How does citalopram work

These drugs are often used to treat similar conditions. SSRIs act in your brain to increase levels of a substance called serotonin. Having more serotonin in your brain can improve symptoms of depression. The adult side effects for this drug are slightly different from the side effects for children. Adult side effects can include:. If these effects are mild, they may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. Call your doctor right away if you have serious side effects.

Serious side effects and their symptoms can include the following:. Disclaimer: Our goal is to provide you with the most relevant and current information. However, because drugs affect each person differently, we cannot guarantee that this information includes all possible side effects.

This information is not a substitute for medical advice. Always discuss possible side effects with a healthcare professional who knows your medical history.

Citalopram oral tablet can interact with other medications, vitamins, or herbs you may be taking. An interaction is when a substance changes the way a drug works. This can be harmful or prevent the drug from working well.

To help avoid interactions, your doctor should manage all of your medications carefully. A possibly life threatening condition called serotonin syndrome can occur when citalopram is used with other drugs that can increase serotonin levels in your body.

This may be more likely when one of the drugs is first started or after dose increases. Examples of these drugs include:. Taking both citalopram and these drugs may increase your risk of heart rhythm changes that could be dangerous.

Caution should be used when using citalopram with a TCA. This can result in higher levels of the TCA in your body and more side effects. Tricyclic antidepressants include:.

Taking citalopram may increase the effects of drugs that cause sedation or drowsiness. Cytochrome P 2C19 is a protein in our body that often helps to break down drugs, including citalopram. Some drugs are known to slow down, or inhibit, the actions of this protein. When citalopram and drugs that slow down the actions of this protein are taken together, it may result in an amount of citalopram in your body that is too high.

Examples of cytochrome P 2C19 inhibitors include:. However, because drugs interact differently in each person, we cannot guarantee that this information includes all possible interactions. Always speak with your healthcare provider about possible interactions with all prescription drugs, vitamins, herbs and supplements, and over-the-counter drugs that you are taking.

If you have an allergic reaction, call your doctor or local poison control center right away. If your symptoms are severe, call or go to the nearest emergency room. Taking it again could be fatal cause death.

Citalopram can cause sleepiness. It may affect your ability to make decisions, think clearly or react quickly. Headache, nausea, diarrhea, dry mouth, increased sweating, feeling nervous, restless, fatigue, or having trouble sleeping insomnia. These will often improve over the first week or two as you continue to take the medication. Sexual side effects, such as problems with orgasm or ejaculatory delay often do not diminish over time.

Low sodium blood levels symptoms of low sodium levels may include headache, weakness, difficulty concentrating and remembering , teeth grinding, angle closure glaucoma symptoms of angle closure glaucoma may include eye pain, changes in vision, swelling or redness in or around eye , serotonin syndrome symptoms may include shivering, diarrhea, confusion, severe muscle tightness, fever, seizures, and death , seizure. SSRI antidepressants including citalopram may increase the risk of bleeding events.

Combined use of aspirin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs e. This may include symptoms such as gums that bleed more easily, nose bleed, or gastrointestinal bleeding. Some cases have been life threatening. August Citalopram at doses greater than 40 mg per day could potentially cause a dangerous abnormality in the electrical activity of the heart. Citalopram use is discouraged in patients with congenital long QT syndrome.

Patients with low levels of potassium and magnesium in the blood are also at increased risk. If you are currently taking citalopram at a dose greater than 40 mg per days, talk to your health care professional.

Seek immediate care if you experience an irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath, dizziness, or fainting while taking citalopram. If you are taking citalopram, your health care professional may occasionally order an electrocardiogram ECG, EKG to monitor your heart rate and rhythm.

Your health care provider may also order tests to check levels of potassium and magnesium in your blood. To date, there are no known problems associated with long term use of citalopram.

It is a safe and effective medication when used as directed. Citalopram should not be taken with or within 2 weeks of taking monoamine oxidase inhibitors MAOIs. Citalopram may increase the effects of other medications that can cause bleeding e.

Sleep, energy, or appetite may show some improvement within the first weeks. Improvement in these physical symptoms can be an important early signal that the medication is working.

Depressed mood and lack of interest in activities may need up to weeks to fully improve. Depression and certain other psychiatric disorders are themselves associated with increases in the risk of suicide.

