Lovan

Country: Australia

Language: English

Source: Department of Health (Therapeutic Goods Administration)

Active ingredient:

Fluoxetine hydrochloride

Available from:

Alphapharm Pty Ltd

Class:

Medicine Registered

Patient Information leaflet

LOVAN*

_contains the active ingredient fluoxetine (hydrochloride)_
CONSUMER MEDICINE INFORMATION

WHAT IS IN THIS LEAFLET
This leaflet answers some common
questions about Lovan.
It does not contain all the available
information. It does not take the
place of talking to your doctor or
pharmacist.
All medicines have benefits and
risks. Your doctor has weighed the
risks of you taking Lovan against the
benefits expected for you.
IF YOU HAVE ANY CONCERNS ABOUT
TAKING THIS MEDICINE, TALK TO YOUR
DOCTOR OR PHARMACIST.
KEEP THIS LEAFLET WITH YOUR
MEDICINE.
You may need to read it again.
WHAT LOVAN IS USED
FOR
Lovan is used to treat
•
depression
•
obsessive compulsive disorder
(OCD)
•
premenstrual dysphoric disorder
(PMDD).
Lovan belongs to a group of
medicines called selective serotonin
reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). SSRIs
are thought to work by their action
on brain chemicals called amines
which are involved in controlling
mood.
ASK YOUR DOCTOR IF YOU HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS ABOUT WHY LOVAN HAS
BEEN PRESCRIBED FOR YOU.
Your doctor may have prescribed
Lovan for another reason.
Lovan is available only with a
doctor's prescription.
Lovan is not recommended for use in
children and adolescents under 18
years of age.
BEFORE YOU TAKE LOVAN
_WHEN YOU MUST NOT TAKE IT_
DO NOT TAKE LOVAN IF YOU ARE
ALLERGIC TO:
•
any medicines containing
fluoxetine (such as Prozac and
Zactin)
•
any of the ingredients listed at the
end of this leaflet.
Some of the symptoms of an allergic
reaction may include shortness of
breath; wheezing or difficulty
breathing; swelling of the face, lips,
tongue or other parts of the body;
rash, itching or hives on the skin.
DO NOT TAKE LOVAN IF YOU ARE
TAKING ANOTHER MEDICINE FOR
DEPRESSION CALLED A MONOAMINE
OXIDASE INHIBITOR (MAOI) OR HAVE
BEEN TAKING A MAOI WITHIN THE LAST
14 DAYS. CHECK WITH YOUR DOCTOR OR
PHARMACIST IF YOU ARE UNSURE AS TO
WHETHER OR NOT YOU ARE TAKING A
MAOI.
If you do take Lovan while you are
taking a MAOI, you may experience
shaking (tremor), shivering, muscle
stiffness

Summary of Product characteristics

LOVAN 
_Fluoxetine hydrochloride _
PRODUCT INFORMATION

NAME OF THE MEDICINE 
Lovan (fluoxetine hydrochloride) 
DESCRIPTION 
Fluoxetine hydrochloride is an antidepressant for oral administration.  It is designated (±)-N-methyl-3-phenyl-3-
[(

,

,

-trifluoro-p-tolyl)-oxy]-propylamine  hydrochloride,  and  has  the  empirical  formula  C
17
H
18
F
3
NO  HCl.  Its 
molecular weight is 345.79.  The CAS number for fluoxetine hydrochloride is 59333-67-4. 
The structural formula is as follows: 
-O-CH-(CH
2
)
2
-NH-CH
3
 . HCI
F
3
C-

Fluoxetine hydrochloride is a
white to off-white crystalline solid with a
solubility of 14 mg/mL in water. 
Each  Lovan  capsule  contains  fluoxetine  hydrochloride  equivalent  to  20  mg  (64.7 

moles)  of  fluoxetine.    The 
pharmaceutical excipients are maize starch, dimethicone 350, gelatin, indigo carmine CI73015, quinoline yellow 
CI47005 and edible black ink. 
Each  Lovan  Tab  contains  fluoxetine  hydrochloride  equivalent  to  20  mg  (64.7 

moles)  of  fluoxetine.    The 
pharmaceutical excipients are microcrystalline cellulose, saccharin sodium, mannitol, sorbitol, colloidal anhydrous 
silica, maize starch, sodium stearylfumarate, crospovidone, aniseed flavouring and peppermint flavouring. 
Lovan Liquid* contains fluoxetine hydrochloride equivalent to 20 mg/5 mL (64.7 µmoles) of fluoxetine.  It also contains 
benzoic acid, sucrose, glycerol and a mint flavouring agent. 
* Not marketed in Australia. 
PHARMACOLOGY

PHARMACODYNAMICS 
The  antidepressant  and  antiobsessional  action  of  fluoxetine  is  presumed  to  be  linked  to  its  inhibition  of  CNS 
neuronal uptake of serotonin.  Studies at clinically relevant doses in man have demonstrated that fluoxetine blocks 
the uptake of seroton