Does sertraline contain wheat or gluten as an excipient?

We cross-check each sertraline product label against four data sources: DailyMed (FDA Structured Product Labels), the European Medicines Agency centrally-authorised medicines database, the Plogsted curated gluten-free drug list, and the 2024 Mangione et al. pediatric pharmacy NDC analysis. Inactive ingredients are scanned against a 146-entry red-flag dictionary covering wheat, barley, rye, malt, source-ambiguous starches, and FDA gluten-free attestation phrases. Mostly yes — but worth a quick call to the manufacturer for some generics. Of 10 product labels we checked, 8 are clean, 0 are confirmed gluten-free by the maker, and 2 contain an inactive ingredient (typically a source-ambiguous starch) whose botanical origin isn't fully disclosed. None contained confirmed gluten.

Can different manufacturers' generic versions of sertraline have different gluten status?

Yes. Generics in the United States must use the same active ingredient as the brand, but they are not required to use the same inactive ingredients. Two generics of sertraline from different manufacturers can use entirely different starch sources, binders, and fillers. A pharmacy may also switch which manufacturer it dispenses between fills without notifying you. Each manufacturer-specific entry below corresponds to a separately-filed product label.

DailyMed checked live · reference data updated August 19, 2026 · 10 product labels screened

Is sertraline gluten-free?

By Ned Walsch

Founder and maintainer of Gluten Screen

Updated August 20, 2026

Not clinically reviewed — verify with your pharmacist

Looks mostly clean — worth verifying with the maker. Mostly yes — but worth a quick call to the manufacturer for some generics. Of 10 product labels we checked, 8 are clean, 0 are confirmed gluten-free by the maker, and 2 contain an inactive ingredient (typically a source-ambiguous starch) whose botanical origin isn't fully disclosed. None contained confirmed gluten.

Drug context

About sertraline

Sertraline is an SSRI antidepressant used for depression, anxiety, OCD, and PTSD, sold under brand names including Zoloft.

Why this matters

Different manufacturers, different ingredients

Generics of sertraline use the same active ingredient, but they aren't required to use the same inactive ingredients. Your pharmacy may switch which manufacturer they dispense between fills, sometimes without telling you. The list below shows each manufacturer's product label as a separate entry, because that's the granularity that actually matters when you're celiac.

The labels

The 10 we checked

01

Umedica Laboratories USA Inc. worth a call to confirm

US label (DailyMed) · SERTRALINE HCL (SERTRALINE HYDROCHLORIDE) CAPSULE [UMEDICA LABORATORIES USA INC.] · label dated Aug 18, 2026

Worth a call to the maker: SODIUM STARCH GLYCOLATE TYPE A

Inactive ingredients D&C YELLOW NO. 10 · FD&C YELLOW NO. 6 · FERROSOFERRIC OXIDE · GELATIN · HYDROXYPROPYL CELLULOSE, UNSPECIFIED · MAGNESIUM STEARATE · MICROCRYSTALLINE CELLULOSE · POTASSIUM HYDROXIDE · PROPYLENE GLYCOL · SHELLAC · SODIUM STARCH GLYCOLATE TYPE A · TITANIUM DIOXIDE
View source label →
02

Northwind Health Company, LLC worth a call to confirm

US label (DailyMed) · SERTRALINE HYDROCHLORIDE TABLET, FILM COATED [NORTHWIND HEALTH COMPANY, LLC] · label dated Jul 15, 2026

Worth a call to the maker: SODIUM STARCH GLYCOLATE TYPE A

Inactive ingredients CALCIUM PHOSPHATE, DIBASIC, ANHYDROUS · CELLULOSE, MICROCRYSTALLINE · FD&C BLUE NO. 1 · FD&C BLUE NO. 2 · HYDROXYPROPYL CELLULOSE, LOW SUBSTITUTED · HYPROMELLOSE 2910 (5 MPA.S) · MAGNESIUM STEARATE · POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL 400 · SILICON DIOXIDE · SODIUM STARCH GLYCOLATE TYPE A · TALC · TITANIUM DIOXIDE
View source label →
03

Quallent Pharmaceuticals Health LLC nothing flagged on the label

US label (DailyMed) · SERTRALINE HYDROCHLORIDE TABLET, FILM COATED [QUALLENT PHARMACEUTICALS HEALTH LLC] · label dated Jul 22, 2026

Inactive ingredients ASCORBIC ACID · DIBASIC CALCIUM PHOSPHATE DIHYDRATE · FD&C BLUE NO. 2 · FERRIC OXIDE RED · FERRIC OXIDE YELLOW · HYDROXYPROPYL CELLULOSE, UNSPECIFIED · HYPROMELLOSE 2910 (3 MPA.S) · HYPROMELLOSE 2910 (6 MPA.S) · MAGNESIUM STEARATE · MICROCRYSTALLINE CELLULOSE · POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL 400 · POLYSORBATE 80 · SODIUM STARCH GLYCOLATE TYPE A POTATO · TITANIUM DIOXIDE
View source label →
04

Coupler LLC nothing flagged on the label

US label (DailyMed) · SERTRALINE HYDROCHLORIDE TABLET [COUPLER LLC] · label dated Jul 13, 2026

Inactive ingredients ASCORBIC ACID · D&C YELLOW NO. 10 · DIBASIC CALCIUM PHOSPHATE DIHYDRATE · FD&C BLUE NO. 2 · HYDROXYPROPYL CELLULOSE, UNSPECIFIED · HYPROMELLOSE 2910 (3 MPA.S) · HYPROMELLOSE 2910 (6 MPA.S) · MAGNESIUM STEARATE · MICROCRYSTALLINE CELLULOSE · POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL 400 · POLYSORBATE 80 · SODIUM STARCH GLYCOLATE TYPE A POTATO · TITANIUM DIOXIDE
View source label →
05

