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Drug Interactions between nortriptyline and Zoloft

This report displays the potential drug interactions for the following 2 drugs:

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Interactions between your drugs

Major

nortriptyline sertraline

Applies to: nortriptyline and Zoloft (sertraline)

MONITOR CLOSELY: Coadministration with sertraline may increase the plasma concentrations of some tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs). The proposed mechanism is sertraline inhibition of CYP450 2D6, the isoenzyme responsible for the metabolic clearance of many antidepressant and psychotropic drugs. Moderate to significant increases (up to 250%) in plasma levels have been reported for desipramine and nortriptyline. Pharmacodynamically, the combination of sertraline (or any other selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) and a TCA may potentiate the risk of serotonin syndrome, which is a rare but serious and potentially fatal condition thought to result from hyperstimulation of brainstem 5HT1A receptors. The syndrome has been reported in a case involving sertraline and amitriptyline.

MANAGEMENT: Caution is advised if sertraline (or other SSRIs) is prescribed with TCAs. Pharmacologic response and plasma TCA levels should be monitored more closely whenever sertraline is added to or withdrawn from therapy in patients stabilized on their existing antidepressant regimen, and the TCA dosage adjusted as necessary. Patients should be monitored closely for signs and symptoms of TCA toxicity (e.g., sedation, dry mouth, blurred vision, constipation, urinary retention) and/or excessive serotonergic activity (e.g., CNS irritability, altered consciousness, confusion, myoclonus, ataxia, abdominal cramping, hyperpyrexia, shivering, pupillary dilation, diaphoresis, hypertension, and tachycardia).

References

  1. Sternbach H "The serotonin syndrome." Am J Psychiatry 148 (1991): 705-13
  2. Lydiard RB, Anton RF, Cunningham T "Interactions between sertraline and tricyclic antidepressants." Am J Psychiatry 150 (1993): 1125-6
  3. Barros J, Asnis G "An interaction of sertraline and desipramine." Am J Psychiatry 150 (1993): 1751
  4. Preskorn SH, Alderman J, Chung M, Harrison W, Messig M, Harris S "Pharmacokinetics of desipramine coadministered with sertraline or fluoxetine." J Clin Psychopharmacol 14 (1994): 90-8
  5. von Moltke LL, Greenblatt DJ, Cotreau-Bibbo MM, Duan SX, Harmatz JS, Shader RI "Inhibition of desipramine hydroxylation in vitro by serotonin-reuptake-inhibitor antidepressants, and by quinidine and ketoconazole: a model system to predict drug interactions in vivo." J Pharmacol Exp Ther 268 (1994): 1278-83
  6. Popli AP, Baldessarini RJ, Cole JO "Interactions of serotonin reuptake inhibitors with tricyclic antidepressants." Arch Gen Psychiatry 51 (1994): 666-7
  7. Crewe HK, Lennard MS, Tucker GT, Woods FR, Haddock RE "The effect of selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors on cytochrome P4502D6 (CYP2D6) activity in human liver microsomes." Br J Clin Pharmacol 34 (1992): 262-5
  8. Taylor D "Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and tricyclic antidepressants in combination - interactions and therapeutic uses." Br J Psychiatry 167 (1995): 575-80
  9. Riesenman C "Antidepressant drug interactions and the cytochrome p450 system: a critical appraisal." Pharmacotherapy 15 (1995): s84-99
  10. Fischer P "Serotonin syndrome in the elderly after antidepressive monotherapy." J Clin Psychopharmacol 15 (1995): 440-2
  11. Corkeron MA "Serotonin syndrome - a potentially fatal complication of antidepressant therapy." Med J Aust 163 (1995): 481-2
  12. Alderman CP, Lee PC "Serotonin syndrome associated with combined sertraline-amitriptyline treatment." Ann Pharmacother 30 (1996): 1499-500
  13. Kurtz DL, Bergstrom RF, Goldberg MJ, Cerimele BJ "The effect of sertraline on the pharmacokinetics of desipramine and imipramine." Clin Pharmacol Ther 62 (1997): 145-56
  14. Mills KC "Serotonin syndrome: A clinical update." Crit Care Clin 13 (1997): 763
  15. Mathew NT, Tietjen GE, Lucker C "Serotonin syndrome complicating migraine pharmacotherapy." Cephalalgia 16 (1996): 323-7
  16. Ereshefsky L, Riesemman C, Lam YW "Antidepressant drug interactions and the cytochrome P450 system. The role of cytochrome P450 2D6." Clin Pharmacokinet 29(Suppl 1) (1995): 10-8; discussion 18-9
  17. Martin TG "Serotonin syndrome." Ann Emerg Med 28 (1996): 520-6
View all 17 references

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Drug and food interactions

Moderate

sertraline food

Applies to: Zoloft (sertraline)

GENERALLY AVOID: Alcohol may potentiate some of the pharmacologic effects of sertraline. Use in combination may result in additive central nervous system depression and/or impairment of judgment, thinking, and psychomotor skills. In addition, limited clinical data suggest that consumption of grapefruit juice during treatment with sertraline may result in increased plasma concentrations of sertraline. The proposed mechanism is inhibition of CYP450 3A4-mediated metabolism by certain compounds present in grapefruit. An in-vitro study demonstrated that grapefruit juice dose-dependently inhibits the conversion of sertraline to its metabolite, desmethylsertraline. In a study with eight Japanese subjects, mean plasma levels of sertraline increased by approximately 100% and maximum plasma concentrations increased by 66% after the ingestion of three 250 mL glasses of grapefruit juice per day for 5 days and administration of a single dose of sertraline 75 mg on the sixth day. In another small study with 5 patients, mean sertraline trough levels increased by 47% after taking sertraline for at least 6 weeks, then taking sertraline with 240 mL grapefruit juice daily for 1 week. The clinical significance is unknown; however, pharmacokinetic alterations associated with interactions involving grapefruit juice are often subject to a high degree of interpatient variability. The possibility of significant interaction in some patients should be considered.

