Givinostat 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 recordGivinostat
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.
You've been prescribed sertraline (an antidepressant) and givinostat (Duvyzat, used for muscular dystrophy). Both of these medicines can affect the heart's electrical rhythm, causing a change on an ECG called QT prolongation. When two medicines that do this are taken together, that effect can add up and, in rare cases, lead to a dangerous fast heartbeat.
The good news is that this concern is based on how the drugs work rather than lots of real-world cases. Your care team can manage this by checking your heart rhythm and watching your dose. Please don't stop either medicine on your own. Just talk with your doctor or pharmacist so they can keep you safe.
Effect: Additive QTc prolongation with increased risk of torsade de pointes when sertraline is combined with givinostat.
- Mechanism: Pharmacodynamic additive QT effect; both agents carry QTc-prolonging potential. Neither is a prodrug relevant to this interaction.
- Direction/magnitude: Additive; magnitude not quantified.
- Evidence: Theoretical; onset unspecified.
- Management: Avoid concomitant use if possible. If unavoidable, obtain baseline ECG in patients with underlying cardiac disease or on other QT-prolonging drugs. Withhold givinostat if QTc >500 ms or change from baseline >60 ms. Correct electrolytes (K+, Mg2+) and monitor.
What happens
Increased risk of QT interval prolongation and torsade de pointes
Interaction Deep Dive
Because the risk of QTc interval prolongation, other serious arrhythmias, torsade de pointes, or death is heightened, do not use givinostat together with other agents recognized as having the potential to prolong the QTc interval. When such combined use is unavoidable, obtain ECGs before starting givinostat in patients who have underlying cardiac disease or who are receiving concurrent medications that prolong the QTc. Discontinue givinostat if the QTc interval exceeds 500 ms or if the increase from baseline exceeds 60 ms1.
Why it happens (mechanism)
Additive QT interval prolongation
How to manage this interaction
Your care team's usual approach here:
- They may prefer to avoid using these two together when there is a good alternative.
- If both are needed, they will typically check an ECG before starting, especially if you have heart disease or take other medicines that affect heart rhythm, and monitor you more closely.
- The givinostat dose may be held or adjusted based on your ECG results.
What you should do: Keep taking both exactly as prescribed unless told otherwise. Tell your pharmacist or prescriber about all your medicines, and report fainting, dizziness, or a pounding or irregular heartbeat right away.
Management is individual — confirm any change with your pharmacist or prescriber.
Common questions
Can I take Givinostat and Sertraline together?
Sertraline and givinostat can both prolong the QT interval, and taking them together may add up to raise the risk of a dangerous heart rhythm. Don't change anything on your own; ask your care team, who can avoid the combination or monitor you with ECGs. Always confirm with your pharmacist or prescriber before making any change.
How serious is the Givinostat 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 Givinostat and Sertraline interaction managed?
Your care team's usual approach here: They may prefer to avoid using these two together when there is a good alternative. If both are needed, they will typically check an ECG before starting, especially if you have heart disease or take other medicines that affect heart rhythm, and monitor you more closely. The givinostat dose may be held or adjusted based on your ECG results. What you should do:… 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 Givinostat 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: DUVYZAT oral suspension, givinostat oral suspension. ITF Therapeutics, LLC (per FDA), Concord, MA, 2024. DailyMed
Keep reading about Sertraline
Keep reading about Givinostat
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.
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