Celexa – Uses, Side Effects, Warnings, and More

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Uses

Citalopram is a common medication for the treatment of depression. Your level of energy and a general sense of well-being may improve as a result of this. Citalopram is a well-known medication that is classified as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). The natural levels of a particular substance (serotonin) in the brain are helped to become more stable as a result of taking this medicine.

How to properly take Celexa

Before beginning treatment with citalopram and whenever you get a refill, make sure you have read the information contained in the Medication Guide and, if it is available, the Patient Information Leaflet that your pharmacist has supplied you with. If you have any questions, you should consult with either your physician or your pharmacist.

Take this medication exactly as prescribed by your physician, which will often be either once daily in the morning or once daily in the evening. Your age, the results of any laboratory tests, your current medical condition, and any other drugs you might be taking all play a role in determining the appropriate dosage for you. Make sure to inform both your primary care physician and your pharmacist about all of the products you use (including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and herbal products).

If you are taking this medication in liquid form, you will need to measure the amount with a special measuring instrument or spoon to ensure accurate dosing. You should not use a regular spoon since you run the risk of not getting the right amount.

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Your physician may recommend that you begin taking this medication in a low dose and gradually raise your dosage in order to lessen the likelihood that you will experience adverse reactions to the medication. Be sure to pay close attention to the directions that your doctor gives you. Do not raise your dosage, take this medication more frequently, or use it for a longer period of time than directed. Your condition will not improve any more quickly, and the likelihood that you will experience adverse consequences will rise. It is important to maintain consistent use of this drug in order to get the most out of it. Take it at the same time every day so that you don’t forget when you’re supposed to.

Continue taking this medication even if you don’t feel like you need it. It is important that you speak with your healthcare provider before discontinuing the use of this medicine. It is possible that certain conditions will become even more severe if you suddenly stop taking this medication. You may also encounter symptoms such as shifts in your mood, headaches, fatigue, changes in the way you sleep, and fleeting sensations that are comparable to electric shocks. Your physician may gradually reduce your dosage of this medication in order to prevent these symptoms while you are withdrawing from therapy with this drug. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details. Notify your doctor immediately of any symptoms that are new or that have worsened.

It could take anywhere from one to four weeks before you feel any positive effects from taking this medication, and it could take much longer before you experience the full extent of those effects.

If your situation does not improve or if it gets worse, you should let your doctor know.

Adverse Reactions

Please also refer to the sections labeled Warning and Precautions.

It is possible for patients to experience symptoms such as nausea, dry mouth, loss of appetite, weariness, sleepiness, sweating, blurred vision, and yawning. Notify your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if any of these side effects continue or become worse.

Keep in mind that the reason your doctor has recommended that you take this medication is that he or she believes that the potential benefits to you outweigh the potential risks of doing so. The majority of persons who take this medicine do not report experiencing any severe adverse effects.

Notify your healthcare provider as soon as possible if you experience any major adverse effects, such as shaking (tremor), a decreased interest in sex, changes in sexual ability, or easy bruising or bleeding.

If you have any very serious side effects, such as fainting, fast/irregular heartbeat, black stools, vomit that looks like coffee grounds, seizures, eye pain/swelling/redness, expanded pupils, or vision problems, get immediate medical attention (such as seeing rainbows around lights at night).

This medicine has the potential to raise serotonin levels, as well as the risk of a potentially fatal disease known as serotonin syndrome or poisoning. The danger is increased if you are also taking other medications that boost serotonin levels; thus, you should inform your physician or pharmacist of all the medications you now take (see Drug Interactions section). You should seek immediate medical attention if you have any of the following symptoms: a rapid heartbeat, hallucinations, lack of coordination, severe dizziness, severe nausea/vomiting/diarrhea, twitching muscles, unexplained fever, unusual agitation, or restlessness.

In extremely rare cases, males may experience a painful or protracted erection that lasts for four hours or longer. Immediately seek medical attention and discontinue the use of this medication if you experience this side effect; otherwise, the condition may become irreversible.

It is quite unusual for this medicine to cause an extremely severe allergic reaction. However, you should seek immediate medical attention if you detect any symptoms of a significant allergic reaction, such as a rash, itching/swelling (particularly of the face/tongue/throat), extreme dizziness, or difficulty breathing. These symptoms may indicate anaphylaxis.

