Is Folate (Vitamin B9) Safe with Sertraline?
Free · No account · based on published sources including NIH ODS, FDA drug labels, and peer-reviewed literature
Consider supplementing with 400–800 mcg of methylfolate (5-MTHF) daily, especially with long-term use. Discuss with your prescriber before starting.
Why this interaction occurs
Long-term SSRI use, including sertraline, has been associated with reduced folate levels. Folate is essential for serotonin synthesis via the methylation cycle. Low folate may reduce antidepressant efficacy and increase depressive relapse risk. Methylfolate (active form) may augment SSRI response.
Evidence
Evidence level: moderate.
Reported safety data
The FDA’s adverse event reporting system (FAERS) has received 145,428 reports mentioning Sertraline. This reflects reported cases involving the medication in general — not confirmed causation, and not specific to the Sertraline + supplement combination on this page.
FAERS reports are voluntary and cannot prove that a drug caused an event. Do not use report counts to assess the safety of this specific drug-supplement pair.
Frequently asked questions
Related interactions
All Folate (Vitamin B9) interactions → · All Sertraline interactions →
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Educational only — not medical advice.
Always confirm with your doctor or pharmacist.