What the FDA labels say about taking them together
Lithium and sertraline
Sertraline's FDA label of August 8, 2023 names lithium in its drug interactions section; lithium's label does not name sertraline itself but warns about its class (serotonin reuptake inhibitors). The sertraline label: “The concomitant use of serotonergic drugs with ZOLOFT increases the risk of serotonin syndrome.”
Check it at the source: the lithium FDA label on DailyMed (effective December 23, 2025, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Inc., USA); the sertraline FDA label on DailyMed (effective August 8, 2023, Viatris Specialty LLC).
What does the lithium label say about sertraline?
Lithium's label does not name sertraline itself; it warns about its class (serotonin reuptake inhibitors):
Lithium label, warnings and precautionsThe risk is increased with concomitant use of other serotonergic drugs (including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, triptans, tricyclic antidepressants, fentanyl, tramadol, tryptophan, buspirone, and St. John’s Wort) and with drugs that impair metabolism of serotonin, i.e., MAOIs [see Drug Interactions ( 7.1 )].
Source: FDA drug label (Lithium Carbonate), Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Inc., USA, effective December 23, 2025 (SPL set 63b3790f-a9b5-47f4-bae1-ddf8b43c13c1), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
What does the sertraline label say about lithium?
Sertraline label, drug interactionsClinical Impact: The concomitant use of serotonergic drugs with ZOLOFT increases the risk of serotonin syndrome. … [See Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ]. Other SSRIs, SNRIs, triptans, tricyclic antidepressants, opioids, lithium, tryptophan, buspirone, amphetamines, and St. John’s Wort.
Sertraline label, warnings and precautionsThe risk is increased with concomitant use of other serotonergic drugs (including triptans, tricyclic antidepressants, fentanyl, lithium, tramadol, meperidine, methadone, tryptophan, buspirone, amphetamines, and St. John’s Wort) and with drugs that impair metabolism of serotonin, i.e., MAOIs [See Contraindications (4), Drug Interactions (7.1) ].
Sertraline Hcl label (Almatica Pharma LLC, August 24, 2023), drug interactionsOther Serotonergic Drugs Clinical Impact: Concomitant use of Sertraline HCl Capsules with other serotonergic drugs (…) increases the risk of serotonin syndrome. Intervention: Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of serotonin syndrome, particularly during treatment initiation and dosage increases. If serotonin syndrome occurs, consider discontinuation of Sertraline HCl Capsules and/or concomitant serotonergic drugs [see Warnings and Precautions ()].
Source: FDA drug label (Sertraline Hcl, NDA215133), Almatica Pharma LLC, effective August 24, 2023 (SPL set 8c8bcba9-eaeb-aa44-f9ea-b580de55a439), via openFDA
Source: FDA drug label (Sertraline Hydrochloride, NDA020990), Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc., effective September 15, 2024 (SPL set 1a58062b-e635-431a-908d-2651c6a4a21c), via openFDA
Source: FDA drug label (Zoloft), Viatris Specialty LLC, effective August 8, 2023 (SPL set fda754f6-d0f3-4dce-a17a-927d64f912f7), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
These are the labels' own sentences. PlainMeds does not grade interactions; a pharmacist or prescriber can say what they mean for one person's medicines.
Both medicines on the record
| Lithium | Sertraline | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Bipolar disorder | Depression, Anxiety |
| Boxed warning | Yes | Yes |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC) | $0.104 per capsule 300 mg capsule | $0.0507 per tablet 100 mg tablet |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
Source: FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026 and the FDA Drug Shortage Database (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Check more medicines together
- up to five at once