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

Abstract

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 9 mg kg−1 b.wt. (low therapeutic dose, LTD) and 27 mg kg−1 b.wt. (high therapeutic dose, HTD), while the control rats received 0.5 ml distilled water for a period of 8 weeks. The 4th and 5th groups were gavaged with LTD and HTD of fluvoxamine for 8 weeks and then left untreated for another 8 weeks (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.