Drug & supplement interaction

Limonene + Fluvoxamine

Fluvoxamine brand name: Luvox.

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

Fluvoxamine falls into 2 drug categories that Limonene can interact with; the most serious is rated moderate. There's preliminary evidence that limonene might be a substrate for cytochrome P450 2C19 (CYP2C19).

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodPossible
Interactions2
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

Limonene and Fluvoxamine

These two interact in 2 distinct ways. Each one is explained separately below.

Why Are There 2 Interactions?

Limonene interacts with whole categories of medication. Fluvoxamine falls into 2 of those categories, so it can interact with Limonene in 2 different ways. We’ve listed each one below — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them (Moderate).

Moderate

CYTOCHROME P450 2C19 (CYP2C19) INHIBITORS

1 of 2

Why this applies to Fluvoxamine

Fluvoxamine falls under CYTOCHROME P450 2C19 (CYP2C19) INHIBITORS — the group Limonene interacts with.

There's preliminary evidence that limonene might be a substrate for cytochrome P450 2C19 (CYP2C19). So far, this interaction has not been reported in humans. However, watch for an increase in the limonene levels when it is taken with drugs that inhibit CYP2C19. Some drugs that inhibit CYP2C19 include cimetidine (Tagamet), fluvoxamine (Luvox), omeprazole (Prilosec); ticlopidine (Ticlid), topiramate (Topamax), and others.
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 to know: in this pairing, fluvoxamine (Luvox) is the one doing the blocking, and limonene is the one that gets affected. Fluvoxamine slows down a liver enzyme called CYP2C19, and early lab work suggests limonene may be broken down by that same enzyme. So in theory, fluvoxamine could cause limonene to build up a bit higher than usual.

I want to keep this in perspective. This is based only on test-tube research, not real people, so it's pretty theoretical. Your fluvoxamine itself isn't changed by limonene, so your OCD or anxiety treatment shouldn't be thrown off. Food amounts of citrus are very unlikely to matter. If you're using concentrated limonene supplements, it's worth a quick chat with your pharmacist or doctor first.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Crowell PL. Prevention and therapy of cancer by dietary monoterpenes. J Nutr 1999;129:775S-778S. PubMed
  2. Miyazawa M, Shindo M, Shimada T. Metabolism of (+)- and (-)-limonenes to respective carveols and perillyl alcohols by CYP2C9 and CYP2C19 in human liver microsomes. Drug Metab Dispos 2002;30:602-7. PubMed
Moderate

CYTOCHROME P450 2C9 (CYP2C9) INHIBITORS

2 of 2

Fluvoxamine also falls under CYTOCHROME P450 2C9 (CYP2C9) INHIBITORS.

There's preliminary evidence that limonene might be a substrate for cytochrome P450 2C9 (CYP2C9). So far, this interaction has not been reported in humans. However, watch for side effects in patients taking limonene and CYP2C9 inhibitors. Some CYP2C9 inhibitors include amiodarone (Cordarone), fluconazole (Diflucan), lovastatin (Mevacor), paroxetine (Paxil), zafirlukast (Accolate), and many others.
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 gist for fluvoxamine (Luvox). Limonene appears to be cleared in part by a liver enzyme called CYP2C9, and fluvoxamine can slow that same enzyme down. So the concern isn't that limonene changes your fluvoxamine. It's the reverse: your fluvoxamine could let limonene linger a bit longer than usual. With concentrated limonene supplements, that might mean more of whatever limonene itself does, like mild stomach upset or reflux changes.

Honestly, this is theoretical right now. It comes from lab testing, not real people, so I wouldn't lose sleep over it. Food amounts of citrus peel are very unlikely to matter. If you want to use a limonene supplement regularly, just run it by your pharmacist or doctor first.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Crowell PL. Prevention and therapy of cancer by dietary monoterpenes. J Nutr 1999;129:775S-778S. PubMed
  2. Miyazawa M, Shindo M, Shimada T. Metabolism of (+)- and (-)-limonenes to respective carveols and perillyl alcohols by CYP2C9 and CYP2C19 in human liver microsomes. Drug Metab Dispos 2002;30:602-7. 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

Limonene Also Interacts With Other Medications

Limonene has 228 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Fluvoxamine one above is among them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 228 No known interaction 2,602 (incl. Fluvoxamine)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Limonene

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

From our Q&A

Questions About Limonene or Fluvoxamine

These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers Limonene or Fluvoxamine, 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 Fluvoxamine

This page covers Limonene only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Fluvoxamine page lists 193 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Lithium (major), 1,3-dmaa (moderate), 5-htp (moderate) and Acacia Rigidula (moderate).

By severity: 2 major · 151 moderate · 40 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Fluvoxamine page

“Fluvoxamine (Luvox), an SSRI used for OCD and depression, carries an interaction list that deserves genuinely careful reading. Two entries matter most: lithium, which alongside a serotonin-raising drug like fluvoxamine can tip toward serotonin syndrome, a dangerous excess of serotonin, and activated charcoal, which can soak up the medi…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Fluvoxamine interaction page

One more smart check

Taking Limonene as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions

We hold 89 real supplement products containing Limonene, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Limonene. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Fluvoxamine too, on top of Limonene — 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 Limonene and Fluvoxamine 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 Limonene
Steady interest

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

29 days ago today
Medication Fluvoxamine
Top 25%

#629 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 Limonene

What is Limonene?

  • Heartburn and acid reflux
  • Digestive upset
  • Stress and mood support
  • Antioxidant support
  • General wellness

Limonene is a natural compound found in the peel of citrus fruits like oranges and lemons, and it is used as a flavoring agent and dietary supplement. People take it for heartburn, digestion, and general wellness, but solid human evidence is limited. It is generally well tolerated in food amounts, but talk with your pharmacist or doctor before using concentrated supplements.

Read the full Limonene monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Fluvoxamine

What Is Fluvoxamine Used For?

Brand name: Luvox

Both fluvoxamine maleate tablets and Fluvoxamine Maleate extended-release capsules are approved to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) — a condition marked by unwanted, recurring thoughts (obsessions) and/or repetitive behaviors (compulsions) that cause significant distress or interfere with daily life.

Fluvoxamine maleate tablets are approved for adults and for children and adolescents ages 8 to 17. Fluvoxamine Maleate extended-release capsules are approved for adults with OCD; their use in pediatric patients naive to fluvoxamine requires special prescriber consideration regarding the lowest available dose.

See full Fluvoxamine drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Limonene

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

0Major
228Moderate
0Minor
2,601No known interaction
228 Moderate 2,601 No interaction
Moderate

228 interactions

Showing 60 of 228 moderate interactions — see all 228 on the Limonene page.

No interaction 2,601 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,601 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Limonene list.

See the full Limonene interactions page
See every supplement checked against Fluvoxamine, 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
Limonene monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Fluvoxamine supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Fluvoxamine, ranked by severity Fluvoxamine 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 Limonene and Fluvoxamine Together: Common Questions

Can you take Limonene with Fluvoxamine?
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.
Why are there 2 interactions listed for Limonene and Fluvoxamine?
Fluvoxamine belongs to more than one drug category, and Limonene interacts with each of those categories a little differently. We list every one so nothing is missed — your overall risk is driven by the most serious of them.
How serious is the Limonene and Fluvoxamine 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 Fluvoxamine and Limonene?

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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.