Suitable dose and duration of fluvoxamine administration to treat depression

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 (chi2 = 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.