Linezolid and Paroxetine Interaction

Drug interaction information between Linezolid and Paroxetine.

Linezolid and Paroxetine have a documented major interaction in FDA labeling.

FDA drug labeling documents a major-severity interaction between Linezolid and Paroxetine. This page displays the available source-record category and label text. The category is not an individual risk estimate or medication-combination direction.

Drug A

Linezolid

Oxazolidinone Antibiotic

Drug B

Paroxetine

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI)

How They Interact

Linezolid acts like a specific brain chemical blocker that, when mixed with paroxetine, can cause a dangerous reaction in the nervous system. This can lead to serious side effects that affect your whole body.

FDA Label Information

Intervention Paroxetine is contraindicated in patients taking MAOIs, including MAOIs such as linezolid or intravenous methylene blue [see Dosage and Administration ( 2.5 ), Contraindications ( 4 ), Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2 )] . Examples selegiline, tranylcypromine, isocarboxazid, phenelzine, linezolid, methylene blue Pimozide and Thioridazine Clinical Impact Increased plasma concentrations of pimozide and thioridazine, drugs with a narrow therapeutic index, may increase the risk of QTc prolongation and ventricular arrhythmias.

Frequently Asked Questions

What SPL severity band is on file for Linezolid + Paroxetine?

Compiled FDA labeling labels this pair major. That is a source-record field, not an individual medication-combination decision.

Which drug in this pair has the larger labeled-interaction portfolio?

Paroxetine has 51 labeled pairs on file vs Linezolid's 29. In the major band specifically: Linezolid has 8 (also Citalopram, Escitalopram, Mirtazapine, Safinamide); Paroxetine has 3 (also Pimozide, Thioridazine).

What mechanism field is on file for Linezolid and Paroxetine?

Linezolid acts like a specific brain chemical blocker that, when mixed with paroxetine, can cause a dangerous reaction in the nervous system. This can lead to serious side effects that affect your whole body.

Linezolid carries more major-labeled pairs than Paroxetine

SPL source-record counts only. This page's band is major · classes on file: Linezolid (Oxazolidinone Antibiotic); Paroxetine (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI)).

Linezolid has 8 major-labeled pairs vs Paroxetine's 3.

Linezolid

8 major · 3 moderate · 18 minor · 29 total

Paroxetine

3 major · 4 moderate · 44 minor · 51 total

Sources: FDA Drug Labels (SPL) via openFDA (2026). This is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. This registry does not provide individual medication-combination directions.