Drug & supplement interaction

L-tryptophan + Linezolid

Linezolid brand names: Zyvox, Zyvox Injection.

Moderate Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated September 2026
The bottom line Moderate

L-tryptophan has a moderate interaction with Linezolid. Theoretically, combining L-tryptophan with serotonergic drugs might cause additive serotonergic effects.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodPossible
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
Know someone taking this? Share
Facebook Post Reddit Email
On this page
Interaction report

L-tryptophan and Linezolid

Here is the interaction we found between these two, with the evidence behind it.

Moderate

SEROTONERGIC DRUGS

Why this applies to Linezolid

Linezolid falls under SEROTONERGIC DRUGS — the group L-tryptophan interacts with.

Theoretically, combining L-tryptophan with serotonergic drugs might cause additive serotonergic effects.
L-tryptophan is a precursor to serotonin. Theoretically, combining serotonergic drugs with L-tryptophan might increase the risk of serotonergic side effects, including serotonin syndrome and cerebral vasoconstrictive disorders.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Interaction 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.

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's the key thing about linezolid: besides being an antibiotic, it also acts as a mild MAO inhibitor, which means it keeps serotonin hanging around in your body longer. L-tryptophan is a building block your body turns into serotonin. So when you stack the two, you're raising serotonin from both directions at once, and that can add up.

The worry is something called serotonin syndrome, with symptoms like agitation, a racing heart, sweating, shivering, muscle twitching, or confusion. To be fair, this is based on how these two work in theory rather than a pile of real-world cases, but linezolid is one antibiotic where this concern is taken seriously. Please check with your pharmacist or doctor before combining them.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Messiha FS. Fluoxetine: adverse effects and drug-drug interactions. J Toxicol Clin Toxicol 1993;31:603-30. PubMed
  2. Singhal AB, Caviness VS, Begleiter AF, et al. Cerebral vasoconstriction and stroke after use of serotonergic drugs. Neurology 2002;58:130-3. PubMed

What These Ratings Mean

Every interaction above is graded three ways — here’s the key to each label.

Severity how clinically significant the interaction is
Major

Clinically significant. Avoid the combination, or use only under close professional supervision.

Moderate

Usually worth avoiding or managing — may need monitoring, a dose change, or timing apart.

Minor

Generally not serious. Be aware of it and mention it to your pharmacist.

Likelihood how strong the evidence is that the interaction actually happens in people
  • LikelyWell-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction.
  • ProbableInteraction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports.
  • 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.
  • UnlikelyInteraction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.
Evidence the quality of the studies behind the rating (graded A–D)
  • AHigh-quality meta-analysis (quantitative systematic review).
  • BCase-control study.
  • CConsensus.
  • DAnecdotal evidence.

These ratings are for information only. Never start, stop, or otherwise change your therapy before speaking with your provider.

Keep it in perspective

L-tryptophan Also Interacts With Other Medications

L-tryptophan has 248 major, 145 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Linezolid one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Major 248 Moderate 145 No known interaction 2,437 (incl. Linezolid)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against L-tryptophan

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against L-tryptophan. Pick one to open its full report.

From our Q&A

Questions About L-tryptophan or Linezolid

These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers L-tryptophan or Linezolid, not necessarily both, but if one is close to what you were about to ask it will usually go further than a database entry can:

Not quite your question? Ask our pharmacists directly — it is free, there is no account required, and answers usually come back within 24 hours.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Linezolid

This page covers L-tryptophan only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Linezolid page lists 65 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Lithium (major), 5-htp (moderate), Acetyl-l-carnitine (moderate) and Ayahuasca (moderate).

By severity: 2 major · 51 moderate · 12 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Linezolid page

“Linezolid (Zyvox) fights serious infections, but it also blocks an enzyme called monoamine oxidase, which is why I treat this page with real respect. Twenty of the 65 supplements here raise serotonin, and stacking them on linezolid risks serotonin syndrome, a dangerous overload of that chemical.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Linezolid interaction page

One more smart check

Taking L-tryptophan as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions

We hold 5 real supplement products containing L-tryptophan, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides L-tryptophan. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Linezolid too, on top of L-tryptophan — and those would not show on this page. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:

How much people look this up

Where L-tryptophan and Linezolid Sit Against Everything Else

Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.

Supplement L-tryptophan
Steady interest

#1,030 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Linezolid
Steady interest

#2,454 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today

Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.

Supplement

About L-tryptophan

What is L-tryptophan?

L-tryptophan
  • Sleep problems
  • Low mood and depression
  • Anxiety
  • Premenstrual symptoms
  • Appetite and food cravings

L-tryptophan is an essential amino acid the body uses to make serotonin and melatonin, and people take it to support sleep and mood. The evidence for supplement use is limited and mixed, and there are real safety concerns, so talk to a pharmacist or doctor before trying it.

Read the full L-tryptophan monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Linezolid

What Is Linezolid Used For?

Brand names: Zyvox, Zyvox Injection

Linezolid — available as Zyvox and in generic forms — is used to treat infections caused by certain drug-resistant Gram-positive bacteria. It is approved for adults and children for nosocomial pneumonia (hospital-acquired lung infection), community-acquired pneumonia, complicated skin and skin structure infections (including diabetic foot infections, but only when bone infection is not also present), uncomplicated skin and skin structure infections, and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium infections.

It is important to know that linezolid does not work against Gram-negative bacteria. If a Gram-negative infection is also present or suspected, a separate antibiotic must be started right away. Linezolid should only be used for infections that are confirmed or strongly suspected to be caused by bacteria, to help prevent antibiotic resistance.

See full Linezolid drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & L-tryptophan

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against L-tryptophan — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

248Major
145Moderate
0Minor
2,436No known interaction
248 Major 145 Moderate 2,436 No interaction
Major

248 interactions

Showing 60 of 248 major interactions — see all 248 on the L-tryptophan page.

Moderate

145 interactions

Showing 60 of 145 moderate interactions — see all 145 on the L-tryptophan page.

No interaction 2,436 drugs checked — show the list

We also checked L-tryptophan against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,436 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full L-tryptophan list.

See the full L-tryptophan interactions page
See every supplement checked against Linezolid, ranked by severity
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Interaction details are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database. The medication overview comes from MedlinePlus.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

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

Keep exploring
L-tryptophan monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Linezolid supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Linezolid, ranked by severity Linezolid drug information › The full plain-English guide to this medication Supplement interaction checker › Check any supplement or product against your medications Browse medications A–Z › Every drug we've checked against herbs & supplements Ask a pharmacist › Free, personal answer from our licensed team
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking L-tryptophan and Linezolid Together: Common Questions

Can you take L-tryptophan with Linezolid?
There is a moderate interaction, so it may be acceptable with monitoring or timing changes — but check with your pharmacist first. Read the full details on this page and confirm with your pharmacist before combining them.
How serious is the L-tryptophan and Linezolid interaction?
We rate it Moderate. This combination may require monitoring, a dose adjustment, or separating the times you take each one. Consult your pharmacist before using them together.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Still Have a Question About Linezolid and L-tryptophan?

Our pharmacists answer your medication & supplement questions — free.

Ask a pharmacist

This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.