Sertraline and Crizotinib: 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
Crizotinib
Sertraline
No brand names on record
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 crizotinib (a cancer medicine) and sertraline (an antidepressant) can each affect your heart's electrical rhythm in a small way. Doctors call this QT prolongation. When two medicines that do this are taken together, the effect can add up and, rarely, lead to an abnormal heartbeat.
Right now this concern is mostly theoretical, meaning it is based on how the drugs work rather than a lot of real-world cases. Please don't stop either medicine on your own. Your care team can manage this safely, often by checking your heart rhythm and choosing the safest combination for you. Let them know if you feel dizzy, faint, or notice a fluttering heartbeat.
Effect: Additive risk of QT interval prolongation and potential ventricular arrhythmias (including torsades de pointes) with concurrent crizotinib and sertraline.
Mechanism: Both agents are independently associated with QTc prolongation; the interaction is pharmacodynamic (additive), not a CYP-mediated PK interaction. Neither is a relevant prodrug here.
- Direction/magnitude: Additive QTc effect; magnitude not quantified.
- Onset: Unspecified.
- Evidence: Theoretical.
- Severity: Major.
Management: Documented guidance is to avoid coadministration. If combined use is unavoidable, obtain baseline and follow-up ECGs, monitor and correct electrolytes (K+, Mg2+), and review other QT-prolonging agents.
What happens
An increased risk of QT interval prolongation
Interaction Deep Dive
Concurrent use of sertraline with this drug should be avoided, since the combination 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 heart-rhythm effects can add up.
- Keep taking both as prescribed unless your prescriber tells you otherwise. Do not stop either drug on your own.
- Ask your oncologist or pharmacist whether an alternative to sertraline could be used, or whether both are truly needed together.
- Your team may check your heart rhythm with an ECG and monitor your potassium and magnesium levels.
- Report dizziness, fainting, or a pounding or irregular heartbeat right away.
Your care team can individualize this and monitor you more closely to keep you safe.
Management is individual — confirm any change with your pharmacist or prescriber.
Common questions
Can I take Sertraline and Crizotinib together?
Crizotinib and sertraline can each prolong the QT interval, so combining them may add up and raise the risk of a dangerous heart rhythm; the guidance is to avoid this combo when possible and let your care team decide and monitor. Always confirm with your pharmacist or prescriber before making any change.
How serious is the Sertraline and Crizotinib 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 Sertraline and Crizotinib interaction managed?
The documented advice is to avoid using these two together when possible, because their heart-rhythm effects can add up. Keep taking both as prescribed unless your prescriber tells you otherwise. Do not stop either drug on your own. Ask your oncologist or pharmacist whether an alternative to sertraline could be used, or whether both are truly needed together. Your team may check your heart rhythm… 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 Sertraline or Crizotinib 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 Crizotinib
Keep reading about Sertraline
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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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