Drug interactions
Sertraline + Valerian
Severity: Minor
Sertraline and Valerian: minor 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
Valerian has sedative properties and may add to drowsiness or psychomotor impairment when taken with sertraline. Clinical evidence is limited, and the effect is usually mild.
What this interaction means in plain words
Sertraline and Valerian have a small, usually unimportant interaction. Most people can take both; the pharmacist may still mention it so that any unexpected effect is recognised.
Why it happens
Additive CNS depressant effects, probably through GABAergic activity of valerian.
What to do
Advise patients to watch for excess sedation and avoid driving until the response is known. Stop valerian if daytime drowsiness occurs.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Is there anything I should notice while taking both?
- Do I need to tell my doctor at the next visit?
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Other interactions of Sertraline
- Isocarboxazid + Sertraline Contraindicated
- Methylene blue + Sertraline Contraindicated
- Phenelzine + Sertraline Contraindicated
- Pimozide + Sertraline Contraindicated
- Selegiline transdermal + Sertraline Contraindicated
- Selegiline + Sertraline Contraindicated
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Sertraline with Valerian?
MediHelp rates the interaction as minor. Sertraline and Valerian have a small, usually unimportant interaction. Most people can take both; the pharmacist may still mention it so that any unexpected effect is recognised. Valerian has sedative properties and may add to drowsiness or psychomotor impairment when taken with sertraline. Clinical evidence is limited, and the effect is usually mild.
How serious is the interaction between Sertraline and Valerian?
MediHelp rates it minor, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Advise patients to watch for excess sedation and avoid driving until the response is known. Stop valerian if daytime drowsiness occurs.
What other medicines interact with Sertraline?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Sertraline with, for example, Isocarboxazid, Methylene blue, Phenelzine. The full list is on the Sertraline page.
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