Drug interactions
Fluoxetine + Sotalol
Severity: Moderate
Fluoxetine and Sotalol: moderate interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Both drugs can prolong the QT interval, so combined use may raise the risk of torsades de pointes, especially with other risk factors. Fluoxetine also inhibits CYP2D6 and may raise beta-blocker exposure and bradycardia, although sotalol is mainly renally cleared.
What this interaction means in plain words
Fluoxetine and Sotalol can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken.
Fluoxetine belongs to Central Nervous System; Sotalol belongs to Cardiovascular.
Why it happens
Additive QT prolongation through cardiac potassium channel effects, with possible additional bradycardia.
What to do
Obtain a baseline ECG and monitor QTc after starting or changing the dose, and correct potassium and magnesium. Consider an alternative antidepressant with less QT effect, such as sertraline, if QTc rises significantly.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Should I take them at different times of day?
- Does the dose of either medicine need to change?
- Is there anything I should avoid, such as alcohol or certain foods, while on both?
Pro+ members
Unlock the full page
Create an account and start a Pro+ trial to unlock the full management advice for Fluoxetine and Sotalol, the additional notes, the evidence detail and the whole-prescription interaction checker.
- Full clinical management advice
- Additional notes
- Evidence detail
- Interaction checker for a whole prescription
Try Pro+ free for 7 days on the web. No card needed.
Other interactions of Sotalol
- Arsenic trioxide + Sotalol Contraindicated
- Artemether / lumefantrine + Sotalol Contraindicated
- Disopyramide + Sotalol Contraindicated
- Dofetilide + Sotalol Contraindicated
- Dronedarone + Sotalol Contraindicated
- Droperidol + Sotalol Contraindicated
Other interactions of Fluoxetine
- Fluoxetine + Isocarboxazid Contraindicated
- Fluoxetine + Mavacamten Contraindicated
- Fluoxetine + Methylene blue Contraindicated
- Fluoxetine + Phenelzine Contraindicated
- Fluoxetine + Pimozide Contraindicated
- Fluoxetine + Rasagiline Contraindicated
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Fluoxetine with Sotalol?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Fluoxetine and Sotalol can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken. Both drugs can prolong the QT interval, so combined use may raise the risk of torsades de pointes, especially with other risk factors. Fluoxetine also inhibits CYP2D6 and may raise beta-blocker exposure and bradycardia, although sotalol is mainly renally cleared.
How serious is the interaction between Fluoxetine and Sotalol?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Obtain a baseline ECG and monitor QTc after starting or changing the dose, and correct potassium and magnesium. Consider an alternative antidepressant with less QT effect, such as sertraline, if QTc rises significantly.
What other medicines interact with Sotalol?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Sotalol with, for example, Arsenic trioxide, Artemether / lumefantrine, Disopyramide. The full list is on the Sotalol page.
Full monographs, dosing and an interaction checker in the MediHelp app
Open the complete reference, check multi-drug interactions and use dosing tools in the MediHelp app.
