Is there any interaction between caffeine and Sertraline?
By
Dr Natalia Marceli Stephanes (PhD)
Author bio
Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes PhD is a Pharmacist with expertise in Drugs Administration and Toxicity; Discovery of New Drugs; Cancer Treatment; Biochemical Analyzes and Hematological Analyzes. She writes and reviews content on these topics.
Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes’ Highlights:
- Pharmacist at the Department of Health of Santa Catarina State, Brazil
- PhD with a focus on oncology treatment
- Years of experience in commercial pharmacy
- Bachelor, Master and PhD degrees in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina
Professional Experience:
From her undergraduate studies to her Master’s and Doctorate degrees in Pharmacy, Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes has participated in numerous scientific studies in the field of oncology and onco-hematology at the University Hospital of the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil. Her research has focused on understanding the molecular and biochemical bases of malignant neoplasms and investigating safer and more effective therapeutic alternatives.
Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes has also served as an assistant professor of haematology for undergraduate students at the Federal University of Santa Catarina. Additionally, she held the position of professor of Hospital Pharmacy at the Qualificar Technical School in Brazil, where she developed instructional materials for use in the Pharmacy Postgraduate Program at the Leonardo Da Vinci University Center.
In addition to her academic experiences, Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes possesses a strong expertise in commercial pharmacy, with in-depth knowledge of medications, their routes of administration, desired effects, adverse effects, and toxicity.
Currently, Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes works as a Pharmacist at the Health Department of Santa Catarina State, where her role entails providing pharmaceutical scientific consulting services to judges.
Education:
- 2016 Bachelor in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil
- 2018 Master in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil
- 2023 PhD in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil
The main publications of Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes are:
Falchetti M ; Delgobo M, Zancanaro H, Almeida K, Das Neves RN, Dos Santos B, Stefanes NM, et al. Bishop Omics-based identification of an NRF2-related auranofin resistance signature in cancer: Insights into drug repurposing. Comput. Biol. Med [Internet]. 2023; 152:106347.
Feuser PM, Matos dos Santos PC, Cordeiro AP, Stefanes NM, Walter LO, Maioral MF, Santos-Silva MC, et al. Antineoplastic activity of free 4-nitrochalcone and encapsulated in poly(thioether-ester) nanoparticles obtained by thiol-ene polymerization in two human leukemia cell lines (Jurkat and K562). J Drug Deliv Sci Technol [Internet]. 2022; 67:102924.
Jacques AV, Stefanes NM, Walter LO, Perondi DM, Efe FL, Souza LFS, Sens L, et al. Synthesis of chalcones derived from 1-naphthylacetophenone and evaluation of their cytotoxic and apoptotic effects in acute leukemia cell lines. Bioorg. Chem [Internet]. 2021; 116:105315.
Duarte BF, Vieira DSC, Lisboa ML, Stefanes NM, Grando LJ, Santos-Silva MC. Características clínico-epidemiológicas de pacientes portadores de carcinoma de células escamosas de boca. Arquivos Catarinenses de Medicina. 2021; 50(2): 232–245.
Machado V, Jacques AV, Stefanes NM, Santos-Silva MC, Biavatti MW. Anti-leukemic activity of semisynthetic derivatives of Lupeol. Nat. Prod. Res. 2021; 35(22):4494-4501.
Bigolin A, Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Mascarello A, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Nunes RJ, Yunes RA, et al. A novel sulfonamide derivative as a strong and selective apoptotic agent against hematological malignancies. Chem. Pap. 2020; 74:2965–2976.
Bigolin A, Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Zatelli GA, Philippus AC, Falkenberg MB, Santos-Silva MC. Cytotoxic mechanisms of primin, a natural quinone isolated from Eugenia hiemalis, on hematological cancer cell lines. Anticancer Drugs. 2020; 31(7):709-717.
Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Neufeldt PD, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Nunes RJ, Santos-Silva MC. Aldehyde biphenyl chalcones induce immunogenic apoptotic-like cell death and are promising new safe compounds against a wide range of hematologic cancers. Future Med. Chem. 2020; 12(8):673–688.
Perondi DM, Jacques AV, Stefanes NM, Maioral MF, Sens L, Pacheco LA, Cury NM, et al. A novel thiosemicarbazone as a promising effective and selective compound for acute leukemia. Anticancer Drugs. 2019; 30(8):p 828-837.
Rengifo AFC, Stefanes NM, Toigo J, Mendes C, Argenta DF, Dotto MER, Santos-Silva MC, et al. PEO-chitosan nanofibers containing carboxymethyl-hexanoyl chitosan/dodecyl sulfate nanoparticles loaded with pyrazoline for skin cancer treatment. Eur. Polym. J. 2019; 119:335-343.
Rengifo AFC, Stefanes NM, Toigo J, Mendes C, Santos-Silva MC, Nunes RJ, Parize AL, et al. A new and efficient carboxymethyl-hexanoyl chitosan/dodecyl sulfate nanocarrier for a pyrazoline with antileukemic activity. Mater. Sci. Eng. C [Internet]. 2019; 105:110051.
Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Bigolin A, Zatelli GA, Philippus AC, Falkenberg MB, Santos-Silva MC. Miconidine acetate, a new selective and cytotoxic compound with synergic potential, induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in leukemia cells. Invest. New Drugs. 2019; 37:912–922.