This list of potential adverse effects is not exhaustive in any way. Please consult your physician or pharmacist if you have any side effects that are not listed above.

In the United States, if you are experiencing any adverse effects, please consult your primary care physician. You can call the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or visit their website at www.fda.gov/medwatch to report any adverse effects.

In Canada, if you are experiencing any adverse effects, please consult your primary care physician. You can call Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345 to report any adverse effects you experience.

Precautions

Inform your physician or pharmacist that you are allergic to citalopram, as well as escitalopram, or if you have any other allergies before beginning treatment with citalopram. There is a possibility that this product contains inactive substances, which, if present, could result in allergic responses or other complications. Discuss the matter further with your pharmacist for further information.

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Before beginning treatment with this medication, it is important to discuss your medical history with your doctor or pharmacist, particularly if you have a personal or family history of bipolar/manic-depressive disorder; a personal or family history of suicide attempts; liver disease; seizures; low sodium in the blood; intestinal ulcers/bleeding (peptic ulcer disease); or bleeding problems; a personal or family history of glaucoma; or if you have a personal or family history of low sodium in the blood (angle-closure type).

Citalopram has been linked to a disorder that alters the normal beat of the heart (QT prolongation). Rarely, a QT prolongation can produce a dangerous (and in extremely rare cases, fatal) fast or irregular heartbeat, in addition to other symptoms (such as severe dizziness and fainting) that require immediate medical attention.

If you have certain medical conditions or are taking other drugs that can cause QT prolongation, your risk of developing the condition may be enhanced. Before beginning treatment with citalopram, it is important to inform your physician or pharmacist of all the medications you are currently taking, as well as if you have any of the following conditions: certain heart problems (heart failure, slow heartbeat, recent heart attack, QT prolongation in the EKG), a family history of certain heart problems, or any of the other conditions listed above (QT prolongation in the EKG, sudden cardiac death).

Your chance of having your QT interval becomes prolonged may also be increased if your blood potassium or magnesium levels are low. This risk may be increased if you use certain medications (such as diuretics or “water pills”) or if you have conditions like as intense sweating, diarrhea, or vomiting. Likewise, this risk may be increased if you use certain drugs. Have a conversation with your healthcare provider about the proper use of citalopram.

This medication could cause you to feel sleepy or distort your eyesight. Drowsiness is a side effect of consuming alcohol or cannabis (marijuana). Do not operate a motor vehicle, or any machinery, or engage in any activity that requires alertness or clear vision until you are able to complete them safely. Steer clear of beverages containing alcohol. If you are a marijuana user, you should consult your primary care physician (cannabis).

Before undergoing surgery, it is important to discuss all of the products you use with your dentist or doctor (including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and herbal products).

The adverse effects of this medication, particularly bleeding, lack of coordination, and lengthening of the QT interval, may be felt more acutely by people of advanced age (see above). They also have a greater risk of developing a condition known as hyponatremia, which occurs when the body has an abnormally low level of sodium. This risk is increased when the individual additionally take “water pills” (diuretics). Coordination problems can make you more likely to experience a fall.

It’s possible that children are more vulnerable to the negative effects of this medication, particularly the loss of appetite and decreased weight. Keep an eye on the child’s weight and height if they are on this medication.

During pregnancy, it is important to only use this drug when it is absolutely necessary. It could cause harm to an unborn child. In addition, there is a remote possibility that infants whose mothers used this medicine during the last three months of pregnancy will have an increased risk of developing withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms may include trouble eating or breathing, seizures, muscle stiffness, or frequent weeping. Notify the pediatrician as soon as possible if you observe any of these symptoms in your newborn child.

Do not stop taking this drug until your doctor tells you to, as untreated mental and mood issues (such as depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and panic disorder) can be serious conditions. If you are trying to conceive, become pregnant, or have any reason to believe that you may be pregnant, you should talk to your doctor as soon as possible about the advantages and dangers of using this drug while you are pregnant.

This medication is excreted into breast milk and may have unintended consequences for an infant who is being breastfed. Before starting to breastfeed, you should talk to your healthcare provider.

Interactions

Please also see the section titled “Precautions.”

