Drug interactions
Lithium + Vortioxetine
Severity: Moderate
Lithium and Vortioxetine: 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
Lithium enhances serotonergic transmission and can add to vortioxetine's effects, with reports of serotonin syndrome and neurotoxicity. The combination is sometimes used for augmentation, but requires monitoring.
What this interaction means in plain words
Lithium and Vortioxetine 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.
Lithium belongs to Central Nervous System; Vortioxetine belongs to Central Nervous System.
Why it happens
Additive serotonergic effects, with lithium enhancing presynaptic serotonin release and sensitivity.
What to do
Monitor for tremor, confusion, hyperreflexia and other serotonin toxicity features, and check lithium levels per routine. Stop both drugs and give supportive care if toxicity occurs.
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?
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Other interactions of Vortioxetine
- Isocarboxazid + Vortioxetine Contraindicated
- Linezolid + Vortioxetine Contraindicated
- Methylene blue + Vortioxetine Contraindicated
- Phenelzine + Vortioxetine Contraindicated
- Rasagiline + Vortioxetine Contraindicated
- Selegiline transdermal + Vortioxetine Contraindicated
Other interactions of Lithium
- Lithium + Thioridazine Contraindicated
- Lithium + Vandetanib Contraindicated
- Aceclofenac + Lithium Major
- Acemetacin + Lithium Major
- Amisulpride + Lithium Major
- Amlodipine-benazepril + Lithium Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Lithium with Vortioxetine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Lithium and Vortioxetine 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. Lithium enhances serotonergic transmission and can add to vortioxetine's effects, with reports of serotonin syndrome and neurotoxicity. The combination is sometimes used for augmentation, but requires monitoring.
How serious is the interaction between Lithium and Vortioxetine?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Monitor for tremor, confusion, hyperreflexia and other serotonin toxicity features, and check lithium levels per routine. Stop both drugs and give supportive care if toxicity occurs.
What other medicines interact with Vortioxetine?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Vortioxetine with, for example, Isocarboxazid, Linezolid, Methylene blue. The full list is on the Vortioxetine page.
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