Celery - Effexor XR (Venlafaxine) Interaction
Herbal: Celery
Also Known As: Apium graveolens, Ache des Marais, Ajamoda, Ajmoda, Ajwan, Apii Fructus, Apio, Céleri, Celeriac, Celery Fruit, Celery Seed, Fruit de Celeri, Graine de Céleri, Karmauli, Qin Cai, Smallage
Drug: Venlafaxine
Brand names:
Effexor XR, Effexor
Medical Content Editor Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD
Last updated
May 25, 2025
Interaction Details
Venlafaxine is classified as belonging to the following category: Venlafaxine (Effexor)
Theoretically, celery root extract might increase blood levels of venlafaxine.
There is one case report of a patient who experienced medication-induced bipolar disorder after beginning to take celery root extract 1000 mg daily along with venlafaxine 75 mg and St. John's wort 600 mg daily. Symptoms included confusion, speech abnormalities, manic affect, and visual hallucinations. The plasma level of venlafaxine was 476.8 ng/mL (normal range 195-400 ng/mL). It is theorized that celery root increased venlafaxine levels by inhibiting cytochrome P450 2D6.
Interaction Rating
Likelihood of Occurrence
PossibleInteraction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists
References
- Khalid Z, Osuagwu FC, Shah B, Roy N, Dillon JE, Bradley R. Celery root extract as an inducer of mania induction in a patient on venlafaxine and St John's Wort. Postgrad Med. 2016;128(7):682-3.
Celery Overview
Celery is a type of plant whose stem is commonly consumed as a vegetable. It is a good source of nutrients, including vitamins A, B6, C, and K, as well as calcium, manganese potassium, and folate. It is also a good source of antioxidants.
In traditional medicine, celery has been used to treat a variety of health conditions, including hypertension (high blood pressure), anxiety, and insomnia. It is also believed to have anti-inflammatory and diuretic properties, which may help to lower blood pressure and reduce fluid retention.
When celery is utilized for dietary supplements, generally a celery seed extract, or celery seed oil, is used.
Venlafaxine Overview
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Venlafaxine is used to treat depression. Venlafaxine extended-release (long-acting) capsules are also used to treat generalized anxiety disorder (GAD; excessive worrying that is difficult to control), social anxiety disorder (extreme fear of interacting with others or performing in front of others that interferes with normal life), and panic disorder (sudden, unexpected attacks of extreme fear and worry about these attacks). Venlafaxine is in a class of medications called selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). It works by increasing the amounts of serotonin and norepinephrine, natural substances in the brain that help maintain mental balance.
Celery - More Interactions
Celery interacts with 645 drugs
Interaction Rating Key
These severity listings are for informational use only. Never start, stop or otherwise change your therapy before speaking with your provider.
| Major | The combined use of these agents is strongly discouraged as serious side effects or other negative outcomes could occur. |
| Moderate | Use cautiously under the care of a healthcare professional or avoid this combination. A significant interaction or negative outcome could occur. |
| Minor | Be aware that there is a chance of an interaction. Watch for warning signs of a potential interaction. |
| Unknown | No interactions have been reported or no interaction data is currently available. |
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Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.
DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.
© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC
Drug descriptions are provided by MedlinePlus.
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Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD
In addition to being a clinical pharmacist specializing in pharmacotherapy, Dr. Brian Staiger is a registered herbalist through the American Herbalist Guild. He has combined his passion for pharmacy practice with the study of medical ethnobotany to improve patient care. Feel free to reach out about any of your herbal or medication questions!
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