Fluvoxamine is a drug that is used for treating several psychiatric disorders. It is in the class of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), a class that also includes fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft), and paroxetine (Paxil). Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors affect neurotransmitters (chemicals) that nerves in the brain use to communicate with each other. Many experts believe that an imbalance in these neurotransmitters is the cause of depression and other psychiatric disorders. Fluvoxamine works by inhibiting the uptake of serotonin (a neurotransmitter) by nerve cells. Therefore, there is more serotonin available to stimulate other nerves in the brain. Fluvoxamine was approved by the FDA for the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder in December, 1994.