Adverse effects of long-term administration of fluvoxamine on haematology, blood biochemistry and fertility in male albino rats: a possible effect of cessation

Fluvoxamine is recommended as first-line treatment for a number of obsessive-compulsive disorders, anxiety disorders, social phobia, and post-traumatic stress disorder and panic disorder. The adverse effects of prolonged oral administration of fluvoxamine on haematology, biochemical parameters and fertility in male rats were evaluated in this study. Sixty adult male rats were allocated into 5 equal groups and orally treated with fluvoxamine 9mgkg(-1) b.wt. (low therapeutic dose, LTD) and 27mgkg(-1) b.wt. (high therapeutic dose, HTD), while the control rats received 0.5ml distilled water for a period of 8weeks. The 4(th) and 5(th) groups were gavaged with LTD and HTD of fluvoxamine for 8weeks and then left untreated for another 8weeks (recovery groups). HTD of fluvoxamine induced leukocytosis, lymphocytosis and monocytosis. LTD and HTD of fluvoxamine evoked hepatic, renal and cardiac dysfunction. Moreover, fluvoxamine treatment might lead to the risk of male infertility, which is indicated by its deleterious impacts on spermiogram and steroidogenesis hormones. They also induced oxidative stress, apoptosis in testicular tissue. Fortunately, the previous alterations were mostly reversed during the recovery period.