Therapeutic drug monitoring of fluvoxamine in children and adolescents

Introduction: By examining the correlation between serum concentrations and clinical parameters, this study demonstrates the benefit of therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) of fluvoxamine in children and adolescents.

Methods: The serum concentrations of 54 patients who were treated with fluvoxamine and for whom TDM was performed were analysed. The correlations between serum concentration and dose, dose per kg bodyweight, age, height, weight, and the number of side-effects were also analysed. Differences in serum concentrations between the patient groups were calculated.

Results: Serum concentrations of 14 – 439 ng/ml were observed, as well as significant correlations with regard to dose and dose per kg bodyweight. The number of side-effects was also found to correlate with serum concentration. In general, those patients who experienced side-effects had higher serum concentrations than those who did not. All other measured parameters did not show a significant correlation with the serum concentration of fluvoxamine.

Discussion: This is the first time that a statistically significant correlation between dose and serum concentration of fluvoxamine could be shown in children and adolescents. Also new is the clear association between serum concentration and the occurrence of side-effects, which this study was able to demonstrate through a statistically significant correlation.