Srefanes NM, Toigo J, Maioral MF, Jacques AV, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Perondi DM, Ribeiro AAB, et al. Synthesis of novel pyrazoline derivatives and the evaluation of death mechanisms involved in their antileukemic activity. Bioorg. Med. Chem. 2019; 27(2):375-382.
Maioral MF, Bodack CN, Stefanes NM, Bigolin A, Mascarello A, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Yunes RA, et al. Cytotoxic effect of a novel naphthylchalcone against multiple cancer cells focusing on hematologic malignancies. Biochim. 2017; 140:48-57.
You can view some of Dr Natália’s work below and links to her professional profile below.
Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Natalia-Stephanes
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nataliamarceli/
In this article, we will discuss the potential interactions between caffeine and Sertraline. We will also discuss what side effects one may experience by combining these two together and if spacing them out can help prevent them.
Is there any interaction between caffeine and Sertraline?
There is no known interaction between caffeine and Sertraline (1). However, they may cause some additive side effects when used excessively together. These side effects can vary from person to person, depending on how much caffeine you consume and when you consume it.
In moderate amounts, like having a cup or two of coffee, most people won’t experience significant issues when taking Sertraline. However, if you go overboard with caffeine, it could potentially increase certain side effects that Sertraline is meant to help reduce – like anxiety (2).
So, it’s all about balance. Enjoying a reasonable amount of caffeine is usually fine, but going way beyond that may become a bit disturbing.
What are the potential side effects associated with the use of caffeine and Sertraline?
There are some potential side effects of caffeine and Sertraline when used together. Both caffeine and Sertraline can team up to disrupt your sleep, leading to insomnia (3,4).
Sertraline on its own can cause sleep troubles, and if you consume caffeine later in the day, it might make matters worse or increase the insomnia induced by Sertraline. Furthermore, they both can trigger some gastrointestinal (GI) issues (3,5).
Caffeine has the tendency to speed up intestinal motility, which is why many people experience a need to use the restroom after drinking it (5). On the other hand, Sertraline can sometimes lead to acid reflux or heartburn, and it’s not uncommon for it to cause diarrhoea as well.
So, when taken together, there’s a possibility that these gastrointestinal side effects could be amplified. It is important to note that too much caffeine can be dangerous. Excessive caffeine intake or even caffeine addiction can lead to an increased release of serotonin in the brain.
This is significant because Sertraline is actually a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), which means it works by increasing serotonin activity in the brain too (3).
The combination of both caffeine and Sertraline, when not done in moderation, could potentially increase the risk of serotonin syndrome, which is a rare – but serious and life-threatening condition (6).
How to drink coffee safely while taking Sertraline?
You can safely consume coffee while being treated with Sertraline by adjusting the timing of having them both. Finding the right balance here can help you avoid potential discomfort and make sure both substances work effectively.
Spacing out your coffee and Sertraline intake by a few hours is a smart strategy. This helps minimize the potential for stomach discomfort, as taking them together might lead to an upset stomach for some individuals.
Since many people opt to take their Sertraline in the morning, you have the flexibility to enjoy your coffee either before or after a few hours of taking it. Additionally, drinking low to moderate amounts of coffee is important while taking Sertraline.
This not only helps manage any potential interactions but also ensures you’re not overloading your system with caffeine, which could lead to its own set of concerns.
Remember, individual responses can vary, so it’s always a good idea to observe how your body reacts when you adjust the timing of your coffee and medication. If you’re uncertain about the best approach for you, please discuss this with your healthcare provider.
Conclusion
In this article, we have discussed the concomitant use of caffeine and Sertraline. We have discussed some concerns related to their use and how spacing them out can help prevent some side effects, especially gastrointestinal discomfort.
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References
1.-
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA). HIGHLIGHTS OF PRESCRIBING INFORMATION. ZOLOFT (sertraline hydrochloride) tablets, for oral use. Available from: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2016/019839s74s86s87_20990s35s44s45lbl.pdf
2.-
Broderick P, Benjamin AB. Caffeine and psychiatric symptoms: a review. J Okla State Med Assoc. 2004 Dec;97(12):538-42. PMID: 15732884. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15732884/
3.-
Singh HK, Saadabadi A. Sertraline. 2023 Feb 13. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan–. PMID: 31613469. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK547689
4.-
Clark I, Landolt HP. Coffee, caffeine, and sleep: A systematic review of epidemiological studies and randomized controlled trials. Sleep Med Rev. 2017 Feb;31:70-78. doi: 10.1016/j.smrv.2016.01.006. Epub 2016 Jan 30. PMID: 26899133. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26899133/
5.-
Nehlig A. Effects of Coffee on the Gastro-Intestinal Tract: A Narrative Review and Literature Update. Nutrients. 2022 Jan 17;14(2):399. doi: 10.3390/nu14020399. PMID: 35057580; PMCID: PMC8778943. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8778943/
6.-
Ohta R, Sano C. Serotonin Syndrome Triggered by Overuse of Caffeine and Complicated With Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome: A Case Report. Cureus. 2022 Feb 21;14(2):e22468. doi: 10.7759/cureus.22468. PMID: 35345760; PMCID: PMC8942071. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35345760/
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