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Serotonin syndrome risk — GPhC CRA MCQ

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ModerateCNS TherapeuticsSerotonin syndrome riskGPhC CRA

A patient taking sertraline buys St John's wort for low mood. They asks whether it is a natural alternative to add on. What is the most important interaction to flag?

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Correct answer: D — Increased serotonergic toxicity risk

St John's wort interacts with SSRIs and can increase serotonin toxicity risk while also inducing drug metabolism. The sale should be discouraged and the patient referred for clinical review. In this scenario, the correct option is increased serotonergic toxicity risk. The other options are plausible but do not address the key clinical, legal or safety issue as directly. This aligns with UK pharmacy practice guidance cited in the reference field.

Reference: BNF; Stockley's Drug Interactions