Based on FDA | Is it safe to eat red meat while taking sertraline, or are there any interactions I should worry about?

Eating red meat while taking sertraline is generally considered safe, and there is no standard recommendation to avoid red meat with this medication. Most people can continue their usual diet unless their clinician gives different advice. ^[1]

Bottom line

• No specific food restrictions are required with sertraline, and routine diets including red meat are typically fine. ^[1]
• Dietary tyramine limits (for aged/cured meats) apply to monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), not SSRIs like sertraline. Sertraline is an SSRI and does not carry the MAOI tyramine warning. ^{[2] [3]}

---

Why red meat is okay with sertraline

Sertraline (a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, SSRI) works by increasing serotonin signaling and does not inhibit monoamine oxidase, the enzyme involved in tyramine breakdown. ^[3] Because of that, the “tyramine interaction” that can cause dangerous blood pressure spikes with MAOIs does not apply to sertraline. ^{[2] [3]} Official consumer guidance for sertraline states that you may continue your normal diet unless your clinician advises otherwise. ^[1]

---

When meat can be an issue (but not because of sertraline)

• Aged, cured, or fermented meats (for example, salami, pepperoni, certain sausages) can be high in tyramine and are a concern with MAOIs like tranylcypromine or selegiline, not with sertraline. ^{[4] [5]} With MAOIs, these foods are restricted due to the risk of hypertensive crisis, but this restriction does not apply to sertraline. ^{[2] [6]}
• Spoiled or improperly stored meats can contain high tyramine levels and should be avoided for general food safety, and strictly avoided with MAOIs; again, this is not a sertraline-specific restriction. ^{[5] [4]}

---

Practical tips while on sertraline

• Take sertraline with or without food. Some people find taking it with food helps reduce stomach upset, which can be an SSRI side effect. ^[7]
• Alcohol caution: Ask your clinician about alcohol, as sertraline can cause drowsiness for some people and alcohol may worsen this. ^[8]
• Watch for non-food interactions: Sertraline can interact with certain medications and supplements (for example, St. John’s wort, tryptophan, NSAIDs/aspirin due to bleeding risk), so it’s wise to review your regimen with a pharmacist or clinician. ^{[9] [10]}

---

Key distinctions: SSRIs vs. MAOIs (diet rules)

The confusion often comes from mixing up antidepressant classes. MAOIs require strict tyramine restrictions (aged cheeses, cured/aged meats, certain fermented foods) because tyramine can trigger severe high blood pressure when MAO is inhibited. ^{[2] [6]} SSRIs like sertraline do not have this tyramine-food restriction, so routine intake of fresh meats, including red meat, is acceptable. ^{[1] [3]}

---

Summary table

• Medication class: SSRI (sertraline) | Diet restrictions: None routinely required; normal diet is typically fine. ^[1]
• Medication class: MAOI (e.g., tranylcypromine, selegiline) | Diet restrictions: Avoid high-tyramine foods such as aged/cured meats and certain fermented items due to hypertensive crisis risk. ^{[4] [5] [6]}

---

Takeaway

• You can eat red meat while taking sertraline. There is no known interaction requiring you to avoid red meat, and general advice is to continue your normal diet unless told otherwise by your clinician. ^[1]
• Food restrictions around aged/cured meats apply to MAOIs, not sertraline. ^{[2] [3]}

If you ever switch to or add an MAOI, your care team will give you a clear, specific list of foods to avoid, including certain cured/aged meats. ^[6]