Apomorphine and Sertraline: Interaction Details
AI-assisted, pharmacist-reviewed · AI content regenerated Jul 11, 2026 · Source data updated Jul 2, 2026 · Sources: FDA labeling, DDInter 2.0, cited literature
Sertraline
No brand names on recordApomorphine
How we grade severity & evidence
Severity levels
- Contraindicated: These should generally not be used together.
- Major: Potentially serious — often needs a change or close monitoring.
- Moderate: Can be significant — usually manageable with monitoring.
- Minor: Usually limited clinical impact.
Evidence grades
- Established: Well documented — supported by controlled studies or strong clinical data.
- Probable: Good supporting evidence, though not definitively proven.
- Suspected: Some evidence suggests this interaction, but it is not well established.
- Possible: Limited or conflicting evidence; the interaction may occur.
- Theoretical: Predicted from the drugs' pharmacology; not yet confirmed in people.
Ratings come from the documented interaction literature and are reviewed by a pharmacist. They describe the documented risk of the combination, not what will necessarily happen to you — your dose, timing, and health picture all matter.
Both sertraline (an antidepressant) and apomorphine (used for Parkinson's symptoms) can each affect your heart's rhythm in a small way. Doctors call this QT prolongation, which just means the heart takes a little longer to reset between beats. When two medicines that both do this are taken together, the effect can add up and, rarely, could lead to an irregular heartbeat.
This concern is based on how the drugs work rather than lots of real-world reports, but it's still taken seriously. The good news is your care team can manage this. Please don't stop either medicine on your own. Just check in with your pharmacist or doctor so they can review the safest plan for you.
Interaction: Additive QT interval prolongation when sertraline is combined with apomorphine, with a theoretical increased risk of ventricular arrhythmias (including torsades de pointes).
Mechanism: Pharmacodynamic (additive), not pharmacokinetic. Both agents carry independent QT-prolonging potential. Neither is a prodrug relevant to this effect.
- Direction/magnitude: Additive QTc effect; magnitude not quantified.
- Evidence: Theoretical; severity rated major.
- Management: Guidance on file advises avoiding coadministration. If used together, obtain baseline and follow-up ECGs, correct hypokalemia/hypomagnesemia, review other QT-prolonging agents, and monitor for syncope or palpitations.
What happens
An increased risk of QT interval prolongation
Interaction Deep Dive
The combined use of this drug with sertraline should be avoided, since doing so may heighten the likelihood of QT prolongation and/or ventricular arrhythmias1.
Why it happens (mechanism)
Additive QT interval prolongation
How to manage this interaction
The documented advice is to avoid using these two together when possible because their effects on heart rhythm can add up.
- Keep taking both as prescribed unless your prescriber tells you otherwise. Do not stop or change either one on your own.
- Ask your pharmacist or doctor whether an alternative to one of these medicines is appropriate for you.
- If they are used together, your team may monitor you more closely, including heart tracings (ECG) and blood mineral levels, and may adjust and individualize your therapy.
- Report any fainting, dizziness, or a fluttering/irregular heartbeat right away.
Management is individual — confirm any change with your pharmacist or prescriber.
Common questions
Can I take Apomorphine and Sertraline together?
Sertraline and apomorphine can each prolong the heart's QT interval, and combining them may add up that risk, so the guidance is to avoid using them together. Talk with your pharmacist or doctor before changing anything. Always confirm with your pharmacist or prescriber before making any change.
How serious is the Apomorphine and Sertraline interaction?
It is rated major. Potentially serious — often needs a change or close monitoring.
How quickly could this interaction happen?
The documented onset is "unspecified". The timing of this interaction is not well characterized.
How is the Apomorphine and Sertraline interaction managed?
The documented advice is to avoid using these two together when possible because their effects on heart rhythm can add up. Keep taking both as prescribed unless your prescriber tells you otherwise. Do not stop or change either one on your own. Ask your pharmacist or doctor whether an alternative to one of these medicines is appropriate for you. If they are used together, your team may monitor you… Management is individual — always follow your own care team's guidance.
How strong is the evidence for this interaction?
The evidence is graded "theoretical". Predicted from the drugs' pharmacology; not yet confirmed in people.
From our Q&A
Real reader questions about these medications, each personally answered by our pharmacist:
Questions for your pharmacist
- Does my dose of Apomorphine or Sertraline need adjusting while I take them together?
- What symptoms should prompt me to call you or my prescriber right away?
- Does the timing of my doses matter for this combination?
- Is there a safer alternative to one of these medications for me?
References (1)
- Product Information: ZOLOFT oral tablets, oral solution, sertraline hydrochloride oral tablets, oral solution. Viatris Specialty LLC (per FDA), Morgantown, WV, 2023. DailyMed
Keep reading about Sertraline
Keep reading about Apomorphine
These medications also interact with supplements
Prescription drugs aren't the whole picture — herbal and dietary supplements can interact with them too. From the evidence-graded Natural Medicines database:
major · moderate · minor — check everything you take with our drug–supplement interaction checker.
Check another combination
Our instant two-drug interaction checker is almost here.
Still have questions about this combination?
Every question gets a real answer from a licensed pharmacist — free, and usually within a day.
Ask the pharmacist