Can Circadin® be taken with SSRIs or other antidepressants?

Circadin.com December 8, 2014
Circadin® is mainly metabolised by hepatic enzymes CYP1A1, CYP1A2, and possibly CYP2C19, which is thought to be less important1 12. Other drugs that are metabolised by these enzymes may interfere with the metabolism of Circadin®, and vice versa. The SSRI fluvoxamine inhibits CYP1A2, thereby inhibiting Circadin® metabolism and raising melatonin levels1. Therefore, this combination should be avoided1. Escitalopram and citalopram are metabolised by CYP2C1939 40. An interaction with Circadin®, in which either drug level may be raised, is hypothetical but cannot be ruled out. In one study patients were administered 20 mg of fluoxetine and 5 mg Circadin® and “No particular side effects were noted from the combination of fluoxetine and slow release melatonin” (Dolberg et al, Am J Psychiatry 1998).

Posted in: Drug safety

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