Unit Dose Solutions, Inc. nothing flagged on the label

US label (DailyMed) · SERTRALINE HYDROCHLORIDE TABLET, FILM COATED [UNIT DOSE SOLUTIONS, INC.] · label dated Jul 10, 2026

Inactive ingredients DIBASIC CALCIUM PHOSPHATE DIHYDRATE · FERRIC OXIDE YELLOW · HYDROXYPROPYL CELLULOSE (1600000 WAMW) · HYPROMELLOSE 2910 (6 MPA.S) · MAGNESIUM STEARATE · MICROCRYSTALLINE CELLULOSE · POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL 400 · POLYSORBATE 80 · SODIUM STARCH GLYCOLATE TYPE A POTATO · TITANIUM DIOXIDE
View source label →
06

Unit Dose Solutions, Inc. nothing flagged on the label

US label (DailyMed) · SERTRALINE HYDROCHLORIDE TABLET, FILM COATED [UNIT DOSE SOLUTIONS, INC.] · label dated Jul 10, 2026

Inactive ingredients DIBASIC CALCIUM PHOSPHATE DIHYDRATE · FD&C BLUE NO. 2 · HYDROXYPROPYL CELLULOSE (1600000 WAMW) · HYPROMELLOSE 2910 (6 MPA.S) · MAGNESIUM STEARATE · MICROCRYSTALLINE CELLULOSE · POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL 400 · POLYSORBATE 80 · SODIUM STARCH GLYCOLATE TYPE A POTATO · TITANIUM DIOXIDE
View source label →
07

Unit Dose Solutions, Inc. nothing flagged on the label

US label (DailyMed) · SERTRALINE HYDROCHLORIDE TABLET, FILM COATED [UNIT DOSE SOLUTIONS, INC.] · label dated Jul 07, 2026

Inactive ingredients ANHYDROUS DIBASIC CALCIUM PHOSPHATE · ASCORBIC ACID · CELLULOSE, MICROCRYSTALLINE · D&C YELLOW NO. 10 · FD&C BLUE NO. 1 · FD&C RED NO. 40 · HYDROXYPROPYL CELLULOSE (1600000 WAMW) · HYPROMELLOSES · MAGNESIUM STEARATE · POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL, UNSPECIFIED · POLYSORBATE 80 · SODIUM STARCH GLYCOLATE TYPE A POTATO · TITANIUM DIOXIDE · VANILLIN
View source label →
08

St. Mary's Medical Park Pharmacy nothing flagged on the label

US label (DailyMed) · SERTRALINE TABLET, FILM COATED [ST. MARY'S MEDICAL PARK PHARMACY] · label dated Jul 01, 2026

Inactive ingredients CROSCARMELLOSE SODIUM · DIBASIC CALCIUM PHOSPHATE DIHYDRATE · FD&C BLUE NO. 2 ALUMINUM LAKE · HYPROMELLOSE, UNSPECIFIED · MAGNESIUM STEARATE · MICROCRYSTALLINE CELLULOSE · POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL, UNSPECIFIED · POLYSORBATE 80 · POVIDONE, UNSPECIFIED · TITANIUM DIOXIDE
View source label →
09

St. Mary's Medical Park Pharmacy nothing flagged on the label

US label (DailyMed) · SERTRALINE HYDROCHLORIDE TABLET, FILM COATED [ST. MARY'S MEDICAL PARK PHARMACY] · label dated Jun 23, 2026

Inactive ingredients ANHYDROUS DIBASIC CALCIUM PHOSPHATE · CELLULOSE, MICROCRYSTALLINE · FERRIC OXIDE YELLOW · HYDROXYPROPYL CELLULOSE (TYPE L) · HYPROMELLOSE 2910 (5 MPA.S) · MAGNESIUM STEARATE · POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL 400 · POLYSORBATE 80 · SODIUM STARCH GLYCOLATE TYPE A POTATO · TITANIUM DIOXIDE
View source label →
10

St. Mary's Medical Park Pharmacy nothing flagged on the label

US label (DailyMed) · SERTRALINE HYDROCHLORIDE TABLET, FILM COATED [ST. MARY'S MEDICAL PARK PHARMACY] · label dated Jun 23, 2026

Inactive ingredients DIBASIC CALCIUM PHOSPHATE DIHYDRATE · FERRIC OXIDE YELLOW · HYDROXYPROPYL CELLULOSE (1600000 WAMW) · HYPROMELLOSE 2910 (6 MPA.S) · MAGNESIUM STEARATE · MICROCRYSTALLINE CELLULOSE · POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL 400 · POLYSORBATE 80 · SODIUM STARCH GLYCOLATE TYPE A POTATO · TITANIUM DIOXIDE
View source label →

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Background

What “gluten in a medication” actually means

Gluten enters drugs through their excipients — the inactive ingredients used to bind, coat, fill, or stabilize the dose. The main concern is wheat starch as a filler. Source-ambiguous starches (plain “starch”, pregelatinized starch, sodium starch glycolate, modified starch) get flagged for verification because their botanical origin isn't always disclosed on the label.

The 2024 Mangione et al. pediatric NDC analysis (689 NDCs across the top 100 pediatric medications) found 1.5% contained gluten outright; another 25.7% couldn't be confirmed either way. Liquid and oral-suspension formulations carry disproportionate risk because wheat starch is a common thickener. Full methodology →

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