Drug interactions can alter the way in which your prescriptions work or raise the likelihood that you will have major adverse effects. This document does not contain all possible medication interactions. Maintain a list of all the goods you use, including prescription and over-the-counter medications, as well as herbal remedies, and give it to both your primary care physician and your pharmacist. Without first consulting your physician, you should never alter the dosage of any medication, stop taking any medication, or start taking any new medication.

Other medications that have the potential to induce bleeding or bruising are examples of goods that might have an interaction with this medication (including antiplatelet drugs such as clopidogrel, NSAIDs such as ibuprofen, “blood thinners” such as warfarin).

When used with this drug, the usage of aspirin is associated with an increased risk of bleeding. If, on the other hand, your doctor has instructed you to take low-dose aspirin for the prevention of heart attack or stroke (usually 81-162 milligrams per day), you should keep taking it unless your doctor instructs you otherwise. Low-dose aspirin is typically prescribed in the range of 81-162 milligrams per day. Inquire with your primary care physician or your pharmacist for further information.

Taking MAO inhibitors in conjunction with this medication may result in severe drug interaction, which could even be fatal. During your course of treatment with this drug, you should refrain from using any MAO inhibitors, including isocarboxazid, linezolid, metaxalone, methylene blue, moclobemide, phenelzine, procarbazine, rasagiline, safinamide, selegiline, and tranylcypromine. In addition, it is not recommended to use any MAO inhibitors for a period of two weeks before and after therapy with this medicine. Inquire with your physician regarding the appropriate time to begin or stop using this medicine.

If you are also taking other drugs that enhance serotonin, you put yourself at a greater risk of developing serotonin syndrome or serotonin poisoning. Street drugs like MDMA or “ecstasy,” the herb St. John’s wort, certain antidepressants (such as other SSRIs like fluoxetine/paroxetine or SNRIs like duloxetine/venlafaxine), tryptophan, and many others are some examples. When you first begin taking these medications or raise your dosage, you may be putting yourself at a greater risk of developing serotonin syndrome or serotonin poisoning.

If you are taking other products that cause drowsiness, such as alcohol, marijuana (cannabis), antihistamines (such as cetirizine, diphenhydramine), drugs for sleep or anxiety (such as alprazolam, diazepam, zolpidem), muscle relaxants, or opioid pain relievers, you should let your doctor or pharmacist know (such as codeine).

You should read the labels on all of your medications (such as those meant to treat allergies or coughs and colds) since some of them may contain substances that make you feel sleepy. Talk to your local pharmacist about the proper way to use those products.

In addition to citalopram, numerous other medications, such as amiodarone, pimozide, procainamide, quinidine, and sotalol, are also known to have the potential to disrupt the cardiac rhythm (QT prolongation).

Citalopram is extremely similar to escitalopram. While you are using citalopram, you should avoid taking any medications that include escitalopram.

This medicine has the potential to interfere with a variety of medical and laboratory procedures, such as a brain scan for Parkinson’s disease. As a result, the tests may produce inaccurate findings. Ensure that the employees in the laboratory and all of your doctors are aware that you are using this medication.

Overdose

Dial 911 if you suspect that someone has overdosed and they are exhibiting serious symptoms such as passing out or having problems breathing. In any other case, you should immediately contact a poison control center. To reach the poison control center for your area in the United States, dial 1-800-222-1222. Canada residents can call a provincial poison control center.

Notes

It is imperative that you do not provide this medication to anyone else.

Tests in the laboratory and/or examinations by a physician (such as an EKG) should be carried out on a regular basis in order to track your improvement and identify any potential adverse reactions. Consult your doctor for additional details.

Always be on time for your scheduled checkups and appointments with the psychiatrist.

Neglected Dose

If you forget to take a dose, you should take it as soon as you realize you forgot. If it is getting close to the time of the next dose, you should forgo the dose that you missed. Your next dose should be taken at the typical time. It is not necessary to double the dose in order to catch up.

Storage

Keep at room temperature and away from light and moisture. Store at room temperature. Keep away from the bathroom at all costs. Always make sure that children and animals are kept well away from any medications.

Unless you have been specifically told to do so, you should not flush drugs down the toilet or pour them down a drain. When it is no longer needed or has passed its expiration date, dispose of this product in the appropriate manner. Talk to your neighborhood pharmacy or the firm that handles garbage disposal in your area.