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- / I take fluoxetine (Prozac), a SSRI drug to treat depression. Are there supplements I should avoid, or be taking, due to this drug?
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Our Members Asked:
Written by Tod Cooperman, M.D.
Updated December 15, 2022 ⓘ
Answer:
Fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft), paroxetine (Paxil) and other selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) drugs can be affected by taking supplements and can affect your ability to absorb certain vitamins and minerals. Certain herbal supplements, such as St. John's wort and Garcinia cambogia (HCA), may increase the risk of serotonin syndrome associated with SSRIs. Other supplements, like 5-HTP, and SAMe, may also increase this risk. Although SSRIs can increase natural levels of GABA in the brain, there is no evidence that taking GABA taken orally reaches the brain or interacts with SSRIs.
On the other hand, the B vitamin folate in the form of methylfolate may be beneficial for some people taking an SSRI.
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