This risk may persist until significant remission occurs. In short-term studies, antidepressants increased the risk of suicidality in children, adolescents, and young adults when compared to placebo. Short-term studies did not show an increase in the risk of suicidality with antidepressants compared to placebo in adults beyond age Adults age 65 and older taking antidepressants have a decreased risk of suicidality.

Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication. Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture not in the bathroom.

It is important to keep all medication out of sight and reach of children as many containers such as weekly pill minders and those for eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers are not child-resistant and young children can open them easily. To protect young children from poisoning, always lock safety caps and immediately place the medication in a safe location — one that is up and away and out of their sight and reach.

Unneeded medications should be disposed of in special ways to ensure that pets, children, and other people cannot consume them. However, you should not flush this medication down the toilet. Instead, the best way to dispose of your medication is through a medicine take-back program. In case of overdose, call the poison control helpline at If the victim has collapsed, had a seizure, has trouble breathing, or can't be awakened, immediately call emergency services at Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory.

Your doctor may order certain laboratory tests and electrocardiograms EKG; a test to monitor your heart rate and rhythm before you start taking citalopram and during your treatment with this medication.

Do not let anyone else take your medication. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription. It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription over-the-counter medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements.

You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies. Citalopram pronounced as sye tal' oh pram. Why is this medication prescribed? How should this medicine be used? Other uses for this medicine What special precautions should I follow? What special dietary instructions should I follow?

What should I do if I forget a dose? A few people may get sexual side effects, such as problems getting an erection or a lower sex drive. In some cases these can continue even after stopping the medicine. Speak to your doctor if you are worried.

Otherwise there do not seem to be any lasting harmful effects from taking citalopram for many months and years. If you have been feeling better for 6 months or more, your doctor may suggest coming off citalopram. Your doctor will probably recommend reducing your dose gradually over several weeks, or longer if you have been taking citalopram for a long time. This is to help prevent any extra side effects you might get as a reaction to coming off the medicine.

Do not stop taking citalopram suddenly or without talking to your doctor first. But sometimes people respond better to one antidepressant than to another. Citalopram can make you feel less hungry, so you may lose weight when you first start taking it.

If you start to have problems with your weight while taking citalopram, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. Some people cannot concentrate properly while they're taking citalopram.

It might be best to stop driving and cycling for the first few days of treatment until you know how this medicine makes you feel. There's some evidence that citalopram can reduce the quality of sperm, but it's not known whether this reduces male fertility.

The effect should reverse once you stop taking the medicine. Speak to your doctor if you're concerned. For women, there's no firm evidence to suggest that taking citalopram will reduce your fertility.

But speak to a pharmacist or your doctor if you're trying to get pregnant. They may want to review your treatment. Citalopram will not affect any type of contraception, including the combined pill or emergency contraception. The good effects of citalopram may, after a while, improve your sex life as your mood lifts and you become interested in life and relationships again. Sexual side effects usually pass after the first couple of weeks.

However, very rarely, they can be long lasting and may not get better even after stopping the medicine. If these happen and are a problem for you, go back to your doctor to see if there's another treatment you can try.

You can drink alcohol while taking citalopram, but it may make you feel sleepy. It might be best to stop drinking alcohol until you see how the medicine makes you feel. Antidepressants, including citalopram, are just one of several approaches to treating depression. Choosing a treatment that's most suitable for you depends on how long you have had depression, your symptoms, whether you have had any previous bouts of depression, whether previous treatment has worked, how likely you are to stick with your treatment, the potential side effects, and your preferences and priorities.

Citalopram and escitalopram are both medicines used to treat depression. Cannabis can also make drowsiness worse with citalopram, especially in people who have just started taking it.

Methadone can increase the risk of side effects in people taking citalopram. Talk to your doctor if you think you might use recreational drugs while taking citalopram.

Page last reviewed: 10 December Next review due: 10 December Citalopram - Brand name: Cipramil On this page About citalopram Key facts Who can and cannot take citalopram How and when to take citalopram Side effects How to cope with side effects of citalopram Pregnancy and breastfeeding Cautions with other medicines Common questions about citalopram.

About citalopram Citalopram is a type of antidepressant known as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor SSRI. Help us improve our website Can you answer a quick question about your visit today? It usually takes 4 to 6 weeks for citalopram to work.

Side effects such as tiredness, dry mouth and sweating are common. They're usually mild and go away after a couple of weeks. If you and your doctor decide to take you off citalopram, your doctor may recommend reducing your dose gradually to help prevent extra side effects.