MANAGEMENT: Patients receiving sertraline should be advised to avoid or limit consumption of alcohol. Ambulatory patients should be counseled to avoid hazardous activities requiring complete mental alertness and motor coordination until they know how sertraline affects them, and to notify their physician if they experience excessive or prolonged CNS effects that interfere with their normal activities. Some authorities recommend that consumption of grapefruit juice should be avoided during sertraline therapy.

References

  1. "Product Information. Zoloft (sertraline)." Roerig Division PROD (2001):
  2. Lee AJ, Chan WK, Harralson AF, Buffum J, Bui BCC "The effects of grapefruit juice on sertraline metabolism: An in vitro and in vivo study." Clin Ther 21 (1999): 1890-9
  3. Cerner Multum, Inc. "UK Summary of Product Characteristics." O 0
  4. Ueda N, Yoshimura R, Umene-Nakano W, et al. "Grapefruit juice alters plasma sertraline levels after single ingestion of sertraline in healthy volunteers." World J Biol Psychiatry 10(4 Pt 3) (2009): 832-5
View all 4 references

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Moderate

nortriptyline food

Applies to: nortriptyline

GENERALLY AVOID: Concomitant use of ethanol and a tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) may result altered TCA plasma levels and efficacy, and additive impairment of motor skills, especially driving skills. Acute ethanol ingestion may inhibit TCA metabolism, while chronic ingestion of large amounts of ethanol may induce hepatic TCA metabolism.

MANAGEMENT: Patients should be advised to avoid alcohol during TCA therapy. Alcoholics who have undergone detoxification should be monitored for decreased TCA efficacy. Dosage adjustments may be required.

References

  1. Dorian P, Sellers EM, Reed KL, et al. "Amitriptyline and ethanol: pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic interaction." Eur J Clin Pharmacol 25 (1983): 325-31
  2. Warrington SJ, Ankier SI, Turner P "Evaluation of possible interactions between ethanol and trazodone or amitriptyline." Neuropsychobiology 15 (1986): 31-7
  3. Sandoz M, Vandel S, Vandel B, Bonin B, Allers G, Volmat R "Biotransformation of amitriptyline in alcoholic depressive patients." Eur J Clin Pharmacol 24 (1983): 615-21
  4. Ciraulo DA, Barnhill JG, Jaffe JH "Clinical pharmacokinetics of imipramine and desipramine in alcoholics and normal volunteers." Clin Pharmacol Ther 43 (1988): 509-18
  5. Seppala T, Linnoila M, Elonen E, Mattila MJ, Makl M "Effect of tricyclic antidepressants and alcohol on psychomotor skills related to driving." Clin Pharmacol Ther 17 (1975): 515-22
  6. Ciraulo DA, Barnhill JG, Jaffe JH, Ciraulo AM, Tarmey MF "Intravenous pharmacokinetics of 2-hydroxyimipramine in alcoholics and normal controls." J Stud Alcohol 51 (1990): 366-72
  7. Ciraulo DA, Alderson LM, Chapron DJ, Jaffe JH, Subbarao B, Kramer PA "Imipramine disposition in alcoholics." J Clin Psychopharmacol 2 (1982): 2-7
View all 7 references

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Therapeutic duplication warnings

Therapeutic duplication is the use of more than one medicine from the same drug category or therapeutic class to treat the same condition. This can be intentional in cases where drugs with similar actions are used together for demonstrated therapeutic benefit. It can also be unintentional in cases where a patient has been treated by more than one doctor, or had prescriptions filled at more than one pharmacy, and can have potentially adverse consequences.

Duplication

Antidepressants

Therapeutic duplication

The recommended maximum number of medicines in the 'antidepressants' category to be taken concurrently is usually one. Your list includes two medicines belonging to the 'antidepressants' category:

  • nortriptyline
  • Zoloft (sertraline)

Note: In certain circumstances, the benefits of taking this combination of drugs may outweigh any risks. Always consult your healthcare provider before making changes to your medications or dosage.

See also

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Drug Interaction Classification

These classifications are only a guideline. The relevance of a particular drug interaction to a specific individual is difficult to determine. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting or stopping any medication.
Major Highly clinically significant. Avoid combinations; the risk of the interaction outweighs the benefit.
Moderate Moderately clinically significant. Usually avoid combinations; use it only under special circumstances.
Minor Minimally clinically significant. Minimize risk; assess risk and consider an alternative drug, take steps to circumvent the interaction risk and/or institute a monitoring plan.
Unknown No interaction information available.

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

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