'Faverin'safety supported by database ...

DRUG REACTIONS

Duphar, the manufacturer of 'Faverin' [fluvoxaminel, has compiled a database of the experience with this agent in over 24 000 patients. 'This has affirmed the drug's safety . .. and shown it to be an extremely well-tolerated antidepressant.' The data were gathered from 54 worldwide postmarketing surveillance studies in which most patients received fluvoxamine 50-300 mgjday for 6 weeks.

A representative from Duphar, Dr W Wagner, who headed the taskforce which compiled the data, presented findings from the database in France recently. The most common adverse event of fluvoxamine was nausea with an incidence of 15.7%.

15% of patients withdrew from treatment because of adverse effects; most of these did so within the first 2 weeks of treatment ' ... confirming previous clinical experience suggesting that side effects with fluvoxamine occur in the initial stages of treatment'.

The incidence of serious adverse effects with fluvoxamine was 2.5% and the overall incidence of suicidal behaviour was very low at 0.8%.

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ISSN 0156-2703/9210718-0025/$1.00© Adis International Ltd

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INPHARMA® 18 Ju11992