Citalopram
About
Citalopram is a type of antidepressant that belongs to the class of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) and is primarily used to treat depression and other mental health conditions, including anxiety, panic disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Depression is a mood disorder that affects day to day life of a person. A person may have symptoms such as feeling sad or feeling of loss and might have mood swings. Anxiety is defined as an emotion characterized by feelings of tension, worried thoughts, and symptoms like increased blood pressure. Anxiety disorder also includes panic disorder which is characterized by sudden feelings of terror. In Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), a person feels the need to think or perform things repeatedly.
Citalopram works by increasing serotonin levels. Serotonin is a chemical messenger in the brain responsible for improving mood and physical symptoms of depression. It is also responsible for relieving symptoms of anxiety, panic attacks, and obsessive-compulsive disorders.
You can take Citalopram with or without food. It should be swallowed whole with a glass of water. Do not chew, bite, or break it. Your doctor will advise you on how often you take your tablets based on your medical condition. In some cases, you may experience erectile dysfunction, insomnia (difficulty in sleeping), low sexual desire, nausea, restlessness, upset stomach, vomiting, and weight gain. Most of these side effects of Citalopram do not require medical attention and gradually resolve over time. However, if the side effects persist, stop the medicine and reach out to your doctor.
Try not to stop taking Citalopram of your own as it may lead to unpleasant side effects. Let your doctor know about this, as it may cause withdrawal symptoms. Do not take Citalopram if you have epilepsy (seizure disorder or fits), diabetes, liver or kidney disease, any heart problems,narrow-angle glaucoma, bleeding disorder, electrolyte imbalance or are currently taking medicines for depression known as MAO inhibitors (such as Isocarboxazid, Phenelzine, Selegiline), or problems with alcohol or other prescription drugs. Inform your doctor if you are allergic to Citalopram.Tell your doctor if you are pregnant/planning for pregnancy/breastfeeding your mother.
Uses of Citalopram
Medicinal Benefits
When you take Citalopram, it increases the serotonin levels. Serotonin is a chemical messenger in the brain responsible for improving the mood and physical symptoms of depression. It is also responsible for relieving symptoms of anxiety, panic attacks, and obsessive-compulsive disorders. Citalopram helps many people recover from depression, and has fewer unwanted side effects than older antidepressants.
Directions for Use
Storage
Side Effects of Citalopram
- Erectile dysfunction
- Insomnia (difficulty in sleeping)
- Low sexual desire
- Nausea
- Restlessness
- Upset stomach
- Vomiting
- Weight gain
In-Depth Precautions and Warning
Drug Warnings
Try not to stop taking Citalopram of your own as it may lead to unpleasant side effects. Let your doctor know about this, as it may cause withdrawal symptoms. Do not take Citalopram if you have epilepsy (seizure disorder or fits), diabetes, liver or kidney disease, any heart problems, narrow-angle glaucoma, bleeding disorder, electrolyte imbalance or are currently taking medicines for depression known as MAO inhibitors (such as Isocarboxazid, Phenelzine, Selegiline), or problems with alcohol or other prescription drugs. Inform your doctor if you are allergic to Citalopram. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant/planning for pregnancy/breastfeeding mother.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interactions: Citalopram may have an interaction with anti-depressants (phenelzine, iproniazid, tranylcypromine), a medication used for heartburn, acid reflux and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (esomeprazole) and any medicines that affect your heartbeat.
Drug-Food Interactions: Citalopram may interact with a multi-mineral or other herbal/ayurvedic supplements. So, if you are using any of them, please tell your doctor.
Drug-Disease Interactions: People affected with bipolar disorder (manic depression), bleeding or blood clotting disorder, drug addiction or suicidal thoughts, liver or kidney disease, seizures, low levels of sodium in your blood, cardiovascular disorders like high blood pressure, chest pain (angina), and coronary artery disease should avoid intake of Citalopram.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
unsafeIt is not recommended to take alcohol with Citalopram to avoid unpleasant side-effects.
Pregnancy
unsafeCitalopram is not recommended in pregnancy. However, if you were already taking this medicine before becoming pregnant, do not stop taking it without consulting your doctor. It can pose a small risk of problems for an unborn baby. Your doctor might prescribe you this medicine in pregnancy depending upon your condition as it is important to stay well in pregnancy.
