigeru, Arita, Seizaburo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1323-1316; 1440-1819
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1440-1819.2003.01098.x

The purpose of the present paper was to determine the suitable dose and appropriate trial duration of fluvoxamine to treat for depression. A retrospective cohort analysis was performed among depression patients who were treated in the Department of Psychiatry, Kawasaki Medical School Hospital, Kurashiki, Japan, in 2000. A total of 72 patients received fluvoxamine to treat depression. The dose-response was compared and the initial significant clinical action was examined. The percentage showing improvement after receiving a high daily dose (100-150 mg) of fluvoxamine was 73.7%, but that showing improvement on a low daily dose (50-75 mg) was 47.1%. A significant difference between the two groups was seen on Kaplan-Meier analysis and log-rank test ( chi super(2) = 4.814; d.f. = 1; P = 0.0282). The cumulative percentage of responder patients was more than 80% at the end of a 6-week period. Fluvoxamine is recommended at a daily dose of 100 mg or 150 mg as the initial dose. If a patient does not show improvement by the end of 6 weeks the treatment regimen of fluvoxamine should be altered.