Breast Feeding
unsafeCitalopram passes into breast milk in minimal amounts and might cause side effects in breastfed babies. It can be prescribed if the baby is healthy. However, if after taking Citalopram, the baby isn't feeding well as usual, or is sleeping a lot than normal, please consult your doctor.
Driving
unsafeIt is not recommended to drive after taking Citalopram as it may cause drowsiness and interfere with your driving ability.
Liver
cautionCitalopram to be taken with caution, especially if you have a history of liver diseases/conditions. The dose may have to be adjusted by your doctor.
Kidney
cautionCitalopram to be taken with caution, especially if you have a history of kidney diseases/conditions as dose adjustment might be required.
Children
unsafeBefore Prescribing a Citalopram doctor should check in a child, or adolescent must balance the potential risks with the clinical need.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Do regular exercise which can help lower anxiety by releasing endorphins and improve your sleep.
- Find the humour in your daily life. Try to watch light-hearted shows to help relieve stress.
- You can try increasing your mindfulness, by including yoga, meditation, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, and mindfulness-based stress reduction.
- Drink enough water to stay hydrated, and limit or avoid alcohol and caffeine to relieve anxiety.
- Include a diet rich in whole grains, vegetables, and fruits. This is a healthier option than eating a lot of simple carbohydrates found in processed foods.
- Herbs like turmeric, ginger, and chamomile contain anti-inflammatory properties. Including these stuff in meals can reduce inflammation caused due to anxiety disorder.
- Reduce added sugar, high salt, and high fat intake. Especially trans-fat may help also help reduce inflammation.
- You can include antioxidants in your daily diet like ashwagandha, omega-3 fatty acids, green tea, and lemon balm.
- Try to spend time with your friends and family. Having a strong social network may help you lower your risk of depression.
- Do some arts and crafts it may divert you from depression.
Special Advise
- Sudden stoppage of Citalopram can lead to significant withdrawal symptoms. Always discuss with your doctor about decreasing the dosage before completely stopping its usage.
- Avoid consuming alcohol while on this medication as it can lead to dangerous side effects.
- Citalopram is unsafe for usage if you're pregnant or are planning to get pregnant. Discuss with your doctor in such situations about changing/replacing the medicine with safer alternatives.
- Do not self-medicate.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Depression: It is a mood disorder that affects day to day life of a person. A person may have symptoms such as feeling sad or feeling of loss and might have mood swings.
Anxiety: It is defined as an emotion that is characterized by feelings of tension, worried thoughts, and symptoms like increased blood pressure. Anxiety disorder also includes panic disorder which is characterized by sudden feelings of terror.
Panic disorder: It is a type of anxiety disorder. It causes panic attacks, which are sudden feelings of terror when there is no real danger. You may feel as if you are losing control and also have physical symptoms such as a fast heartbeat.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD): In this disorder, a person feels the need to think or perform things repeatedly.
FAQs
Citalopram works by increasing the serotonin levels. Serotonin is a chemical messenger in the brain responsible for improving the mood and physical symptoms of depression. It is also responsible for relieving symptoms of anxiety, panic attacks, and obsessive-compulsive disorders.
Citalopram is not advised in cases if a person is allergic to Citalopram, has epilepsy, or are having electroconvulsive treatment as Citalopram may increase your risk of having a seizure. Citalopram should not be taken by a person having heart problems as taking Citalopram can speed up or change the heartbeat. It should not be given to a person with a low heart rate and diarrhoea and vomiting symptoms, pregnant women, trying to get pregnant, breastfeeding, and having eye problems such as glaucoma. In diabetics, it can cause difficulty in keeping stable blood sugar levels.
Citalopram should be taken as per the advice of your doctor. Once you start feeling better, you might have to continue it for several months to prevent returning symptoms. Your doctor will advise you on how much time you need to continue Citalopram depending upon your symptoms' type and severity.
Citalopram may cause withdrawal symptoms like dizziness, irritability, and sensory and flu-like symptoms. So please consult your doctor immediately.
